Hawaii Magazine recently took a poll and published their list of the top five beaches on Maui. While it’s a great list, we’re going to re-order it… and swap in a couple of our favorites. First, here are the results of the Hawaii Magazine readers...
Keeping tabs on Hawaii’s humpback whale population is important, particularly so in light of recent reports that they may be on the decline. One group of local researchers responded to this concern by performing aerial surveys of Maui Nui (greater Maui region)...
Holy Poseidon, we’ve had a wild winter here on Maui. While Wailea, Kihei and Lahaina tend to be dry pretty much year-round, this winter has been something else. Normally, the rains come in the form of showers that last less than 10 minutes. But if you happen to...
Whale Tales 2019 is coming to Maui from February 15 – 18. Hosted by Whale Trust at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, Whale Tales is a fully immersive educational (and fun!) weekend featuring marine biologists, whale researchers and award-winning photographers from...
If you need another reason, besides staying dry, better sight lines and comfort, to book a whale watch trip on a larger boat like those sailed by Hawaii Ocean Project versus a smaller, rubber boat, you can add safety to the list. A British couple kayaking in Monterey...
The weather on Maui has been rough this winter. Between the wind and the rain, it feels like the Pacific Northwest. At least the temperatures remain warm and the Polar Vortex didn’t reach Hawaii! Even though the temps are still nice, windy conditions can create...
When you join us on a whale watch tour on Maui, breaching is one of the common actions you’re likely to see. Breaching is when a whale throws its entire body out of the water. It’s an awesome to sight to witness, to be sure. But why do humpback whales...
Every winter, the thousands of humpback whales that migrate to Hawaii are a source of wonder and interest among both island visitors and residents. For those who keep an eye on the blue horizon, the whales can put on quite a show with their acrobatic antics. Their...
There is nothing more exciting than seeing a 30-ton whale throwing itself out of the ocean like a spinner dolphin on one of our whale watches. Luckily for you, whales have more than just one trick up their fins! Here is a visual guide to seven common humpback whale...
When is whale watching season on Maui? Unofficially, whale watching season runs from December 1 – April 30. But the whales came early this year and we’re already running Whale Watch tours! Where is the best place to see the whales? Well, we may be a teeny...
After spending the summer consuming roughly 5,000 pounds of food in Alaska, the humpback whales are completing their arduous 3,000 mile journey to Hawaii. How lucky we are! Though we witness these 30-ton beauties every winter, the sight of a humpback whale breaching...
1.) At just over 140 square miles, Lana’i is the sixth largest island of the Hawaiian island chain. During the 2010 census, Lana’i’s counted just 3,102 residents. Nearly all reside in the former pineapple plantation town of Lana’i City. 2.) One...
Maui is truly a fantastic destination for the entire family. Sure, it’s great for honeymooners or couples looking to escape day-to-day life, but with safe beaches, plenty of condos and resorts with full kitchens that cater to children and a family-friendly...
Over the past three years, it appears the number of humpback whales coming to Hawaii for the winter are declining. This finding is based not only on hard counts of the whales, but also on the diminishing number of males that have been recorded singing. Finally, and...
Snorkeling on Maui is great. Whether it’s from a boat or from the beach, there are numerous places here to see fish, turtles, rays and even sharks (the good kind that don’t bite!) If you’re looking for great places to snorkel, check out our article “Best Places...
There are two schools of thought when it comes to jellyfish. When seen in an aquarium, like the fabulous Maui Ocean Center, they are stunningly beautiful. Watching them glow and glide is a sight to behold. On the other hand, when you’re wading waist deep in the...
Just being on Maui can be pretty darn romantic. All you need to do is step outside and all five of your senses will light up. Hearing the ocean, smelling the flowers, seeing the palm trees, touching the sand and tasting the ono (delicious) food sets you up for a...
(UPDATED JULY, 2019) Maui holds some of the world’s best beaches. These beaches are a place for numerous fun activities, and one of the most popular is to explore what is going on underneath the water. Of course, some spots are better than others when it comes...
Some people come to Maui for the beach, others for the hiking, most for relaxation. But if you’re coming to Maui and want to try your hand at fishing, there are some things you need to know. In this article, we’ll talk about regulations, where you might...
When you visit Hawaii, you’re probably going to be spending a lot of time in the water. Visitors often ask about sharks, as in “should I be worried about them?” The fact is, many more people run into personal health-related issues while in the ocean...
Turtles are the rare creature you can see both underwater and on shore. While you’re more likely to spot turtles, on Maui at least, in the water, if you know where to look you can see the largest of them, green sea turtles, resting on the beach. Hawaii is home...
One of the most exciting fish to see while snorkeling in Hawaii is a ray. A distant cousin of the shark, rays can often be seen in Maui’s waters fairly close to shore. Highly photogenic, seeing rays is always the highlight of any snorkeling adventure. Here are...
It seems whenever people are near marine animals, they tend to lose composure. I mean, we get it. At Hawaii Ocean Project, we run all sorts of ocean charters that bring visitors within stunning proximity. We see firsthand how visitors react, most of them being their...
We recently updated our policy to no longer allow the use of full-faced snorkel masks, on our snorkel excursion to Lanai. While there is still much-needed research to be done on these trendy masks, we are not comfortable allowing the use of them, on our boats, at this...
As one would expect, winter in Hawaii isn’t all that different from summer. Year-round subtropical weather is what makes the Hawaiian Islands a warm winter paradise. You wouldn’t normally associate winter and tropical in the same sense, but that’s exactly what to...
I’m writing from experience. I was the only person to get sick on a snorkel excursion to Lanai... and I work here! Since that trip, I’ve been trying various ways to avoid feeling that way again. Of course, if you don’t get sick, it’s hard to...
For your little mermaids and mermen, Maui’s coastlines provide ample child-friendly beaches. No matter what part of the island you’re on, you will find a wonderful beach for your family. Here are the six beaches we think are best for families with children...
Surrounded by the big ocean blue, we here at Hawaii Ocean Project strive to show you the best of Maui as well as help you avoid any hiccups while on your island adventure. For those families with keiki (children) in tow, we have listed some kid-friendly beaches on the...
With all the fun and exciting activities here on Maui, it is no surprise that many adventures take place in the ocean. As an enjoyable experience for all ages, we would hate for you to miss out on the clear and warm Hawaiian waters. So it is important for us here at...
A warm island breeze softly brushes your shoulders while you sit back in your seat to enjoy the soothing rhythm of the Hawaiian waters gently lapping the sides of the boat. Watch as the sun paints the sky intense shades of sunset with a refreshing beverage in hand and...
Unlike diving, where things like water salinity levels, hydrogen sulfide and water temperature gradients can deeply affect visibility, when snorkeling around Maui, most of the external factors that affect visibility are easy to spot. If you notice the water seems...
Snorkeling in Maui is fun. When you enter our waters, you’re liable to see fish of all colors, turtles, sea urchins, and maybe even (harmless) sharks and rays. But when snorkeling, don’t overlook the coral. Coral are beautiful, living ANIMALS. Coral has a...
Known for the warm, clear waters and colorful marine life, it would be a shame if you missed the unique opportunity of snorkeling in Maui. Enjoyable for all ages, snorkeling offers the chance to glimpse at a whole other world built just under the water’s surface!...
Sunscreens have been making headlines lately due to their contribution to coral bleaching and ocean acidification. Coral bleaching is the phenomenon whereby coral loses its color and rejects symbiotic organisms, essentially killing the coral. While rising sea...
Maui is blessed with miles and miles of sandy beaches. Not all beaches, though, have tide pools. In fact, most don’t have them. But when you come across a great tide pool, you can use it as an ecological teaching moment for children or just enjoy the sea life...
The scientific name for the green sea turtle is Chelonia mydas, but the Hawaiian name is simply: “Honu.” For many snorkelers, these fascinating marine reptiles become the highlight of a good outing. Despite their status as an endangered species, there are...
Snorkeling ranks high on the list of things to do when visiting Maui. But you can’t just snorkel anywhere there’s a beach. Well, you can, but you might not see more than the back of your hand. To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of...
Maui is blessed with the best beaches in the world. A unique thing about our beaches is the variety of sands you can discover. Here’s a quick primer on three different types of sands and where you can find them on Maui. Plus, we’ll point you to two more...
Making plans for your 4th of July weekend on Maui? Lahaina Town will have the only aerial fireworks show on the island, and considering how popular this celebration has been in previous years, we don’t expect this one to be any different. That is, aside from...
Whether you’re looking forward to trying it for the first time, or you’re already hooked on Maui snorkeling excursions, knowing the associated health benefits can enhance your enjoyment of this wonderful experience. Not only that, but you may find yourself...
Maui is a wonderful place for a corporate retreat, especially if you want your employees to know that they deserve something special in terms of a destination. It’s tough to top Maui in terms of enjoyment, and that’s a big factor that helps boost your...
Undecided on your Easter Sunday plans? If you’re going to be spending your holiday here on the island, it’s true you’ll find a long list of choices, but what could be better than a Maui dinner cruise at sunset aboard Lahaina’s biggest yacht,...
Humpback whale watching season is still going strong here on Maui, and while some individuals have begun their yearly migration back to their summer feeding grounds off the Alaskan coast, many others won’t depart until late April or perhaps early May. That means...
Corporate retreats and conferences bring more and more visitors to Maui each year. After all, who wouldn’t want to get together for fun, relaxation, and mental stimulation on a tropical island? Best of all, you get to enjoy an “exotic” location while...
If you love marine mammals and you’re on vacation to Maui, why not join in on Whale Tales, an annual marine science and education event? Specifically, you may wish to jump on one of the event’s benefit Maui whale watch tours. All the proceeds support...
Lanai is one of the best places for snorkeling in Maui County. The nicest spots are much less crowded than those surrounding Maui, and the coral reefs are full of delightful marine life, such as native fish, crabs, urchins, sea stars, sea cucumbers, and much more. You...
We live in a digital age, and one of its advantages is the ease of taking pictures to preserve the special moments that we want to remember, not to mention deleting the ones we don’t! Few things are worth photographing more than a beautiful Maui vacation,...
Maui is an amazing place to welcome a new year full of possibilities, so if you’re lucky enough to be here for the celebration, you’ve made the right choice. There are plenty of exciting ways to bid farewell the old and ring in the new. For example, if you...
If you want to make the most of your ocean activities here on Maui, it helps to learn some of the island’s nuances. If you’ve ever lived in a coastal area, then you probably realize how important it is to know what to expect from the ocean in the areas you...
Some of our Maui ocean cruise guests are on the fence as to whether they want to book by phone or online. Some of us like talking to a person when we schedule an excursion, while others prefer the efficiency and ease of online booking. If you fall into the former...
