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Maui Ocean Center
Maui Ocean Center - This world-class aquarium in Maalaea has a walk-through tunnel, an interactive Whale Discovery Center, Turtle Lagoon and living reef exhibits.
A World-Class Aquarium in Maalaea- Walk underwater and never get wet at the new Maui Ocean Center. The ultimate aquarium experience sits at Maalaea Harbor, overlooking the calving and breeding grounds of wintering humpback whales.
Through indoor and outdoor exhibits, plus 40 marine tanks, take a journey from the water’s surface to the depths below. Get face-to-fin with a dangerous tiger shark, deep ocean fish like the mahimahi and spotted eagle rays via a walk-through tunnel in a 2.5-million liter tank, Hawaii’s largest.
From the surface, exhibits include the surging wave tidal pool; Turtle Lagoon, where amphibians sun and swim in their own habitat; and the Tropical Reef’s “living rock” that harbors thriving sponges, anemones and mollusks. Find plankton species and fast fish in the Deep Ocean building and the Whale Discovery Center has a life-size model of a humpback whale calf and interactive displays.
Each section reveals a fascinating story about Hawaii’s exceptional sea creatures, including their strange defense mechanisms, unusual mating habitats and ties to Hawaiian mythology.

Gently pet a sea star, slide your fingers along the smooth spines of the slate pencil sea urchin and let a sea pillow tickle your palm. A supervised, outdoor touch pool lets you get up close with sea creatures.

Open daily in Maalaea Harbor Village, with restaurant and gift shop, (808)270-7000.
STATE MARINE MAMMAL
Weighing 40 tons and stretching 45 feet, humpback whales winter in Hawaii to breed and calve. Nearly 2,000 migrate from polar feeding grounds. Aerial surveys reveal they prefer protective channels between islands, especially those offshore Maui.

THE VALLEY ISLE
Maui gets its nickname from the isthmus connecting its west and east sides. It was formed by volcanic flows from Haleakala. Maalaea fronts the south end; Kahului, the north.

WATCH OUT FOR WILDLIFE!
Hwy. 310 between Kihei and Maalaea fronts the Kealia Pond Wildlife Refuge. It’s home to the endangered Hawaiian stilt, aeo. Turtle crossing highway signs are posted as turtles come in from the ocean at night to lay their eggs in the sandy area.
Copyright 2008
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