Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Makena Landing
The volcanic Makena coastline goes by many names;
Turtle Town
is perhaps the most
relevant to snorkelers. It's pockmarked with
caves
which form the perfect shelter for sea
turtles. Winter months are best along this southern shoreline. Everyone from scuba divers
to kayak tours and snorkeling boats frequents the rugged coast (
click here
)
.
white spotted moray at Hulopo'e Beach Park
a
honu
(sea turtle) off Makena's coastline
Molokini Crater
A crescent-shaped volcanic caldera off the southern coastline of Maui, Molokini Crater of-
fers
crystal-clear waters
with 100-foot visibility on most days of the year. Over a dozen
snorkeling tours make the early morning pilgrimage to the crater, home to over
250 spe-
cies of fish.
For an extreme adventure, scuba divers should tackle the
famous Back Wall,
which drops straight down for nearly 300 feet (
click here
)
.
Ulua and Mokapu Beach
These neighboring Wailea beaches are South Maui's most easily accessible, making them
ideal for
beginning snorkelers.
The rocky point between the two beaches teems with
tropical reef fish
(
click here
).
Hulopo'e Beach Park
This Lana'i marine reserve has one of the
healthiest reefs
in Maui County and fronts
a beach ranked as the nation's best. Come face-to-face with multihued
parrotfish
as
they snack on colorful coral, or search the shallows for the
humuhumunukunukuapua'a,
Hawai'i's state fish (
click here
)
.
