Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Away
Located at a crossroads, Maʻalaea has good connections to the rest of Maui's public bus
with Lahaina, Kahului and Kihei. Service depends on the route, but buses operate hourly
from around 6am to 8pm.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Molokini Crater
Molokini
(per person $140)
is a volcanic crater sitting midway between the islands of
Maui and Kahoʻolawe. The underwater sites within the crater often draw more than 1000
visitors per day.
Half of the crater rim has eroded away, leaving a pretty crescent moon that rises 160ft
above the ocean surface, with a mere 18 acres of rocky land that's high and dry. But it's
what's beneath the surface that draws the crowds. Snorkelers and divers will be thrilled
by steep walls, ledges, white-tipped reef sharks, manta rays, turtles and abundant fish.
The legends about Molokini are myriad. One says Molokini was a beautiful woman
who was turned to stone by jealous Pele, goddess of volcanoes. Another claims one of
Pele's lovers angered her by secretly marrying a
moʻo
(shape-shifting water lizard). Pele
chopped the sacred lizard in half, leaving Molokini as its tail and Puʻu Olaʻi in Makena
as its head. Yet another tale alleges that Molokini, which means ʻmany ties' in Hawaiian,
is the umbilical cord left over from the birth of Kahoʻolawe.
The coral reef that extends outward from Molokini is extraordinary, though it has lost
some of its variety over the years. Most of the black coral that was once prolific in Mo-
lokini's deeper waters made its way into Lahaina jewelry stores before the island was de-
clared a marine conservation district in 1977. During WWII the US Navy shelled Mo-
lokini for target practice, and live bombs are still occasionally spotted on the crater floor.
Be sure to consider the following when planning your excursion to Molokini: the wa-
ter is calmest and clearest in the morning. Don't fall for discounted afternoon tours - get
out there early for the smoothest sailing and best conditions. For snorkelers, there's
simply not much to see when the water's choppy. The main departure point for outings to
Molokini is Maʻalaea, but you can also get there from other ports, including Kihei.
