Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! As of January 18th, 2021, Maui Ocean Center is open to the public.

As of November 1, 2021, park hours are from 9 am to 5 pm, with final reservation entry at 3:30 pm and final Sphere Experience performance at 4 pm. Park Holiday Hours:
Christmas Eve: 9 am to 4 pm. Final reservation entry at 2:30 pm.
New Year's Eve: 9 am to 4 pm. Final reservation entry at 2:30 pm.

As of November 1, 2021 a visitor (non-resident) parking fee of $1 per hour (available in increments) or $7 per day has been implemented at Māʻalaea Triangle, where Maui Ocean Center is located. Upon arrival, simply park in the parking lot immediately in front of Maui Ocean Center. Walk up to the parking sign and scan the QR code on your smartphone, or download the Parklinq app.



Parklinq will ask for your preferred length of parking time, contact information (name, email address and mobile number), along with your license plate number and credit card information. An e-confirmation will be sent to you and 15 minutes prior to time expiration, a text reminder, asking if you wish to extend your parking time. If you do not have a smartphone, you may reach Parklinq Customer Service via phone at 808.517.5017.

All guests with an active and valid ADA placard may park in the designated ADA parking areas free of charge.

For Nā Hoa Kai Members:

Please follow this link for more information: Membership. Members receive complimentary parking by directly registering their vehicle/s one-time with Maui Ocean Center and parking in the designated membership parking area. If you are a Na Hoa Kai member, please contact membership@mauioceancenter.com or 808.270.7000. If membership expires, free membership parking will be automatically concluded.

For Kama`āina (Hawai`i resident): :

All residents of the State of Hawai`i are provided complimentary parking at the designated kama`āina parking lot by simply texting their vehicle license plate number to 808.213.0223 on each visit. No name or other details is required.

A visit typically takes 2-2.5 hours, but you can enjoy much of what we have to offer in a shorter amount of time.

Peak attendance typically occurs in the morning. If you prefer increased social distancing, we recommend an afternoon reservation 1 p.m. and thereafter.

Park hours are currently 9 am to 5 pm, with the last reservation entry at 3:30 pm. Advance online ticket purchases and reservations are required. Please be aware that we close promptly. Allow yourself enough time to view exhibits and presentations at your preferred pace.
Park Holiday Hours:
Christmas Eve: 9 am to 4 pm. Final reservation entry at 2:30 pm.
New Year's Eve: 9 am to 4 pm. Final reservation entry at 2:30 pm.

Maui Ocean Center is proud to be a smoke-free facility. In compliance with State of Hawai‘i law, smoking, including electronic cigarette and vaping devices, is only permitted outside the park and at least thirty feet from any windows or doors.

To & From Maui Ocean Center: From your resort, options include taxi, Uber, Lyft, and The Maui Bus.

To & From Kahului Airport: The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority and State of Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation have launched the Maui Aloha Shuttle, a pilot program that runs three times a day from Kahului Airport to West Maui and Wailea resort areas, with tickets available for purchase at a counter by the airport baggage claim. Costs are $50 to West Maui, and $35 for Wailea stops.

Maui Ocean Center has and will continue to follow government and health authority mandates and recommendations. Based on the current environment, Maui Ocean Center wishes to continue to minimize any opportunity for the COVID-19 Delta variant in-park.

ADMISSION:

• Tickets are required to be purchased, and reservation time must be preselected online in advance. Tickets
• No tickets or reservations will be sold at the front gate.
• Complimentary wheelchairs can be picked up upon check-in on a first-come, first-served basis. Availability is limited.
• Ticket prices are now inclusive of general admission and The Humpbacks of Hawaiʻi Sphere Experience.
• Contact information, including email, will be required, and guests are encouraged to show their electronic confirmation at gate entry.

UPON ENTRY:

• Effective December 21, 2021, face masks covering the nose and mouth are required indoors and outdoors, except while actively eating or drinking while seated at Seascape Restaurant and Reef Café only.
• Thermal temperature check is required by all guests 5 years of age and older. If your temperature shows in the “red zone,” you and your party will not be permitted entry.

IN-PARK:

• Digital park map access is available via QR code for convenience and to support our ongoing commitment to reducing touch points and encouraging sustainable living.
• Virtual Marine Naturalist presentations and virtual park maps are also provided via QR code and allow our guests to watch and listen to marine naturalists at their leisure rather than in a scheduled time format.
• Personal headphones are highly encouraged to enjoy the presentation without disruption and as a courtesy to other guests. Headphones are also available for purchase at Maui Ocean Treasures.
• “Follow the Yellow Tang” ground decals to aid required 6’ social distancing and one-way pedestrian flow.
• Effective December 21, 2021, face masks covering the nose and mouth are required indoors and outdoors, except while actively eating or drinking while seated at Seascape Restaurant and Reef Café only.
• Sanitization stations with contactless dispensers are available throughout the park (refer to park map for locations).
• Hand washing stations with contactless soap dispensers in all restrooms (refer to park map for locations). Contactless payments are highly encouraged.

Additional requirements may be implemented without notification based on recommendations or mandates from health and government officials.

Maui Ocean Center reserves the right to refuse entry to any person for any reason.

No tickets or reservations will be sold at the front gate. Tickets are required to be purchased online, and reservation time must be selected in advance. Our new user-friendly ticketing and reservation system is available on our website to support capacity guidelines and contactless payments.

Yes! Reservations are required. Tickets are available for purchase online, and entry times are scheduled every 30 minutes. The last reservation slot is currently at 3:30 pm.

Tickets must be purchased online, in advance. Tickets are date and time specific to control park capacity. We offer individual ticket pricing for Adults, Children (4-12 years), and Seniors (65+ years). Tickets are non-refundable.

Nā Hoa Kai Members must input their VIP code when making reservations. If you need this code re-sent to you via email, please contact us at aloha@mauioceancenter.com.

We offer a discounted ticket price for kama‘āina (residents) and active U.S. military members. Please present valid identification at entry.

No. Reservations serve to stagger park entry, not to serve as a time limit.

Admission to the park for up to 2.5 hours, the Humpbacks of Hawaiʻi virtual Sphere Experience (a limited time offer; value $6.95 per person).

You are welcome to enter the park up to ten minutes prior to your reservation time and twenty minutes after your reservation time. If you arrive beyond twenty minutes of your reservation time, you forfeit your entry. We will try to accommodate you at the next available time, but this cannot be guaranteed. If the next reservation time is sold out, we will offer you another date and time — however, a processing fee may be applicable. If you are not able to reschedule, your entry fee is not refundable.

Full contact information, including the purchaser’s address, mobile phone number, and email, is required upon ticket purchase. This will enable us to forward your ticket and reservation e-confirmation and will allow us to reach out should contact tracing be necessary.

Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover.

Aquarium admission is not required to shop at Maui Ocean Treasures, or to dine at Seascape Restaurant and Reef Café. Please check-in at the admission gate. You will be asked to provide your contact information and will be given access to shop and dine for up to one hour.

Complimentary wheelchairs can be picked up upon check-in on a first-come, first-served basis. Availability is limited. Maui Ocean Center is ADA compliant. Strollers are currently not available.

Service dogs that are trained to do work or perform tasks for individuals with disabilities are absolutely welcome. Per the ADA, dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals. For more information, visit ADA.gov.

We sure do! Please refer to our Buy Tickets page for current senior ticket pricing for those 65+ years. We encourage our seniors to attend the park during Maui’s shoulder seasons of January, May, September, October, early November, and the first week of December. Generally, there are fewer crowds in these months during the late afternoon.

You absolutely can! Maui Ocean Center founded the Marine Institute at Maui Ocean Center, a 501c3 nonprofit organization. There are three ways to donate to the Marine Institute while visiting Maui Ocean Center: donate via credit card at Maui Ocean Treasures gift shop, "round up" your purchase at Maui Ocean Treasures, or donate directly through this form. All donation proceeds support their mission of restoring Hawaiʻi's reefs and rescuing and rehabilitating Hawaiian green sea turtles.

Nā Hoa Kai (Ocean Friends) annual memberships may be purchased online. We will not be selling memberships at the front gate. Visit our Membership page for a complete description of the fantastic benefits and prices.

Our knowledgeable marine naturalists provide in-person presentations at various exhibits throughout the day. Be sure to bring your questions!
Guests may also tune in to virtual marine naturalist presentations at any time during your visit via QR code. Bring your smartphone mobile device and simply scan the code with your camera or preferred QR scanner. We recommend bringing your own headphones or purchasing a pair at the Maui Ocean Treasures gift shop.

In June of 2021, we launched Ocean Aloha, go green for blue, Maui Ocean Center’s island-based marine conservation program. With Ocean Aloha, we focus on further educating our visitors and residents on the importance of caring for our natural resources. Visit our island cultural practitioners for storytelling, demonstrations, and interactive learning opportunities. Keiki (children) can also enjoy edutainment with our 8-year-old Maui Keiki Ambassadors, Imani, and Liam via a giant monitor located at the Lauwai. Ocean Aloha

Our marine naturalists love sharing ocean education with our guests! Catch presentations daily at locations throughout the aquarium, or learn more virtually by scanning our virtual presentation QR codes at various locations throughout the park.

Presentation Schedule:*
Shallow Reef: 9:30, 10:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30
Blacktip Sharks: 10:15, 12:00, 3:15
Open Ocean: 11:00, 3:00

*We exhibit marine animals in realistic, natural environments and feed them according to their needs; therefore, regularly scheduled feedings are not guaranteed, and presentations may be canceled without notice.

Maui Ocean Center respectfully complies with the County of Maui ordinance prohibiting the exhibit of cetaceans (whales and dolphins). We invite you to visit our Humpbacks of Hawai‘i Exhibit and Sphere Experience for an in-depth look into their deep-sea realm.

Maui Ocean Center’s newest exhibit is an astonishing, virtually immersive experience that brings you eye-to-eye with Hawaiʻi’s humpback whales. For a limited time, the Sphere experience is included in your ticket price (a $6.95 per person value). Showings begin every half hour on a first-come, first-served basis and are 12 minutes long. The final showing starts at 3:00 p.m. No reservations are required. To accommodate social distancing guidelines, attendance is limited per show.

There are two dining options available: Seascape Restaurant and Reef Café. Seascape Restaurant offers outdoor seating, harbor views, and award-winning cuisine and cocktails. Reef Café is located at the park's center and serves fresh bistro-style salads, sandwiches, and refreshments. Enjoy socially distanced outdoor seating, and don’t forget to order a Pineapple Dole Whip!

While seated and consuming food or beverages, you are welcome to remove your face mask.

Outside food or beverage is not permitted at Maui Ocean Center. Exceptions are made for infants (under 2 years), school groups (with prior approval), and those with special medical needs. Please see a park entrance attendant for more information. No chewing gum is permitted in the park.

Absolutely! Please dispose of garbage and recyclables at designated bins throughout the park. We donate redemption refunds to the Marine Institute at Maui Ocean Center (MOCMI), a 501©3 non-profit organization to support turtle rescue and recovery efforts. For more information on the Marine Institute, visit MOC Marine Institute.

Yes! Our world-class gift shop, Maui Ocean Treasures, offers island-style marine-themed gifts.

Please keep social distancing guidelines in mind. We encourage customers to refrain from touching products unless they intend to purchase them. Sales representatives are happy to assist you!

Absolutely. Headphones in various styles and price points are available for purchase at the Maui Ocean Treasures gift shop.

Yes! Maui Ocean Treasures offers a variety of face mask styles and price points, including marine-themed masks.

We are the only Maui retailer offering Pandora collectible jewelry. Peruse our extensive collection of made-in Hawaiʻi art and indulge in Maui’s own Fin-Tastic Fudge. Visit Maui Ocean Treasures’ Support Sustainability department featuring a selection of products to support our future generations.