The public finally got a look at the much-talked about Bishop Museum Science Adventure Center yesterday, and judging by the reactions, visitors were not disappointed.

Even before the doors opened, the Bishop Museum parking lot was full, and police were directing motorists to the Damien High School lot 2 1/2 blocks away.

More than 1,000 parents, kids and assorted gawkers visited the Science Center during the first hour it was open. Attendance was expected to top 10,000 by the time the grand opening had pulled up stakes at 8 p.m.

State Rep. Dennis Arakaki, D-30th (Moanalua, Kalihi Valley 'Alewa), was stunned by what a difference a half-century could make. He recalled how it was when he visited the museum many years ago.

"It was dark," he said. "You had to keep your hands at your sides, and you couldn't touch anything."

Yesterday it was impossible to keep your hands off any and everything in sight. In fact, it was practically forbidden — this being a 16,500-square-foot extravaganza of interactive exhibits.

The centerpiece of the $17 million attraction is a three-story, 26-foot "active volcano" cone that inquisitive explorers young and old could peep down, crawl through, or take a fish-eye view of from beneath the sea.

Ila Myer, 12, a 7th-grader at Kahuku High & Intermediate, was engrossed by one of the most popular exhibits at the center:

The object of her undivided attention was a floor-to-ceiling undersea hydrothermal vent water tank on the lower level, where camera-mounted, remotely operated vehicles, or ROVs, beamed close-up images to the operators on the safe side of the glass.

"That was fun," she said after examining nooks and crannies in the vent, only to end up ramming the glass with her ROV. The ROV was unfazed by the impact.

This exhibit was so popular that timekeepers had to be posted by the remote control consoles with stopwatches so ROV explorers would know when their minute was up.

Kaimana Kauhola, 11, a 6th-grader at Jarrett Intermediate School, and Mana Trubb, 13, an 8th-grader at Dole Intermediate, admired the lava tube walls, which had been decorated with black-lighted, multi-hued spiders, critters and tropical plants made by students from five schools.

"We made these in class out of papier-mache and sprayed something on them to make them glow," said Mana, as he and his friend admired a large luminous wild pig he had helped create.

"And the teacher said to make them nice because they will be on display at the Bishop Museum. This is the first time I've seen them at the museum."

Outside on the Great Lawn, some 20 tents offered open-air enthusiasts everything from face-painting to balloon artists to local-style food booths. Stage entertainment continued all day.

Meanwhile, keiki were flinging themselves off the walls and floors of inflatable "bouncers" on the outskirts of the grounds.

Back inside, schoolteachers Esther and Brian Kanakuri of Pearl City brought their three kids, Steven, 2, Megan, 7, and Amy, 9.

"I will love to bring my classes to where they can actually do hands-on exhibits and learn things at the same time," said Brian.

"This is fabulous."

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.