In October 2002, I was fortunate enough to visit the Hawaiian Islands. While on Oahu, I was one of those lucky hobbyists that got a behind the scenes tour of the Waikiki Aquarium from Charles Delbeek – a professional curator there. As many of you know, Charles Delbeek is a contributing author to Advanced Aquarist and co-author of The Reef Aquarium Vols. I and II. Be sure to read Delbeek’s Feature this month, which describes a research project conducted by him at the Waikiki Aquarium. I learned a lot from this tour, including ongoing research that benefits both professional and amateur aquarists. Thanks Charles for your time and the excellent tour.

All photos were taken using the Fuji S2pro digital SLR camera, using the ultra-wide-angle 14mm Sigma lens. Fill flash was used for many of the photos. Shooting conditions were extremely challenging, with lighting varying from low ambient light in the aquarium gallery to bright afternoon sun for the outdoor displays.