Things to do nearMolokini Crater

Molokini Crater is the eroded rim of a volcanic crater formed thousands of years ago along the southwest rift zone of Haleakala, Maui's dominant shield volcano. Today only about a third of the original crater rim remains above water, creating the distinctive crescent shape that has made Molokini Crater one of the most recognizable dive and snorkel destinations in the Hawaiian Islands. The site was designated a Marine Life Conservation District by the State of Hawaii, a protection that has allowed its coral ecosystem to recover and thrive in ways rarely seen at more heavily trafficked reef systems.

Inside the sheltered basin, more than 250 species of reef fish have been recorded, including parrotfish, triggerfish, moorish idols, and the endemic Hawaiian cleaner wrasse. The back wall, accessible primarily to scuba divers, plunges several hundred feet and draws white-tip reef sharks, eagle rays, and occasional manta rays drifting up from deeper water. Visibility inside the crater routinely exceeds 100 feet, a product of the site's offshore position and the absence of runoff or sediment disturbance.

Most visitors reach Molokini aboard guided snorkel or dive boats departing from Maalaea Harbor or Kihei, with trips typically running a few hours and including equipment, instruction, and light refreshments. The surrounding open water also makes for excellent whale watching between December and April, when humpback whales migrate through the Auau Channel directly adjacent to the crater. Whether approached as a leisurely snorkel or a serious dive, Molokini Crater offers an encounter with Hawaiian marine life that is genuinely difficult to replicate anywhere else in the Pacific.