Maui Ocean Center

Maui Ocean Center is the premier aquarium in Hawaii and one of the top marine education facilities in the Pacific. Located at Ma'alaea Harbor on Maui's south shore, it focuses exclusively on Hawaiian marine life -- from the deep open ocean to shallow reef ecosystems -- and provides families with an immersive understanding of the underwater world they encounter while snorkeling and swimming.

The 750,000-gallon Open Ocean exhibit is the centerpiece. A 54-foot walk-through acrylic tunnel lets visitors stand inside the tank as tiger sharks, hammerhead sharks, eagle rays, and schools of tuna circle overhead and around them. The sharks are the size of adults, and watching them glide past inches away through the glass is genuinely thrilling.

Kids can sit on benches inside the tunnel and watch for as long as they want.

The Hawaiian green sea turtle exhibit features an outdoor pool with multiple viewing levels, including underwater windows that show the turtles swimming from below. Guides provide information about sea turtle biology, conservation, and the cultural significance of honu (turtles) in Hawaiian tradition.

The Living Reef exhibit showcases Hawaii's coral reef ecosystem with tanks representing different reef zones -- shallow tide pools, mid-reef, and deep reef. The identification guides help families recognize fish they have seen (or will see) while snorkeling. The touch pool allows kids to handle sea urchins, sea cucumbers, hermit crabs, and sea stars.

The Humpback Whale Discovery Center uses interactive exhibits and a 3D experience to tell the story of the whales that migrate to Maui each winter. During whale season (December-April), the center's oceanfront location sometimes allows whale sighting from the grounds.

Maui Ocean Center is the island's best rainy-day activity. Most exhibits are covered or indoor, making it a reliable option regardless of weather. Plan 2-3 hours for a thorough visit. The on-site Seascape restaurant offers oceanfront dining.