Maui Ocean Center

Some of my most cherished memories were driving around the island of Oahu. My Dad would be our “puka shell” tour guide, and we’d make our way from Manoa to Haleiwa via Wahiawa continue through the Windward side making the bend past Makapu’u and head home from Koko Head. While we would stop at the advertised tourist spots, we’d also taste the flavors of the “Mom and Pop” stores frequented by the local folk.

For those of you just joining my journey now, my employer has temporarily assigned me to work on the island of Maui. I’ve been here for a little over two months soaking in as much of the local culture possible. I am fortunate that my sister and her family live here because I’ve enjoyed participating in their lives.

With school on a holiday break, Lilinoe and the children flew to Maui allowing for an opportunity for us to “play tourist.” We mapped out a flexible plan, not by choice but because I simply cannot be tied down to a set routine, spontaneity is one of the ingredients I never run out of.

I utterz’d earlier that we had planned to visit the Maui Ocean Center, and our decision was well worth the time and buck!

The MOC is located at: 192 Ma’alae Road, Wailuku, HI, but don’t let the address fool you into thinking it’s in the heart of Wailuku. We drove from a district called Honokowai which is about a 15-minute drive west from Lahaina town, and a little less than that from Ka’anapali. From our home to MOC it’s little over 20 miles and it maps out to 34-minutes. The drive along the west coast of Maui is breathtaking, with the island of Lana’i following like your shadow, and the blue ocean tempting you to cancel your plans altogether and take a swim. Spontaneity was not sprinkled upon me, and so we continued our commute to MOC.

There is ample, spacious parking, but since we visited in December, it was also peak time and it took a few more minutes than I had liked to find a stall. Did I mention that I get impatient sometimes? It’s probably due to the anticipation of the MOC, or so I’d like to blame. As with everywhere I visit I scan for cleanliness, and I am pleased to report on our visit that from our parking space to the restrooms and throughout the entire center, it was very clean.

As with nearly all of the “tourist spots” they offered a Kama’aina discount with a valid identification card. I’m unsure exactly how much the discount off of the entry tickets were but the prices posted, and what we were actually charged was almost a 60% difference, and so we added in an “audio” tour guide for only two dollars more.

The aquarium exhibit took us from an abundance of reef fish to the deep seas of sea life that prohibited flash cameras. One that was particularly strange was the frogfish. I had never even heard of it, but it’s family to the angler fish, though as you can see from this front-side picture it’s possibly from the “unattractive” side of the family. Even more peculiar is that while most children would gush in amazement over the turtles or if they have an obsession like my little guy Jayden, they’d have an affinity for sharks. But, my 2-year-old neice Taimane, asks about the frogfish almost daily, hopefully it’s not a “traumatic” curiosity.

Outside of the aquarium was a Turtle Lagoon, Hammerhead exhibit, and what I like to describe as a “petting zoo.” Jayden at first was apprehensive to stick his hand into the water to touch any of the creatures, but once he realized that the starfish wasn’t going to flip over and snap at his little fingers, he gently brushed it’s hard coarse exterior. The honu (turtle) were fiesty showing their personalities by surfacing at the precise time as if posing for a photo.

Ever since Jayden watched the Disney movie, “The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl” he’s had an obsession for sharks. In fact, just prior to taking his first school picture he asked his teacher to make his hair into a dorsal fin. And so, for our family it was the different sharks that attracted us to MOC in the first place, and we were not disappointed. From the Hammerhead exhibit to aquarium, the sharks were lively and animated. Though we did not purchase it, I’d like to mentionn that MOC offers a “Shark Dive.”

We had eaten a hearty breakfast before arriving, so we didn’t purchase any food or drinks so I’m unable to share any experience but they do have a restaurant and cafe. A full stomach did not however deter us from shopping at the MOC store that had a mesmerizing display of artwork and jewelry. One salesperson offered Chelsea 50% off of one-piece of artwork if she could find the “king and queen” within the reef. It took her less than five minutes, and they honored their discount. The original price? $500,000. I must mention that the store too offers a 10% off of everything for Kama’aina with valid identification.

Our morning was well spent soaking in everything the Maui Ocean Center had to offer. We absolutely recommend everyone of all ages visit if you’re on the island of Maui.

Enjoy our photos.