Violet the orangutan spent yesterday checking out her new digs at the Honolulu Zoo, greeting a media gathering worthy of a minor celebrity just in from the West Coast and eating a peanut butter sandwich.

She is the first occupant of the zoo's new privately funded custom enclosure built for Rusti, the resident orangutan, who could become Violet's new roommate as early as Jan. 7 when she finishes her quarantine.

The 25-year-old male orangutan is one of the zoo's most popular residents, and people have lobbied for years to spring Rusti from his outdated chain-link cage into a landscaped environment complete with banyan tree to swing in and some greenery to munch on.

Zoo director Ken Redman estimates that the new enclosure — 20 times bigger than the cage — cost a little more than $700,000 in private donations, including about $80,000 in landscaping that is still being completed.

San Diego senior keeper Laura Debnar traveled with Violet on Tuesday and is helping the 140-pound great ape settle in this week.

"She's a little nervous. She's still adjusting but she's eating OK," Debnar said.

"She likes apples, oranges, bananas, and her favorite obviously is the peanut butter because she doesn't usually get that that often. That's a treat."

Her arrival was delayed a week when Violet shredded a piece of sheet metal lining her crate.

Redman expects the orangutans to get acquainted gradually — side by side but separate — slowly building to roaming the landscaped pen together.

He anticipates that the male-female relationship will work even though the two are neutered. And he hopes to showcase the new couple and new exhibit to the public by January.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.