HAWAII OCEAN PROJECT
Blog
Ocean Cleaners are Headed to Oahu… is Maui Next?
The Department of Natural Land and Resources are going to put trash-collecting Seabins into the notoriously polluted Ala Wai Boat Harbor.
10 Amazing Instagram Spots on Maui
Maui is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, so it’s no surprise that it has some of the best Instagram spots. Read our top picks!
The Five Best Things to Order at the Queen Ka’ahumanu Food Court
Maybe it's a rainy day. Maybe you want to escape direct sunshine. Or maybe you're killing time or picking up last minute souvenirs before you need to drop your rental car off at the airport. For whatever reason, if you find yourself hungry at Maui's largest mall, the...
Hawaii’s New Crosswalk Law Takes Effect Today
OK, so you know how you approach a crosswalk and the crosswalk signal is flashing how much time you have left to cross the street and you see there's 12 seconds to cross the short intersection so you walk across the street and hit the sidewalk with two seconds to...
Maui Named 4th Best Place in the U.S. to Visit… and 6th Best in the World
Yes, we're #luckytolivehawaii, but we also know Maui is a great place to visit. How great? Well, U.S. News and World Reports named Maui the 4th best place in the country to visit. What they wrote about Maui: With idyllic beaches and verdant parks, Maui offers ample...
Coral Reefs are Dying, Can Land-Based Coral Farms Save Them?
The world's coral reefs are dying. In Hawaii, where many people rely on the ocean for their livelihoods (yes, we're raising our hands), this is a scary proposition. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Hawaii pegs the annual gross revenue associated...
Best Japanese Food on Maui
(UPDATED JUNE, 2019) Choosing the best Japanese restaurants on Maui is difficult. There are so many great Japanese restaurants, it's nearly impossible to choose the best. So instead of naming "the best Japanese restaurant on Maui," we're going to list these...
Canada Bans Captivity of Whales and Dolphins
In a good bit of conservation news, Canada has banned the captivity and breeding of whales, dolphins and porpoises across the country. The Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, AKA the "Free Willy" bill, introduced in 2015, was signed into law on Monday....
2019 Maui Obon Schedule
Visiting Maui this summer and looking to try something new? Below you'll find a schedule of this year's Obon dance festivals. Similar to Mexico's Day of the Dead, Obon is an annual Buddhist festival for celebrating one's ancestors. It is believed that each year during...
Maui Destinations: Pools of ‘Ohe’o (Seven Sacred Pools)
After literally years of openings and closings, the Pools of ‘Ohe’o, AKA the Seven Sacred Pools, has re-opened to the public. One of the most popluar tourist destinations on Maui, the Pools had been closed while park staff made software updates and repaired the stream...
Rare Flower In Hawaii Thought To Be Extinct… FOUND!
Easter has come and gone, but a flower once thought to be extinct has risen. A member of the hibiscus family, the Hibiscadelphus woodii, had not been spotted since 2009, and in 2016 it was officially added to the extinct species list. However, in February researchers...
Saying Aloha to the Whales
It's that sad time of year when the North Pacific Humpback Whales depart Hawaii. At the time of this writing (mid-April), the whales are still abundant, but we are definitely seeing fewer than we saw last month. So, if you happen to be on Maui through the end of...
Sunset Dinner Cruise and Lahaina Luau Packages
For anyone coming to visit Maui, a dinner cruise and luau is a must. The Sunset Dinner Cruise and Royal Lahaina Luau Package, operated by Hawaii Ocean Project, offers one price for both experiences. The first evening, we will welcome you aboard the Maui Princess,...
Maui Scores High in Latest Travel Awards
Maui was named the number two travel destination in the United States in the most recent Trip Advisor Travelers' Choice Awards. Oahu finished 3rd and the Big Island landed at number 10. New York City was voted the top destination. Trip Advisor also ranked the best...
Can Maui’s Coral Reefs Be Saved?
Finally some good news for Maui's coral reefs. After years of declining health, it appears the state may be able to enhance the resiliency of our coral reefs. A recent survey of over 51 sites in Maui’s south (Kihei side) and west (Lahaina side) shores showed the most...
Top Five Maui Beaches
Hawaii Magazine took a poll list of the top five beaches on Maui. While it’s a great list, we’re going to re-order & swap in our favorites.
When a Trip to Maui Becomes a Trip to Hawaii
When you take a 10 day trip to Maui, you will spend most of your time at the leisure activity of your choice. Let's face it, 10 days at the beach, on the golf course, at the pool, hiking in the mountains... is, well, paradise. But due to rapidly dropping airfares,...
Hawaii Named Happiest State in the Country… Again!
Is there a reason people choose to live in and visit Hawaii? Beyond rainbows, tasty waves, migrating whales and gorgeous scenery, happiness is certainly a good reason! And for the seventh consecutive year, the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index finds Hawaii...
Why are Hawaii’s Whale Populations Declining?
In an upcoming article scheduled for release in the journal “Royal Society Open Science” titled “Fluctuating reproductive rates in Hawaii’s humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, reflect recent climate anomalies in the North Pacific”, Rachel Cartwright of California...
Scientifically Counting Whales in Hawaii Matters
Keeping tabs on Hawaii’s humpback whale population is important, particularly so in light of recent reports that they may be on the decline.
Entangled Humpback Whale Spotted Off of Lahaina
Over the weekend, a humpback whale was spotted entangled in lines used to catch crab and lobster. The lines wrapped around both the whale's mouth and tail, while cutting into its body. Trained rescue crews were able to reach the whale, but they were not able to...