Skagway was unique and memorable in its own way. The highlight of the day was definitely the waterfall and wildlife tour, not only for the scenery but also the “intangibles” offered by the tour hosts, the local personalities that make every vacation memorable.

Going to Maui? Part III – Touring the ocean depths from the comfort of an air-conditioned building

By Jeffrey A. Rendall; Photos by Hallie Foulke and Jeffrey A. Rendall

The Maui Ocean Center is a touristy but satisfying highlight of a trip to Maui

It invariably happens on every week-long getaway to a notable tropical warm-weather vacation spot, namely the need to find something fulfilling to do that doesn’t involve the beach, the hotel pool or some other expensive recreational endeavor. Costs add up quickly, particularly when you’ve got a large traveling party.

Our group included two youngins under the age of four and two super seniors hovering around the age of 90, one of which was confined to a wheelchair. Whatever we chose to do, it had to be convenient, reasonably priced and visitor-friendly and interesting enough to stimulate all ages.

The solution? The Maui Ocean Center, which is located mid-island and satisfies the above criteria as well. The “Aquarium” as we call it, is more than just something you pass along the lone highway that connects the airport and western Maui.

Most of us had been there before, and the Aquarium had previously served as a good place for the non-golfing members of our party to go to kill time while the golfers hit the links. I had only been there once and enjoyed it myself, though I didn’t remember how interesting and well-presented the place really is.

And, compared with most other offerings on Maui, the Ocean Center is quite reasonable in terms of dollar outlay.

The center is divided into several buildings/rooms that showcase different segments of the tropical ocean experience. We initially selected the exhibits dealing with the extensive reefs around the islands, and was unique in that it was set up so visitors went “deeper” and darker as the depths increased.

Totally cool! “Descending” signs guided your path. And the exhibit dimmed as you went deeper, too.

Each “level” featured the varieties of coral and vegetation and ocean floor and rocks and sand and, of course, animal life that you would encounter at each depth. It was like scuba diving or snorkeling without the physical hassles involved with those activities. Was it exactly the same? Probably not, but you can’t take your toddler snorkeling, either. And the older folks… well, they’d no doubt prefer the warm and dry environment at the Ocean Center as well.

I found myself saying “wow” a lot at the Ocean Center because there’s so much below the sea surface that we don’t understand would be there. This certainly goes for types of fish… and we learned that sharks aren’t nearly as dangerous as people think they are. As would be expected, there was a bent towards preservation and caring for the ocean, but it wasn’t preachy or overdone.

I never thought I would see an eel up close. But man, those things are creepy! There were fish and animals that disguised themselves as coral. The coral is actually “alive” as well. You get the Jacque Cousteau treatment without having to spend a year on the Calypso!

As you’d probably gather from the description, the presentation is information saturation that demands hours and a slow pace to fully appreciate. But you can get the gist of the place in a couple hours as well, as we did.

In addition to the ocean displays, there’s an exhibit featuring sea turtles which includes live turtles of different sizes, complete with sizable below surface-level windows to view the shelled-animals swimming up close. The kids really loved the turtles. There aren’t as many specimens as there were at the Turtle Center on Grand Cayman Island in the Caribbean, but when you’ve seen one turtle… complete the sentence.

The Ocean Center also a contains a 750,000 gallon “Open Ocean” exhibit complete with the fish and animals you’d find… well, in the open ocean. This included sharks (no man eaters) and rays and fish of different types and sizes. Some of them looked like game fish. They won’t end up on your wall – or on your dinner table – but you’ll gain an appreciation of what life is like “out there”.

Seeking a moment of peace and contemplation? Think about the open ocean life. It’s thriving as we speak. Uncontrolled, directionless, truly free… this very moment.

All along, you’ll get a sense of the considerable resources it took to establish this site. Put it this way, you can’t just construct something like the Ocean Center in your back yard. The purveyors of ocean life have established this center for study and display. Well done, all around.

I’m not sure if it was meant to come last on a visit to the Ocean Center, but we toured the Humpback whale exhibit on our final stop there. As with the other sections, the whale exhibit contained several explanatory pieces, which detailed the life cycle and behavior of Humpback Whales, including their “songs”, which the males perfect to attract mates in the waters off of Maui.

There was human interpretation as well. A very knowledgeable “volunteer” made herself available for our questions, which ranged from, “should we take a whale watching tour?” to, “why do Humpback Whales return year after year”, to, “how do they know when it’s time to head to Alaska?”

There was a film to view too, but the showtimes didn’t match up for us. I would’ve liked to see the movie, but the time we were there – it was presented in a language we don’t speak. Do the Humpbacks understand different dialects, too?

A brief stop at the gift shop completed our visit to the Maui Ocean Center. Packed with interesting and fun take-home items, you could easily devote an hour looking over things – and spend money, too. It’s your personal preference.

Because of schedule demands, we didn’t get to completely and thoroughly explore the Maui Ocean Center. Much was left for a future tour – or tours. The problem with visiting these types of places is having insufficient time when you’re there. Budget accordingly. But I can’t help but feel there’s something for everyone at the “Aquarium”. Well done.

The Maui Ocean Center is a must-see on your trip to Maui. Save time – and your budget – to go there. You can find more information at:  https://mauioceancenter.com/

Humpback Whale sounds:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOkcvGPHsgk&list=RDUOkcvGPHsgk&start_radio=1

Humpback Exhibit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isnv-_1gqic