A visit to the Living Reef Exhibit at the Maui Ocean Center is a multi-sensory experience. Every one of the 40 aquariums that line the walls is alive with tropical fish—each more colorful and unique than the next. As they twist and wind their ways through the equally impressive array of living coral reef, you’ll notice conversation come to a grinding halt.
Located at Ma‘alaea Harbor Village, off Honoapi‘ilani Highway between Kahului and Lahaina, the $20-million center is designed to draw visitors through a series of indoor and outdoor exhibits. This state-of-the-art marine park is the only facility in the world dedicated to fostering an understanding and respect for Hawai‘i’s bountiful marine life. It features the largest collection of live coral on display in the nation and showcases the language, history and lore of the Hawaiian Islands. The enchanting open-ocean exhibit can be likened to standing in a giant fishbowl—with thousands of fish swirling around you. Designed to simulate a walk in the ocean, the exhibit features a 52-foot long, four-inch thick, 240-degree see-through acrylic tunnel. It is not uncommon for visitors of all ages to press their faces to the sides of the tunnel or lay their bodies flat on the floor as they are drawn to the creatures of the deep.
The ocean center’s marine collection has been entirely assembled from Hawaiian Island waters. Green sea turtles—part of a hatch-and-release program—are eventually are returned to the ocean.
Those who want to become a part of the ocean can sign up for the ocean center’s dive program. If you have an urge to dive with the sharks, stingrays and tropical reef fish, the ocean center can oblige. The 750,000-gallon open-ocean exhibit holds 20 well-fed tiger and hammerhead sharks, eagle rays and other predators waiting to say hello.
Dive days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday beginning at 8:15 a.m. Divers must carry a scuba certified card and be at least 15 years old. The ocean center provides the air tank and weight belts. The rest of the gear—wetsuit, mask, underwater camera, etc.—is up to you. For more information, call (808) 270-7075 or email info@mauioceancenter.com.
Expect to stay at the center for two hours. Digital audio guides in English, Spanish and Japanese are available. Naturalists are standing by to answer questions and give presentations, which take place on a regular basis throughout the aquarium. Two restaurants are available as well as a gift shop.
The Maui Ocean Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (9 a.m. to 6 p.m. July and August) and offers plenty of free parking. It is handicap-accessible throughout.
• Maui Ocean Center (808) 270-7000
