02/08/2026
Panda, Panda, whose bright idea, like Hawaii cost of living isn’t high enough, to afford another tax for Hawaii. In Honolulu, you're asking at the right time — the Honolulu Zoo does **not** have pandas today, but the city is in final negotiations to bring them after more than a year of discussions about a panda partnership.
When 2 pandas arrive, you don't buy them — you lease them from China. Here is what U.S. zoos are actually paying:
# # # 1. The fixed fee to China
- **$1 million per year for a pair** — this is the standard conservation fee that goes to China. It's reported for San Diego, National Zoo and others.
- In Washington, Bao Li and Qing Bao arrived under that same $1M/year deal.
- If they have a cub, add a one-time **$400,000 to $600,000** fee.
# # # 2. The daily cost to keep them alive
- **Keeper time + vet care:** Zoo Atlanta said its pandas cost about **$500,000 to care for annually**, five times more than its next most expensive animal.
- **Bamboo:** 18,000kg per year per pair. Edinburgh was spending **£70,000 per year** just on specially-grown bamboo, and recent estimates put it at **$30,000 to $50,000 annually per panda**.
- In Finland, where bamboo had to be flown in from the Netherlands, upkeep including the China fee hit **1.5 million euros annually** — Hawaii would be in a similar boat, everything has to be imported.
For reference, the Smithsonian's National Zoo says its **full giant panda conservation program costs $2.8 million per year**.
# # # 3. The one-time build
- Every zoo builds a state-of-the-art exhibit. Experts estimate a 10-year lease for two pandas costs **between $15-30M** total *before* you factor in the bamboo bill. Most of that is the habitat — usually $10M to $50M upfront for climate-controlled dens, vet suites, and security.
**Bottom line for Honolulu:**
- **Upfront:** $12M - $40M for a new panda habitat that meets China's requirements
- **Every year after:** ∼$1M loan fee + $0.5M - $1.5M care/staff + $0.1M - $0.4M bamboo = **$1.7M to $2.8M+ per year to endure**
Why cities still do it? At Zoo Atlanta visitation shot up **60% when the pandas first arrived**, which offsets a lot of that with ticket and gift shop revenue.
If you're thinking about the taxpayer angle for Honolulu — that's the number the Mayor's office is weighing in those final negotiations. 4B for Lahaina survivors and the Democrat party cause this catastrophe Lahaina Lies In Deceit. Fake News continues to hide the evidence and when the facts arrive suddenly they will have to pay the consequences. How is this possible for America. 🇺🇸
