“Maui Ocean Center” by Michelle
This aquarium is often said to be the best aquarium in the state of Hawaii. If you want to see Maui’s sea creatures up close but are not into snorkeling or scuba, this is the place for you! (Even if you do plan to snorkel later, it will help you to identify the fish you are seeing!)
The aquarium offers an audio guide for those who want one, but the exhibits are very informative even without. As you walk through the exhibits, you will journey from displays of shallow water animals all the way to the darkest depths of the ocean. Some of MOC’s many inhabitants include octopus, jellyfish, seahorses, beautiful corals, and tropical fish of all kinds. You might even spot a humuhumunukunukuapua’a (Hawaii’s State Fish)! There is a tide pool where visitors can hold starfish, sea cucumbers, and urchins. Feeding time for sharks, rays, and sea turtles is always a fun sight to see. You may even spot some babies among the turtles, as one of MOC’s missions is to raise baby sea turtles and return them to the ocean. (In the wild,
“Underwater Viewing Tube” by Eric Chan
only one out every 1,000 sea turtles survives to adulthood.) There is also an informative exhibit about marine mammals such as the monk seal and humpback whale, since these are not allowed to be kept in captivity.
The grand finale of the Maui Ocean Center, however, is the 54-foot acrylic tunnel that cuts right through the middle of the shark and ray tank. Walk through it and watch as graceful manta rays soar overhead, or sit on a bench and find yourself nose to nose with a hammerhead shark! Many visitors say they could have stayed in the tunnel for hours just watching these amazing creatures!
If you get hungry, stop for lunch at one of the Ocean Center’s two cafes, and then finish off your day with a look through the gift shop, which has a huge variety of souvenirs to choose from. A visit to the creatures of Maui Ocean Center is something you will remember for years to come!
