It's been years since my last visit, but the Maui Ocean Center has only improved since then. The experience was fantashe nursery tide pool, the turtle pool, and the inclusion of Kahoolawe in the exhibit is remarkable, with the Sphere taking it to another level. read more

Amazing and friendly. No price gouging once you're in. Very happy to go back. My son was amazed the entire time

While the kids loved it, honestly, it's too expensive for what is there. Would not recommend unless you have really young kids.

We LOVED the Maui Ocean Center. We were here for almost 5 hours. Some portions are inside and some portions are outside. There is plenty of seating throughout. Most of the inside portions have AC. So many different animals and things to see, plus a beautiful view of the harbor and ocean. We enjoyed the shark area the most. The restaurant at the ocean center (SeaScape) was delicious! Highly recommend. And the Mai tais were $5! A few other snack/dessert options are available, including Ululani's shave ice. *parking is not free. I believe we paid $12 for 5 hours. read more

Maui Ocean Center - Seahorse - Aquariums Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

A visit to the Maui Ocean Center in Wailuku isn't like a visit to a mainland aquarium. This one is focused on the unique Hawaiian sealife --- a one-of-a-kind aquarium to see one-of-a-kind species. I saw huge glowing tanks of coral and fish. A translucent green tank houses translucent jellyfish, gently rising and falling. If you're looking to zone out and de-stress, the jellyfish tank is a good stopping point. If you want a little adrenaline, the nearby shark tank and shark tunnel have predators that are near but safely distant, with plexiglass between them and you. While aquariums I've been to invariably have someone in scuba gear interact with the fish --- and you see that here too --- Maui Ocean Center goes a stride further. One gentleman showed me how he weaves nets in a traditional Hawaiian fashion. Nearby are descriptions of the numerous ways Hawaiians have fished the bounty of their remote waters. From torch fishing to gathering by hand, to trapping fish, to the use of fishponds. Ancient Hawaiian aquaculture is explained in depth. When you visit Kihei, Wailea and other points in Southwest Maui, you can't help but see Kahoʻolawe Island, which overshadows nearby Molokini, famous for its snorkelling. The Maui Ocean Center has rightly devoted a big exhibition to this mysterious, sacred island and its tragic history. A highlight was watching a 3-D film of Hawaii's Humpback whales. The 15-or-so-minute film in the Sphere was as immersive as you can get, with gargantuan humpback whales gliding right towards you in your seat, complete with the eerie and memorable sounds that they make. Well worth a visit! (FYI, parking isn't free.) read more

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(+) Quick trip but informative - 2-3 hours in ample time (+) Great for kids Was really debating on taking my toddler and wife. We did some extensive research and watched many videos to see if the trip was worth it. Needless to say, we loved our time here. Even though my son was running around the whole time, my wife and I enjoyed our experience because the exhibits contained insightful information and the food at the cafe was really solid; food at an ocean center is something you don't have high expectations for. The ocean center does a fantastic job at leading you down the depths of the ocean and the signage guides you through their center. As a first-time visitor, I appreciated how easy it was to navigate through their property. We saw the living creatures, as if you snorkeled 500 feet away from the facility in the ocean, but close up. The sea turtles were my favorite. We ordered a spam musubi and a slice of pepperoni pizza for our little snack. My son loved both equally and the pizza was really good. The price at $9 for a slice is a little high, but at least it tasted good. They have a stand alone Ululanis shaved ice stand inside the ocean center. Delicious flavors and the ice melts in your mouth. A tasty treat. For around $50 per adult, you may have the same question as me; Is it worth the price of admission? I would say yes! read more

Took my 2 year old here and we all enjoyed our time there. The area wasn't really that big but had things to do for us to spend half a day there. We spent quite a bit of time watching the sharks and we even saw a staff scrubbing rocks (i think that's what he or she was doing?!). The sphere experience was another favorite of mine. The humpback whales looked so real I felt like I could touch them! Other than that there were other exhibition areas that are good for kids and adults to learn more about sea animals. The restaurant there had a beautiful ocean view but the food was just meh...other food vendors were also expensive. They also have a gift shop with a cute reading corner. My toddler spent some time reading there. Overall nice experience but felt like it was a bit expensive for what they offer. We paid Kama'aina rate so it was acceptable but the admission rate was $55 per adult and $45 per keiki. So a family of 4 would pay $200!! Free parking outside for Kama'aina. read more

We took the behind the scene tour. A must do. So informative without going overboard. Understanding the marine ecosystem and how they support and protect it was great. We fed coral - who knew they ate. Overall nice layout. Bring a hat or sunscreen it is mostly outdoors. read more

Maui Ocean Center - 3d whale movie - Aquariums Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

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Unfortunately, the Maui Ocean Center was not worth the admission price of $49.99 per adult and $39.95 per child. We expected a much larger aquarium experience, but there were only a few small areas to view sea life, and the exhibits felt limited compared to other aquariums we've visited. The whale sphere presentation was especially disappointing. It was very short, lacked engaging content, and the 3D effects were underwhelming. We were expecting a more immersive and educational experience, but it felt more like a brief video than a major attraction. For the cost of admission, we expected significantly more exhibits, larger displays, and a more memorable experience. While the facility was clean and the staff were friendly, we left feeling that the experience did not justify the price. Plus you pay for parking! They nickle and dime you in every move here on Maui island. read more

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A must experience at the Maui Ocean Center. Rain or shine, the ocean center is a great experience, your time is split inside and out, especially if you choose to watch the humpback whale feature in the 3D theater. The quality of marine life was outstanding, the coral is beautiful and the variety of ocean life was spectacular, truly. The center provides guides if you wish to sit and talk or ask questions along the way. You can enjoy a snack at the cafe or buy a few souvenirs at the gift shop. If you want to skip admission you can still check out the gift shop. Of note, parking is NOT included in the price of admission. Anytime after 5:00 pm parking is free read more

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Beautiful facility with tons of information. Loved seeing the seahorses and sea turtles up close! The shark tunnel is an instant favorite. Ululani's shave ice was an excellent treat and the local shops were perfect for an after aquarium activity! read more

Maui Ocean Center - Aquariums Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

I was on vacation with my family and I hosted the trip to the Ocean Center. No one seemed that enthusiastic about it, two 12 year old boys and their mom and grandparents. Couldn't understand why we HAD to go to an aquarium when they could just go snorkeling. After seeing the octopus, the huge stingrays and sharks they were very excited and happy we went. Making memories in Maui. Mahalo read more

Maui Ocean Center - The boys after being blown away by the tunnel of sharks - Aquariums Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

We had a beautiful experience seeing all the underwater sea life. Thank you for an awesome morning. read more

to see every exhibit, listen to a speaker, and take in the 3D movie. The highlights for us: Seeing smaller, more colorful fish in the Shallow Reef exhibit. Larger fish and sharks in Deep Reef and Deep Ocean exhibits. The Underwater Tunnel is a fan favorite as you'll see lots of people taking pictures in there. The Tide Pool where you get to touch starfish and sea cucumber read more

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We had an absinthe day today. This was my 4th our 5th time with the school. We had our annual field trip to the Maui Ocean Center. It was totally fun and worth it. We arrived at opening time at 9am abs we're greeted by the lovely staff. They showed us around to where to put things ( bags. Home lunches, etc .) Then we went into the center to have them talk about what we're going to do. It was fun. We saw some amazing sea creatures that I know I'll never se see saw sharks I think they said they have 25 sharks. There's so much more for me to write. So I'll come back later on. read more

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Mahalo nui loa for the wonderful opportunity to experience Maui Ocean Center. Our visit was truly memorable. We especially enjoyed learning about the incredible behind-the-scenes work your team does to protect and preserve Hawaiʻi's unique marine life. Seeing your dedication to conservation, education, and rehabilitation firsthand gave us an even deeper appreciation for your mission and the meaningful impact you make every day. Mahalo again for this unforgettable experience. We look forward to continuing to support Maui Ocean Center and sharing this amazing experience with our friends, and family. We can't wait to visit again! read more

We have been multiple times over the years as my kids went from elementary to high school age. I took my 16 year old here for the behind the scenes tour. She wants to be a marine biologist. She loved the tour (as did I) and her confirmed her belief in wanting to work in this field. Tips: go in the afternoon for less toddlers and small children. It's way more peaceful. lol. read more

The only thing that would have made this better was if employees would tell parents to have their children step back momentarily so others can take a photo or two. Everyone pays the same to see the same and should get a chance to enjoy money well spent. This wasn't the case and one family in particular were just inconsiderate. Had they not been there, we would have all had a much lovelier time. Set all that aside. Great aquariums, scenery and the greatest 3D movie I've ever seen. The film is about their and it was if you could just reach up and pet one. It's dome fitted and just flawless!!! No 3D movie compares this! I'd give 5 stars had not had the issue listed above. read more

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What an awesome experience to visit! A little bit of culture, history, and animal life available in one location. Friendly staff too! read more

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Perfect family fun activity! The Humpback Whale Sphere show was amazing. Definitely recommend checking this place out read more

Maui Ocean Center - Aquariums Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

I usually love Aquariums and this was no exception! What made this one so cool was it merged history, culture, marine science with interesting amazing sea life! There are exhibits keyed to children (which I also enjoyed). Price was reasonable and take some time to really read and learn! read more

The AquariumS are very nicely displayed with unique fish freely swimming in clean well kept aquariums. All displays were very well lit with beautiful ocean corals. If you raise fresh or saltwater fish this is a must see. There were many displays of all sizes, think at least 40 or more. Kind of pricey, but what isn't these days. They do have senior discounts. Paid parking lot out front. Spent about 2 hours to enjoy the entire center. Snacks and shaved ice were also available. read more

Maui Ocean Center - Aquariums Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

A half indoor/half outdoor aquarium that makes the best of both worlds. The indoor sections are classic aquariums, but the recommended pathing takes you outside occasionally to enjoy the nice day, see the harbor, and view some exhibits from different angles. There's a shallow pool where you can pet a sea cucumber! There are frequent presentations given at different areas on the relevant topics. Some of the memorable ones include a talk on turtles, a presentation on coral and how the center works on regenerating the reefs, and a Q&A with a diver about the fish in the big tank. read more

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We decided to check this place out on a whim and are glad that we did as it was cool to see all of the sea animals. We spent about 2hours here looking at all of the exhibits, museums, and gift shop. The admission was a little pricy at just over $61 for each adult.. and we also had to pay for parking. For the size of the park it seemed a bit much. It was well maintained and was very busy. There were a few 'tours' that stopped in as well while we were there making it a little bit crowded. There are places to rest/sit if you need a break. There is also a little food court incase you need a snack or drink. read more

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Friendly staff, well curated exhibits and displays, plenty of people but the flow worked and it didn't feel too crowded. Great shaved ice place inside, as well as other stands for souvenirs and experiences (though we didn't partake in those). The whale movie in the dome was neat and not too scary or long - just right for my 4 and 7 year olds. Easy (paid) parking and lots to do. Be aware that most exhibits are outside so dress for the weather, not indoor/air conditioning. read more

We drove about 20-30 minutes from Kaanapali and it was an easy trip. Parking out front ran about $2 an hour until 5 pm, then it was free after that. You can probably find street parking by the mall too. The exhibits are super well done. The coral reef area showcases native Hawaiian fish, the deep sea section has sharks, and the famous shark tube is a must-walk-through. Heads up, the shark area was pretty hot when we went, while the rest of the aquarium felt nicely air-conditioned. We went on a Friday and it wasn't crowded, which made everything extra relaxed. Favorite creatures: - The orange frogfish was the star for me. Watching it waddle on its fins was adorable. - Larry the lobster absolutely stole the show. A scuba diver was cleaning the coral reef tank and Larry kept grabbing his leg like "pay attention to me," and everyone was losing it. - The puffer fish were super charming too, just cruising. Extra shoutouts: - The small theater on Hawaiian stories was lovely. The legend of Māui slowing the sun and the history of surfing were told in a really engaging way. - Sphere humpback show Huge thanks to Kimberly. I'd accidentally bought nonrefundable tickets online, then found out our Outrigger Costco package already included two passes. I called expecting a hard no, and she kindly processed a refund anyway. Total legend, and it made our day. read more

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We took a morning trip to Maui Ocean Center during our week-long vacation in Wailea. We wanted to do something different from the pool and beach, so we drove to the aquarium on a Thursday morning and got there close to opening at 9am. It was pretty quiet when we first arrived and it was really nice to walk around. There are indoor exhibits (think A/C) but you have to go outside to walk between buildings. There are also some outdoor exhibits, like touching the starfish and watching the sea turtle feedings. It's not a huge place but it was large enough to explore and walk around for 2 hours before we had lunch at the Seascape Restaurant (on-site). They also have a cafe with outdoor seating and a large gift shop with plenty of fun souvenirs and books/toys. If you purchase tickets online at least one day ahead, the website says you can save $5/person. read more

Maui Ocean Center - Aquariums Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

Just not here, very excited. Just scan the QR code to pay for parking. We did three hours for 9 dollars. We're talking in is an experience on its own. You are immediately greeted by a really clean atmosphere was signage telling you which way to go. Ittlel food shack looks cute and has almost everything you could need. We enjoyed the sphere whale experience . Such a nice and cool place. Comfy chairs. 3D glasses. Great sound/music while you wait. One of the great walk around, love, touching all the animals to starfish c.Q cumbers urchins really awesome. Love the turtle tank.Really felt like I got an up close encounter.Great photo opportunity. Tons of guys, scoobang and cleaning the tanks There's even a cute restaurant inside.We absolutely love the restaurant in the service.There was top notch!! read more

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Great time spent at the Maui Ocean Center. I don't know how they managed to get so many beautiful exhibits in such a short space but it was a wonderful opportunity while we were visiting Maui. read more

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Highly recommended for families or anyone who loves to go to the aquarium. Workers were nice and the place is nice to visit especially if you have kids. It was very soothing and relaxing. Price is pretty expensive but you might be able to find discount codes online. If you purchase ahead of time you can also get a discount. read more

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Overall, a really cool aquarium. However, you have to pay for parking and it's not included in your ticket price. Also, I got dress coded because I was wearing a swimsuit with a cover-up over it. Do they not know that this is Maui and people are coming straight from the beach? So I had to buy a $30 T-shirt to wear as a dress. Kind of humiliating. read more

The grounds are very nice. Not a whole lot to see or do! Especially for the price and add on another $11.03 for parking! We liked the Sphere read more

Incredible and educational experience overall! The biggest highlights were the massive shark tank and the turtle tank. The shark tank had numerous sharks of different species alongside other large fish species, and the turtle tank had several majestic green sea turtles. The exhibits on whales and Native Hawaiian culture were also very interesting. We also went on a "behind the scenes" tour that showed how the Ocean Center handled animals and exhibits, and we had a memorable experience feeding several fish and baby hammerhead sharks in one tank, and the turtles as well. read more

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Took my 3 girls ages 3, 7 and 12 to the Maui Ocean Center. Loved the idea for them to see more about the animas and sea life that surround us on the island. The experience was very informative, fun and enjoyable. My parents (60/70s) enjoyed it as well. Just wish we would have been able to see the sphere show. The 2x we tried to enter, we were only a couple minutes late and the doors were roped off. Still had a great time! read more

Maui Ocean Center - My girls looking at the starfish - Aquariums Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

What a wonderful experience! I would strongly recommend the behind-the-scenes tour if you're planning on visiting. There's plenty of parking when you arrive, and most of this facility is ADA accessible. They have many wonderful exhibits here, but my favorite was our behind the scenes tour, where we got to feed the coral, baby hammerhead sharks, and the sea turtles! What an incredible experience that I've never had before!! This tour also provides a wonderful behind-the-scenes experience to understand how Maui ocean center is helping to keep the sea animals healthy so they can return back to the wild someday. There's also a restaurant and café in the area, but the restaurant closes earlier, so be sure to plan your visit accordingly. read more

My 11-year-old grandson was in heaven going through this extraordinary place! He thought he might want to be a marine biologist. Now he's sure of it. We also booked the Behind the Scenes tour, which was superb and well worth the extra cost if you're interested at all in preserving our marine friends. Just a must-do on Maui.​ read more

Great place to bring kids and well worth the price of annual membership! We've been coming for the last 2.5yrs with my son and every visit he learns something new. read more

The aquarium was fun, especially the live show where you can see interactive conversations between one presenter outside the tank with audience and one presenter in scooper gear inside the tank, and the audience can ask questions too! They have a "Reef Cafe" inside the ocean center where you can buy delicious pineapple soft serve ice cream, absolutely yummy!! read more

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What a great experience. All the staff was amazing and very informative. It's a small aquarium but they do so much to help the community like the turtles and reefs. I also did the behind the scenes tour seeing a lot of the behind the scenes activity. Like growing reefs and turtle rescue. All together it was 85.00 I think. And a great way to spend a morning walking around catching the shows and presentations. Got to feed the turtles with the behind the scene tour which was kinda cool. Worth the money to learned so much about our ecosystem and sea life. read more

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Dove on 7/1/26. Such a cool experience to get to dive so close to so many sharks, including a juvenile tiger shark! Dave was a very knowledgeable and accommodating dive master. When diving in the open ocean if you're lucky enough to spot one (like I have once or twice) they're usually so far off in the distance that you can barely make out that it's a shark. I would highly recommend doing this scuba dive if you have the opportunity, you won't regret it. read more