Maui Ocean Center celebrates World Ocean Day annually on June 8 — with a variety of educational and cultural activities.
For our 2026 event, marine naturalists hosted a coral feeding station and gave ocean-themed presentations throughout the day. Two diver programs were held inside the 750,000-gallon Open Ocean exhibit featuring sharks, stingrays and schooling fish.
“Our guests were able to connect with Maui’s marine life, Hawaiian culture and the ocean that sustains us,” said Tiara Fernandez, the aquarium’s education director.
Conservation groups represented during the event include The Marine Institute at Maui Ocean Center, Pacific Whale Foundation, Whale Trust and NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.