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The Maui Ocean Center Aquarium, Shop and Restaurant at Maalea
June 12, 2009 by admin · 3 Comments
Maui boasts plenty of activities geared toward adults: championship-level golf courses, stunning hiking trails and trendy nightclubs and bars. But Maui also offers plenty for younger visitors, too. And these offerings start with the Maui Ocean Center.
Consistently ranked as one of the top family attractions in Hawaii, Maui’s Ocean Center aquarium manages that rarest of feats: It’s kid friendly but fun for adults, too.
Located right next to Maalea Harbor and the whale-watching boats, the Maui Ocean Center is home to an amazing array of oceanic life. Visitors can marvel at giant sea turtles, menacing looking hammerhead sharks and mysterious, but rather tame, stingrays.
The aquarium ranks as one of the top marine attractions in the country. And it’s easy to see why. The 750,000-gallon Open Ocean Exhibit is worth the price of admission alone. This exhibit is home to more than 20 sharks, stingrays and thousands of colorful tropical fish.
Some of the more unusual ocean creatures on display here include moray eels, the Devil Scorpionfish, hammer-head sharks and green sea turtles. It’s a visit that younger family members are sure to remember. And it might prove to be a pleasant surprise for the older members of the family too.
A one-day pass for adults for the 2009 season costs $25. Children between the ages of 3 to 12 are charged $18, while seniors older than 65 pay $22.
It’s possible to make an entire day trip out of a visit to the Maui Ocean Center. Besides the exhibits, the center boasts a large and busy store, the Maui Ocean Center Store, and a full-service restaurant, the Seascape Ma’alaea Restaurant.
Put this on the list of places you must visit when on Maui – it’s the place to see Hawaiian Marine Life!
Visit the Summit of Haleakala in the National Park
June 11, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Maui’s Haleakala translates as “The House of the Sun” and this dormant volcano, which is the tallest peak on Maui at an impressive 10,023 feet above sea level, deserves the title. Looking up at the peak, it does seem as if Haleakala can pierce the sun.
A hike, or more likely a drive, to the Haleakala National Park summit area is a must for any visitor to Maui. The depression at the summit – sometimes incorrectly called Haleakala’s crater – is large enough, as it’s frequently said, to hold the entire island of Manhattan.
The Haleakala National Park summit area stretches 7-and-a-half miles long and two-and-a-half miles wide. Even more impressive, it is an astounding 4,000 feet deep.
The depression at the Haleakala’s summit even boasts a miniature mountain range of nine cinder cones. These cones are a tourist attraction by themselves, with one rising more than 1,000 feet tall.
Why do so many tourists flock each year to the summit area? A few seek the challenge of the long, winding hike up Haleakala’s side. Others come to experience the once-in-a-lifetime thrill of camping inside a dormant volcano.
Cyclists come to the summit of Haleakala to zip down the long, windy road that runs from the park entrance to the town of Pa’ia at the ocean’s edge on the north shore of Maui.
Also many come to watch the brilliant sunsets. The rainbow of colors that spill over the Haleakala National Park summit area can be like a postcard come to life. And it doesn’t even require a long hike.
Those traveling to the summit, though, should be advised that the hiking around the summit area can be tiring. This is not an easy Maui hike as the air is much thinner at this altitude and you should take things easy especially at first.
Hikers into the “crater area” should also dress appropriately. The temperatures at the summit can drop about 32 degrees from what they are at sea level. At times, strong winds can make it feel even cooler at the top of Haleakala especially in the winter months.
In fact if you join the many Maui visitors that travel up to the summit early each morning to witness the spectacular sun rise then take some very warm clothes and blankets with you as the temperature at this time of the day can feel like freezing even in the summer!
Of course, tourists don’t have to hike to appreciate the Haleakala National Park summit area. They can also drive along the Haleakala Crater Road to reach the summit and this is how most visitors get to the summit.
The drive up Haleakala gives visitors an excellent change to study the diverse ecosystem of Maui. Forests of eucalyptus and jacaranda trees mark the landscape along the road. Tourists may also see hungry cattle grazing contentedly along the mountainside.
But whether you hike, drive or simply stay at the volcano’s base to admire the coming sunset, you should not skip a trip to the top of Haleakala while visiting Maui. The amazing volcano is one of the island’s top attractions, and is not to be missed.
Driving the Road to Hana along the Hana Highway
June 9, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Maui offers plenty of attractions designed to get tourists moving. Everything from championship-level golf to snorkeling to surfing can provide Maui visitors a true workout.
But there is one attraction on the island that encourages travelers to get into their cars, the Hana Highway.
The Hana Highway, known also as the Road to Hana, is the 68-mile ribbon of Hawaii State Highways 36 and 360 that runs from busy Kahului to the town of Hana in eastern Maui.
The Road to Hana has become a popular tourist attraction in Maui. It’s little wonder why; The Hana Highway is one of the most scenic stretches of road in the United States.
The highway winds past waterfalls, lush landscapes, natural wildlife, wineries and busy restaurants. It also offers more than its share of magnificent views.
The Hana Highway ends at the renowned Ohe’o Gulch, better known as the Seven Sacred Pools area. This is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Maui. And don’t believe that name.
There are many more than seven clear pools, and many, many waterfalls, in the Ohe’o Gulch.
If you travel the Road to Hana, you’ll want to make sure to bring your camera along. The highway is dotted with scenic turnouts, including many that overlook some of Maui’s magnificent waterfalls.
The highway has earned recognition outside of Maui. The Hana Highway is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
It may seem odd to view a highway as a major tourist attraction, but the amazing Road to Hana deserves the honor.
