HONOLULU -- The Duty Free Galleria's huge aquarium is to be drained and closed April 23, officials said.

KITV's Denby Fawcett reported that Duty Free said it's going to transform the entire Galleria, located on Kalakaua and Royal Hawaiian avenues, into luxury boutiques. It said an aquarium doesn't fit into that strategy.

The Galleria's Aquarium has been attracting locals and visitors, like Aldo De Capite, from Calgary, Canada, and Diane Stearn, from Thousand Oaks, Calif, ever since it was installed six years ago. Tourists and residents said they love to bring their children here.

"It's amazing. Just the -- from the outside it is quite unique. It is something I haven't seen before, so it would be a shame for it to go," said De Capite.

Now, the Galleria features T-shirt and souvenir shops to appeal to economy travelers, Duty Free officials said. They said it wants a new posh face to fit better into its Kalakaua Neighborhood. Many nearby stores feature high-end European fashions.

"That's a shame because it is really a lovely exhibit," Stearn said.

Duty Free said its luxury store renovations also are a good fit with the state's 10-year tourism plan to attract more higher-spending visitors.

Duty Free said it will donate the 65,000 gallons of salt water in the aquarium and the aquarium equipment to Sea Life Park.

The fate of the fish remains unknown, Duty Free said. The fish are owned by Chris Boyles, the contractor Duty Free hired to maintain the aquarium.

Boyles could not be reached to comment.

Duty Free said this shift to luxury items is not just for the Waikiki Galleria, but also for 14 other Gallerias it runs worldwide.