Maui Ocean Center
Maui Ocean Center
4.5
Speciality & Gift ShopsAquariums
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Maui Ocean Center is the premier destination to encounter and learn about Hawaii’s marine life. Home to one of the world’s largest displays of live Pacific corals, the Aquarium exhibits only marine life found in Hawaiian waters including tropical fish, sea turtles, sharks, stingrays, octopuses, sea jellies, and more. The Aquarium highlights the beauty of Hawaii’s undersea world while perpetuating the deep connection between the Hawaiian people and the sea. The Aquarium’s mission is to foster understanding, wonder, and respect for Hawaii’s marine life.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Admission tickets
from HK$353.62
All you need to step foot in the door.

Top ways to experience Maui Ocean Center and nearby attractions

See what travellers are saying
  • Debbie C
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Pure snorkeling without the boat and amenities.
    We had a fantastic experience with Paul! We did our snorkeling in the early morning calm and due to a late cancellations we had a private tour! The reefs are right off the beach where we started and we followed a sand path to a spot where we saw at least 4 green sea turtles. Paul , a marine biologist, was extremely knowledgeable and pointed out the different reefs and fish along the way. Paul took some fantastic pictures which he shared after our trip. All in all a great experience and highly recommend.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 7 April 2023
  • susie z
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Just say yes and snorkel with a marine biologist!!
    Worth every penny! My 15 year old did the experience “snorkel with a marine biologist” and had an amazing time. It is a small group experience and the guide was so kind and reassuring with everyone in the group which was a wide variety of ages and swim abilities. He was awesome. I had looked at doing one of the cruise boats that snorkel but I loved the idea of supporting Māui Ocean Center and ensuring my daughter was being taught how to responsibly snorkel in the ocean! Plus the bonus of the small group experience. Her smile coming back to shore was priceless. Paul was great at communicating where and when to meet and was considerate of the weather conditions to ensure we had a great experience. Definitely recommend!!!
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 10 April 2023
  • Eric V
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing Snorkel with a Marine Biologist Tour
    We did the Snorkel with a Marine Biologist Tour. This trip was one of the top five adventures of my life! We were new to snorkeling but myself, my wife and 11 year old daughter are all strong swimmers. Paul is amazing! He was incredibly knowledgable about the reef, and its inhabitants. He set a tone of respect for the place we were exploring and encouraged our curiosity all while making sure our group was having fun. My daughter was really hopeful that we would see sea turtles and he set expectations that the turtles are wild animals and nothing is guaranteed, while letting her know that he would be really excited to show her sea turtles if the opportunity presented itself. What resulted was a magical introduction to snorkeling and the underwater world of the reef… including hanging out with some sea turtles. Thank you to Paul for an unforgettable experience and the Maui Ocean Center for helping us to find this tour. Stop thinking about it and sign up now!
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 28 June 2023
  • Skyelar F
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Trip to Maui ocean center
    We did the behind the scenes tour and it was well worth it! We were able to feed the sea turtles and sharks while learning so much about the marine life! I would recommend seeing the 3D humpback whale exhibit before leaving because it was a breathtaking once in a lifetime experience!
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 5 July 2023
  • eshaynes
    Portland, Oregon191 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Quick stop
    We stopped on our last day in Maui as we needed to spend a few hours before heading to the airport. You have to pay for parking but there was plenty of parking available. The aquarium is I would say on the smaller side compared to others I’ve been to but it was worth the stop. It is right on the water so you have beautiful views. There are a few different exhibits (living reef, Hawaiians and the seas, open ocean) and things you can do. We walked around looked at different fish/sharks and coral, saw sea turtles and watched the Humpbacks 3D sphere. There is a place to eat (I didn’t get anything) and a gift shop. Overall this takes 2-3 hours depends on how much you want to read and how long you look at things.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 2 October 2023
  • jeff
    Carlsbad, California1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great place to visit with young kids
    We had a wonderful time, very friendly staff especially Dan who showed and explained many things to our two kids. It was cool to see a tiger shark in the large tank. We were seriously impressed by the 3D whale movie. Would highly recommend, especially the interactions with the staff who were engaging, helpful and friendly.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 24 October 2023
  • Discover02786290221
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Snorkeling with Paul 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
    The snorkeling experience with Paul far surpassed the expectations of my family and I. Paul helped alleviate any fears that came with not having snorkeled before; he provided good gear and made sure everyone was comfortable in the water. During the tour, he provided great insight, and guided us through the coral, where we saw many beautiful fish and, ultimately, multiple green sea turtles. It was a truly amazing experience, and it was awesome that Paul took photos of us and the wildlife we came across for us to keep. Highly recommend!
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 13 January 2024
  • Meghann P
    Greenwood Village, Colorado39 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great attraction, probably better for slightly older kids.
    The Maui ocean center came highly recommended and I think if it was just my husband and I, it would have been perfect. We had our 15 month old with us and her attention span is not that long so we had to move through the exhibits rather quickly. The visit was over before we knew it. I think it would be pushing it to say you would be here for 2 hours unless you did the 3d attractions and extra things. We even stayed for a turtle feed and we were easily done in about 70 minutes. But the exhibits were awesome! Learning about the turtles and watching them get fed was so fun! The price is a little steep for the size of the center, but I realize that money mostly goes to research so I will accept it as is. You also pay to park, which others have mentioned. All in all, it’s worth visiting.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 14 January 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles6,361 reviews
Excellent
3,760
Very good
1,802
Average
613
Poor
125
Terrible
61

Amy B
Spokane, WA150 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Family
Such a cool place to spend time learning about the local marine life. Great exhibits and friendly staff that you can tell are passionate about the ocean.
It was fun learning more about the fish we had been seeing while snorkeling off Maui. The movie about the humpback whales moved me to tears. It was beautifully done. And the glass tunnel through the shark tank was fun.
Definitely a great spot to explore- we did so on a rainy afternoon. The gift shop is fabulous too! The best tshirt designs on the island.
Written 13 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sherryl O
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
The aquarium is beautiful. The tanks were clean and easy to view. We especially enjoyed the 3D whale show and the turtles feeding. This was an excellent way to learn about the marine life of Hawaii
Written 27 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AkamaiNick4SW
Maui133,222 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Solo
Took a break from work one day, and popped over to the Ocean Center for the afternoon. As always, a wonderful and interesting experience.

The facility is kept very clean, and the layout makes for good "traffic flow" near and around the exhibits. Each time I go, I see something new.

The whale sphere is incredible! Don't miss it.
Written 19 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

glebo
Marco Island, FL145 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
Very nice and informative experience. There are no whales nor any dolphins. They do not hurt these creatures!. But a fun 3-D movie on the whales. Took us about an hour or a bit longer to wander through the buildings.
Written 19 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sherry E
16 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
We spent a few hours at the Ocean center and really enjoyed the humpback whale show in the 3D sphere. It was unforgettable. The gift shop was very nice and had gorgeous t-shirts up to size 4X. There was a nice little shopping area right next door.
Written 17 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nrsenic
3 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
The humpback 3D experience was amazing and I wish it was longer. The aquarium/Ocean center is small but loved seeing the different exhibits. Don’t forget to stop by the art tables and makes yourself something to take home!
Written 13 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Harley W
11 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Beautiful aquarium., but not the best we have ever been to. The highlight is the 3 D experience with the humpback whales. That was the most memorable part of the visit.
Written 10 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

IrishFan-80
Lancaster, PA4,732 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
Our first time here and yes it is pricey especially without parking included. We enjoyed most of the displays… the coral and local fish were amazing.
We expected more from the Sphere whale movie.
Not really sure why the one display needed to get political. History does not change. But yes proud the US Navy is cleaning up bomb sites. Makes all of us proud to be Americans!
Written 3 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Quinn
12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Couples
One of the visual highlights of our trip. The 3D sphere was a wonderful experience. The walk through the various exhibits was well worth the expense.
Written 31 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Christi S
North Richland Hills, TX36 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Couples
We were excited to go to the aquarium. The price is steep at $55.00 a person. The ticket salesperson we dealt with was not really nice. Not someone who should be in customer service. It was painful for her to direct us. We did enjoy the aquarium and especially liked the black tip shark talk. For people unfamiliar a “sign” stating “blacktip” is not very explanatory. You may want to add the word “shark” so people have a better understanding. The other talks were also good. We spent about two hours there and saw everything. The Whale “movie” was different but not as good as we would have thought it too be based on the buildup. If you had to make a choice between paying for whale watching or the aquarium, go whale watching.
Written 29 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Maui Ocean Center - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Maui Ocean Center

Maui Ocean Center admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost HK$345.12, while a popular guided tour starts around HK$156.40 per person.

According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Maui Ocean Center: