Snorkeling in Maui

• The funnest and safest way to swim with the fishes

Snorkeling is an excellent vacation activity both on and around Maui. Things that affect how much you enjoy snorkeling are the fit of the mask and fins, the quality of the snorkel, and the tranquility and visibility of the water. The mask fits well if you can hold it up to your face, inhale through your nose, and get the mask to stick. Fins made of soft rubber tend to rub less against the skin. Good snorkels have a reservoir at the bottom of the tube below your mouth (where it makes the U shape) to catch water that goes in. Some snorkels come with a wave guard which can prevent salt water intake as well. Generally, if there are white-caps on the water it won't be good for snorkeling. There are lots of great places on and around Maui to snorkel.

MOLOKINI is a crescent-shaped island off the coast of Maui that can be reached by boat or kayak. Molokini is a wildlife preserve and is a protected area, so people are not allowed on shore. The reef here is a unique ecosystem and a very popular snorkel destination. Reef sharks, which are very small, are often seen here as well.

LANA'I is a destination island with a few very high-end resorts and beautiful beaches. Snorkeling trips from Maui often frequent popular Lanai'i snorkel sites, some of which have large coral formations with beautiful swimmable channels.

OLUWALU is very shallow and calm and a great place to teach kids to snorkel, however the reef offshore has been largely destroyed. The better snorkeling at Oluwalu is when it is approached by boat.
Image by Rtoodetoo via Flickr
TURTLE REEF is often included in snorkel sails but can be reached from the shore by the Maui Prince Hotel in Makena. The snorkeling here is great but you must be a good swimmer because the reef is a ways off shore. There are lots of turtles here, like the name suggests

ULUA is a good beach with great snorkeling offshore to the right side, Turtles are very commonly seen here also. Reef-safe sunscreen is provided free at the information desk.

HONOLUA BAY has great snorkeling with huge coral formations, eels, reef sharks, sting rays, turtles at the point off to the right hand side, and an amazing quantity of fish. There are rocks instead of sand here and water shoes would be a good idea, although it's not terrible without them.

AHIHI has good snorkeling but it only starts getting good pretty far off shore so again you should be a strong swimmer. Turtles are commonly seen here, and the red and black sea urchins make the coral landscape spectacular.

AIRPORT BEACH has plentiful coral and a very diverse selection of fish. This beach is located in Kaanapali by the new Westin Ocean Villas. If you go to the public beach park the best snorkeling is to the right. Turtles are common here too.

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Sunrise at Haleakala

Haleakala at sunrise is truly one of the most beautiful places on the planet. You have to get up very early in the morning and dress warmly as you are traveling up to 10,000 feet and even on Maui it gets cold at the elevation.

One of Maui’s most memorable experiences, seeing the Haleakala sunrise from almost 10,000 feet above sea level does take some planning. Here are a few tips to make the most of your Haleakala expedition.

Come Early
Depending where you get started from on Maui, it can take you up to two hours to drive the Haleakala Highway (HI 37) and then up the winding Haleakala Crater Road leading to the summit of Haleakala. It’s an early wake-up call, but the reward is well worth it.

Drive past the Park Visitors Center at 7,000 feet to get to the Haleakala Visitors Center at 9,740 feet. Try to arrive at the Haleakala Visitor Center no later than a half hour before the sun rises — earlier for a good spot. In the summer the sun rises as early as 5:38 AM, in the winter as late as 6:55 AM. The color of the sky and clouds before daybreak are stunning.

Bring Warm Clothes
This is Hawaii but it gets very cold at the summit. The temperature drops 3º for every 1000 feet of elevation, so at the Haleakala Visitor Center’s 9,740-foot elevation (where most people watch the sunrise) it’s about 30º colder than at sea level. Be sure to bring pants, shoes, layers of clothing, and blankets. Temperatures are often in the 40-degree range.

Pick Up Breakfast
Although there are restroom facilities there is no food or gas sold within the park. So fill up your tank and bring some food and drink for an early morning breakfast. And most importantly don’t forget your camera.