HONOLULU -- A mainland group wants to free elephants at the Honolulu Zoo saying it is no paradise for pachyderms.

While the Honolulu Zoo believes elephants belong in the wild, it also needs the animals in captivity and said while their life is not currently bad it will soon get much better.

While many people enjoy their time at the zoo, the group in defense of animals said some of the zoo's featured attractions do not.

In fact, they said the zoo has been changing the care of their two Asian elephants Mari and Vaigai.

"Just about everything about this antiquated elephant exhibit is wrong. It cramps two of the largest animals into 6,000 square feet. It lacks space for healthy movement and trainers use bull hooks which are designed to inflict pain on elephants to control them," said Catherine Doyle, in Defense of Animals.

But the city staff claims the elephants are treated like family.

"These animals are handled like children, loved and nourished. It's also about response and commands, rewards," said Sidney Quintal, with the Department of Enterprise Services.

Because of the concerns about the health and well being of these animals, the mainland group is calling for these captives to be set free.

"What we would like to see is Honolulu Zoo release animals to a sanctuary that can provide space and natural conditions that elephants need to survive," Doyle said.

The staff admit the elephants could use more room, but rather than let them go they'll be building a bigger enclosure, one with pools, shade trees and even another elephant for their herd.

The new elephant habitat will be five times the size of their current exhibit and yet critics said it will still not be big enough.

"That's not enough for elephants that walk miles each day and live in large family groups," said Doyle.

The elephants will be staying as part of the zoo's family group, even with the criticism because the zoo needs the animals to help others.

"Our elephants here are ambassadors of their species and without we could not educate people to what is going on in the wild," said Quintal.

Construction on the new $6.2 million elephant habitat will begin by summer and is expected to be finished by the end of next year.