Best things to do at the Molokini crater from Maui

Molokini Crater is a crescent-shaped volcanic crater that is one of the most famous sites in the Hawaiian archipelago. Its position in the top of the best places to dive in the world is mainly due to the crystal clear waters that allow an amazing visibility of Hawaii's native marine species.

Molokini is located only 4.8 kilometers off the southwest coast of Maui. Scientists believe that the small mound, which occupies a space of approximately 8 hectares and rises 50 meters above the reef, was formed approximately 150 million years ago.

Consequently, visiting Molokini is considered one of the best things to do in Maui during your vacation. Below I explain in detail everything you should know before organizing this visit so that you can enjoy every moment to the fullest.

Visiting the Molokini Crater on an organized excursion from Maui is the perfect alternative for all travelers visiting the island on vacation.

Normally you depart by boat from a port in Maui to reach the rock formation located almost 5 kilometers from the coast, in the interior of the ocean. This makes the Molokini transfer adventure one of the best boat trips on Maui.

You will find numerous local companies offering this type of adventure to hikers. The choice of one or the other will depend largely on your personal preferences, but also on the starting point of the excursion in relation to your place of stay.

The specific characteristics of the experience may vary slightly depending on the company you choose to hire. However, many tour operators in Maui offer, in addition to round-trip transportation, one or more of the following facilities: the necessary equipment for snorkeling in Molokini Crater, a captain in charge of the crew and support staff, professional lifeguards and safety equipment.

Please note that if you intend to snorkel in Maui or look for kayaking spots in Maui, it is mandatory to know how to swim to be able to join the experience.

During the boat or catamaran ride aspects such as public restrooms, showers, soft drinks and food are included. The inclusion of lunch or snacks may vary depending on the excursion you hire and also the duration.

Finally, please note that most Molokini Crater tours depart from the harbor of Maalaea Bay located in the central part of the island of Maui.

Depending on the place or area where you are staying in Maui, getting to Maalaea Bay may involve different alternatives. Here are the most common ones.

From the west coast of Maui

If you are staying on the West Coast of Maui, this includes tourist areas such as Kaanapali, Kapalua and Lahaina, you can get to Maalaea Bay by private vehicle or public transportation.

The trip by private car or cab will take between 20 to 40 minutes, depending on where your hotel is located.

To get to the small town of Maalaea you can use the Maui bus service; specifically lines 20 and 28. Depending on the area you are in the trip can take from 40 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes to complete.

From the southwest coast of Maui

If you are staying on the southwest coast of Maui, including the beautiful Kihei area or the Wailea-Wakena area, you can get to Maalaea Bay by private vehicle or public transportation. The drive from Wailea is completed in 30 minutes, and from Kihei in only 20 minutes.

If you want to go to Maalaea by public transportation you can use the Maui bus service. Punctually lines 15 and 10 move through this area. The trip from Wailea will take 1 hour 30 minutes to complete, while the trip from Kihei only takes 30 minutes by bus.

Useful Information

• Price: For an excursion to the Molokini Crater you should pay between 130 € to 200 € depending on the company you hire and the itinerary of activities included.
• Duration of the trip: The Molokini Crater adventure can take from 2 to 6 hours depending on the itinerary and the company you hire for the experience.
• Recommended if... You are looking for one of the best tours and activities in Maui. This activity is one of the most demanded by visitors, so booking in advance is usually the best alternative.

An alternative that you can consider is to visit the Molokini Crater by your own means. To do so, you must have the economic resources, proven experience in navigation and family or friends to accompany you.

This alternative is, without a doubt, much more expensive and complicated than the organized excursion and requires a lot of planning on your part, although the truth is that in Maui you will find companies dedicated to the rental of boats, kayaks, snorkeling equipment, surfboards and everything you may need for the adventure in the sea.

Boat rental service in Maui

On the island you will find a few local companies that rent their boats to visit the Molokini Crater. Among them, Aloha Outdoors Boat Rentals is one of the most prominent.

The boats are located at the Kihei Boat Ramp, where you will receive general orientations before boarding and departing. The time is coordinated at the time of booking, although staff are available from 07h in the morning to serve early risers.

This meeting point is only a 20 minute sail from Molokini Crater.

Keep in mind that the state of Hawaii requires all boaters to take a specific safety course to navigate the waters of the archipelago. In addition, apart from going through the briefing, other requirements must be met in order to rent the boat:

• Own and operate a boat over 20 feet in length elsewhere.
• Alternatively, you must have 100 hours of total sailing time, with at least 10 hours at the helm of the boat in the open ocean.

Useful information

• Price: The price to pay for renting a small boat in Maui is from 700€ for 5 hours of use. The capacity of the boat is approximately 6 people.
• Recommended if... You are looking for an alternative that allows you to go at your own pace and you have plenty of sailing experience.

Both the shape and location of the islet known as Molokini Crater create the perfect conditions for enjoying Maui's marine life. This is due to the isolation system that protects corals and small fish species from other large sea creatures.

Travelers looking to see the local wildlife should keep in mind that Molokini is one of the best places to snorkel in Maui.

Also, I highly recommend it if you are vacationing in Maui with kids and are looking for safe, fun and interesting activities. Just remember that your children must have some experience and the minimum age required.

This is best done with the advice of an expert, either in the form of a private tour or a group tour.

Local companies in Maui have decades of experience that allow tourists to experience the best adventures in the safest possible way. In case you are celebrating a special occasion, such as your anniversary or honeymoon in Maui, you can ask for special packages for couples.

In order to make your Molokini adventure more fun and enjoyable, here is a list of the most useful tips. Take note of them and keep them in mind before and during your visit.

The time of the trip is the most important.

To make the trip as pleasant and safe as possible, Molokini Crater tours from Maui are organized during the morning hours, since during most of the year accessing Molokini Crater in the afternoon is difficult due to the strength of the trade winds blowing from the north or east.

If for some reason you decide to navigate on your own, take into consideration this important safety advice.

The return trip will be the hardest.

As a result of the incidence of winds as the day progresses, the return trip from Molokini Island to Maalaea Harbor will be more uncomfortable than during the early morning hours. This varies depending on the time of year but during the summer the condition is true almost every day.

My recommendation? If you are one of those who get seasick quite easily, inform the organizers to take a seat in the most protected area, which is usually the back of the boat.

You don't need a wetsuit, almost never.

If you want to dive in Maui's waters, you may be wondering whether or not to wear your favorite wetsuit.

Water temperatures during the winter in Maui rarely drop below 22 degrees and during the summer they remain at a minimum of 26 degrees. For that reason, a wetsuit is not usually a mandatory requirement to enjoy the experience.

Feeding the fish is forbidden.

Molokini Crater, the surrounding waters and corals are part of a protected and strictly controlled marine reserve on Maui. Consequently, feeding the fish and mistreating the corals carries significant penalties. Be careful!

Combine this experience with other adventures in Maui

It is important to keep in mind that there are no sea turtles on Molokini. This is why many local companies combine the Molokini Crater trip with a turtle watching adventure on Maui, as Turtle Town is within walking distance of the rock formation known as the crater.

So, if you are looking for ways to save money on your vacation or if you are simply contemplating a short stay on the island, 5 days on Maui or less, a great way to combine similar adventures is to book one of these tours.