The Maui Ocean Center: Maui’s Beautiful Aquarium near Kihei

I love having a good plan for a rainy day or just part of a day. The Maui Ocean Center is a great idea if you have either things to do and you need to wait for the sun to come back out or if you have an afternoon/evening flight from Kahului. A beautifully done aquarium and education center, this is a great addition to your time on Maui. It’s conveniently located and provides, I think, a good value for families looking for a kid-friendly activity that appeals to everyone. From the amazing humpback whale experience to the waterfront restaurant, take a look at all you can expect from visiting the Maui Ocean Center.

If you haven’t been to Maui before, this is a great idea to add to your trip because you’ll learn a lot about what you’ll be experiencing on Maui, in particular in the water. The Maui Ocean Center is a fun visit with kids, but it’s also great with adults who want to learn a bit when here. If you have any questions about the aquarium or visiting the island, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more.

Why Visit the Maui Ocean Center in Ma’alaea?

Not everyone is as adventurous as my family and many people come to Maui and never explore underwater. If that’s you, then you’ll love the Maui Ocean Center as it acts as your introduction into the undersea world. And if you are a big snorkeler then you will love visiting this aquarium because it’s all about learning and observing.

The exhibits here are great and the written elements paired with on-site aquarium staff make it a worthwhile visit for both enjoyment and learning. A bonus exhibit at the Maui Ocean Center is the amazing humpback whale experience. No, there aren’t humpback whales in captivity (this isn’t Star Trek IV), but the immersive video experience is pretty cool. It was an absolute hit with our kids (and me).

Aquarium Exhibits to Check Out

You’ll find quite a few large exhibits at the Maui Ocean Center, and just like other unique aquariums, like the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward AK, this one really specifically focuses on the marine life of the Hawaiian Islands. You won’t see fish from around the world, but you’ll learn all about what is in the water all around Maui, which is what makes a visit so worthwhile, particularly if you’re a diver or snorkeler.

Here’s what you’ll find at the Maui Ocean Center:

• Open Ocean w/ tunnel
• Hawaiians and the Sea
• Kaholawe – the island with the weapons testing, now in recovery
• Discovery Pool
• Nursery Bay
• Tide Pool
• Turtle Lagoon
• Surge Zone
• Shallow and Deep Reef
• and the Sphere with the humpback whale exhibit

Tips for Visiting the Maui Ocean Center

While I think the Maui Ocean Center is good anytime, if you have limited time on Maui, you’ll want to spend your time IN the water or hiking if it’s nice out. Having said that, the Maui aquarium is a fantastic plan for either a rainy day or if you have a late flight out of Kahalui (OGG). Because it’s such an interactive place, you can easily spend an hour and a half here or more, but then that’s also not a ton of time so even if you have great weather you can work it in.

And this may seem odd, but the restaurant at the Maui Ocean Center is actually awesome. The food is good, they have nice cocktails and oddly enough, the value is really solid. I’m always stunned by prices on Maui, but the restaurant, Seascape is reasonable with a view into the harbor at Ma’alaea. The short rib lunch is delicious and not what you’d expect at a tourist attraction like this aquarium. It’s definitely worth planning to eat here when you come for a visit. Seascape Restaurant at the Maui Ocean Center is open from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm daily.

How to Add Maui Ocean Center to Your Plans

So how do you incorporate the Maui Ocean Center with your visit to Maui? It’s not difficult because no doubt you’ll be in the Ma’alaea area either to go out whale watching with the Pacific Whale Foundation or heading from Kihei to Kahului.

You can easily depart your hotel or condo in Kihei or Wailea, or even up in Lahaina, and visit on your way to the airport (plan your time well). If you’re planning a long day driving the Northwestern Loop you can start here before heading to the remote part of the island. For a fun day of learning and then seeing in the real world, come to the Maui Ocean Center and then drive over to Olowalu for snorkeling at one of our favorite places to see honu and monk seals.

Maui Ocean Center Parking Options

There is a parking lot attached to the Maui Ocean Center. It’s a shared lot with digital payment for parking. DON’T FORGET TO PAY. We’ve parked here for both the aquarium and for our whale watching tour with Pacific Whale Foundation. If you’re staying close by, it will probably be a similar cost to take an Uber, but the best option really is to walk if you’re able.