We had a really great time! We did the Culture and Botany Tour in addition to admission. Jon was our tour guide there and was incredibly knowledgeable and kind, understanding about a baby toddling around and gave us a great experience. read more

I visited the ocean center with my father who is wheelchair. I caught myself several times thinking what a beautiful park it is and what a wonderful design for the ADA access. Every staff member or volunteer that we encountered always greeted us with a smile and Aloha. We also took advantage of the on-site restaurant, Seascape, where my review could go on and on about how lovely everyone is there. Not only is the staff so gracious, kind, and thoughtful, the food is ridiculously delicious. And of course, the views are No Ka Oi! read more

What a beautiful aquarium. I loved how it went from inside to outside, above ground to under ground, and blended history with marine life with sustainability. The baby hammerhead shark was definitely a highlight. Absolutely recommend. read more

My 16-month-old grandbaby had so much fun, especially at the playground! He absolutely loved the tunnel--it was his second time visiting. My kids grew up going to the Maui Ocean Center, and it was a monthly visit, sometimes even a couple of times a month! It has always been a favorite for our family, and we definitely recommend stopping by and visiting. read more

We were looking forward to visiting the Maui Ocean Center, but honestly, it was a bit disappointing. The facility is nice and the exhibits are interesting, but the whole place felt very small for the price of admission ($66.54pp!!!!). We went through it much quicker than expected and left feeling like we didn't get enough for what we paid. Another negative was the parking fee, which felt expensive on top of an already pricey admission. When you're paying a premium just to get in, having to pay even more for parking definitely adds to the feeling that you're not getting great value. It's worth seeing if you have young kids or really love aquariums, but for us, the experience just didn't justify the cost. We expected more and left feeling a little underwhelmed. read more

Maui Ocean Center is an indoor/outdoor aquarium. Most of the exhibits are inside buildings and the walking path to the other exhibits is outdoors. We planned it so that we came here on a day with bad weather so we could do something indoors for the most part and it worked out. They have quite a few exhibits scattered throughout different buildings. My favorite was the sea turtle exhibit. There were two sea turtles. This is the first time I've seen a sea turtle at an aquarium so that was quite cool.  The 3D Sphere was pretty neat. It's in Hawaiian and there's no subtitles which while I couldn't understand, added to the experience. It was about a mom and baby humpback whale. It is for 4 years and older and there is someone there asking about ages at the entrance. We saved it for last, so we got to relax and unwind with some A/C before heading out. The gift shop was big. They had a wide selection of toys, jewelry, kitchenware, etc. I got a stuff animal, necklace, and earrings, and it was all reasonably priced.  Ululani is inside the aquarium right passed the ticket counter. Speaking of ticket counter, there are two lines-- the one on the right is to purchase on-site tickets, and the one on the left is for pre-purchased tickets. Of course, I didn't read the signs and stood in the wrong line. read more

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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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

(+) 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

The kiddos and I loved this aquarium! Our favorites were the turtles. Everything was wonderful! The establishment was clean and nicely spaced out. The whale 3d experience was so cool! read more

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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We love the Whales presentation in the sphere. Enjoyed how close they seem to get to us. Our last 3 times through the years we go through the shark tunnel, get mesmerized by the jellyfish and all other exhibits. This was our first time getting to experience the diver show where the diver talks and interacts with the audience. Our granddaughter got to ask a question too. Our favorite part of the day. We also had an excellent lunch at the Seascape Restaurant. We've been fortunate to visit with our own children when you just opened, with our grandchildren and this July with our daughter and grandchildren. Our daughter was amazed at all the exhibits added since she was here when you opened Will definitely return read more

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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 spent a fun and educational half day at Maui Ocean Center. We especially enjoyed learning about Kaho' olawe, the open ocean exhibit, the turtle talk/exhibit, the movie in the sphere about the humpback whales, the delicious food in the Seascape Restaurant, and some Ululani Shave Ice to cool us down. 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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Pretty cool experience and a fun way to kill some time on one of your not so busy days. I believe buying tickets online before you go makes it a little cheaper, but if you're in Hawaii you're probably spending a bunch on everything anyway. We thought we were going to get out of the sun a little because we were all burned, but turns out it is mostly outdoors. The 3D sphere theater was pretty cool and felt like you were in the water with giant whales. Could be intense for little ones and they don't recommend for children under 4. The best part was the underwater tunnel where you could see sharks and sting rays swimming around you. It's pretty small and you get through it in like an hour or 2. Worth checking it out, especially if you have little ones that still get excited. Hope you enjoy! read more

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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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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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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In general I enjoyed my visit. You can tell the Center is staffed and curated by people who truly care about and enjoy the ocean and the exhibits were informative and featured an abundance of different species. I also appreciated the naturalist talks, though there should have been more of them on hand near the exhibits, *especially* for the price - more on that below. It's nice you get a ticket for the whale film in the Sphere with your ticket, though honestly, would have preferred a cheaper ticket without that option. The film was fine and the 3D pretty impressive, but it was *very* light on actual information and seems like a missed opportunity to really bring the audience into the whales' world. The main negative is it IS very expensive for what you get. At least twice what I would expect it to cost ($55 plus approx 10% tax when I went). They also apparently have demand/surge pricing where it can actually go higher. No museum should do that. Also, when you get there, you are inundated with other ways to spend money. The first three things you are presented with are a shave ice stand, a Dole-whip place, and a coffee shop. You are also eagerly directed to their gift shop, which seems to take up at least a quarter of their ground space -- it's huge! And if that's not enough, they have a full service restaurant on site, too, though it closes at 3pm. Oh - and the real kicker is you *also* have to pay to park -- and it's $3/hr (no partial hours), so add on another $9-18 for the visit depending on how long you stay. All in all, you are left feeling that the place exists to maximize profit first and educate/conserve marine life second, which is unfortunate. I recognize this stuff is expensive, and government funding is being cut, and, of course, I would much rather have the Center exist than not. It's just a bummer that all adds up to an aquarium with a $60 ticket. read more

The aquarium was very clean, had good snack options, a great gift shop and so many animals. We loved the turtles, sharks and jellyfish! The 3D whale movie was really cool too! We did the behind the scenes tour with Dan and it made the whole experience. You get to see so many things that you wouldn't if you just did the typical aquarium experience. I would do the tour again in a heartbeat if I come back. read more

Way too expensive for what it is. Nearly $200 for a family of four, and that doesn't even include parking. It feels like pure tourist pricing. Maui has so many amazing natural experiences that are free, I wouldn't consider this a good value for the price. read more

your employees are awesome some of the areas could use some renovation..really liked the kahoolawe exhibit and seeing Walter Ritte who is such a great community leader on molokai read more

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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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 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

We love the ocean center and we are regulars. Yesterday on 8/24/26 at the 11:00am at the shark feeding, it was very hard to hear the woman in charged of the presentation. read more

I am a member of the Ocean Center and a full-time Maui resident. Whenever family and friends visit we always go to the Ocean Center and it is always loved by all, young and old! We also enjoy eating in the Seascape Restaurant, which has great food and a glorious view. read more

Maui Ocean Center - Aquariums Near Me - Wailuku, Hawaii

Such a cool aquarium!!! Well organized displays. Beautiful sea life. Helpful workers. Easy parking. So clean. read more

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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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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

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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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

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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I feel like parking should be included for the cost of admission. It's a lot of money if you bring your whole family. Loved the turtles?and the baby hammerhead. read more

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

We loved the Maui Ocean Center! This was such a fun way to learn about the local ecosystem and sea life before we went snorkeling. My kids loved the 3D movie about whales so much, we watched it twice! read more

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

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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