Safe Snorkeling in Maui

Known for the warm, clear waters and colorful marine life, it would be a shame if you missed the unique opportunity of snorkeling in Maui. Enjoyable for all ages, snorkeling offers the chance to glimpse at a whole other world built just under the water’s surface! Whether you are snorkeling just off the shore of one of Maui’s white sand beaches or on one of our snorkel boat tours, we wanted to pass on some ‘ike (knowledge) when it comes to snorkeling safety!

1. Buddy System
It should come as no surprise that when it comes to any outdoor activity, the buddy system is key. Two pairs of eyes are truly better than one and it is definitely helpful to have more than one person check the surroundings (tip #2).

2. Keep an Eye on Your Surroundings
The ocean can be, at times, unpredictable which is why it is important to be aware of what is around you. With that in mind, while snorkeling it is best to avoid alcohol to keep your senses sharp! If you are swimming close to the beach, keep in mind that you should only be snorkeling in clear water. It not only offers the best underwater sights, but it allows you to keep a watchful eye on what is around you! Weather and surf conditions can affect your overall experience snorkeling, especially if you are trying it for the first time, so it is imperative to avoid large surf and high wind when looking for a spot to snorkel.

It is also essential to avoid ocean currents, but should you get caught in one do not panic! Swimming against it will most likely just tire you out (tip #3) and the best way to get out of it is to swim perpendicular to the current.

3. Avoid Exhaustion
Whether you are an experienced swimmer or a beginning snorkeler, swimming is an activity that can easily tire you out. Sticking relatively close to the shore or boat is the best way to ensure that you only have a short swim back to rest. If you are out in the ocean blue, it might be worthwhile to have a flotation device with you as well as communicating with your snorkel buddy! The coral reefs are fragile microenvironments that are best admired from afar along with other marine animals and organisms. So should you find yourself getting tired on your offshore excursion, head back to where you can stand on the sand and not on the convenient rocky reef.

Hawaii Ocean Project takes safety seriously and while all of these tips are generally common sense, there is worth in repeating before you head out. So rub on some reef-healthy sunscreen, throw on your fins, and get ready to go on a Maui adventure

Classic Hawaiian Cookbooks - HOP to it

Sam Choy, Beverly Gannon, Peter Merriman, Alan Wong and Roy Yamaguchi, five of the original 12 members of the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement, all have signature cookbooks. Like their restaurants, the books still hold up today. For many people, it isn't a trip to Hawai'i without visiting one of their dining locations. What follows is a quick synopsis of their most popular cookbooks. If you want to take a piece of Hawaii home with you, you might as well take the piece that lives inside your belly! All of these books are available from Amazon, with the exception of the Merriman book, for which you'll need to swing by one of his restaurants or order directly from his website. The cookbooks below are listed chronologically. Bon appetit!

"With Sam Choy: Cooking from the Heart" - Sam Choy, Evelyn Cook (1995)
"With Sam Choy: Cooking from the Heart" tells the story of Sam Choy, one of the main faces and personalities behind the Hawaiian food revolution of the early '90s, through his recipes and words. Often called the "Godfather of Poke," his engaging, out-sized personality shows through in the food descriptions and when he's "talking story" throughout the book. In fact, there are personal stories for nearly every one of the 130 recipes. Whether the story is about the inspiration behind the recipe or why he would present the dish in a certain fashion, it's these little anecdotes that make reading the book a real pleasure.

Chef Choy has one Big Island restaurant: Sam Choy's Kai Lanai

"Roy's Feasts from Hawaii" - Roy Yamaguchi and John Harrison (1995)
With over 150 recipes, Roy Yamaguchi steps out from the kitchen and shares the secrets behind his award-winning dishes. It's a beautiful book containing lots of pictures and wonderful recipes. Along the way, he slowly tells the story of Hawaiian Regional Cuisine through each recipe. At first glance, the recipes can seem overwhelming due to the sheer number ingredients, but a deeper read shows that most home cooks, regardless of their skill level in the kitchen, can follow along with a majority of the recipes.

Chef Yamaguchi's restaurants in Hawai'i:
Maui: Roy's Ka'anapali
Big Island: Roy's Waikola
Oahu: Roy's Hawaii Kai, Roy's Ko Olina, Roy's Turtle Bay, Roy's Waikiki

"New Wave Luau" - Alan Wong and John Harrison (1999)
Probably the most adventurous of the five chefs whose books we're looking at for this article, Wong masterfully blends classic recipes with a playful whimsy to create foods that will bring smiles and winks from your dinner guests. The kalbi short rib tacos with papaya-red onion salsa is nothing short of breathtaking and quite easy to make. The book is filled with wonderful recipe intros and lots of pictures. The recipes themselves are well-written and easy to follow.

Chef Wong's restaurants: Alan Wong's Honolulu; Alan Wong's Shanghai

"Hali'imaile General Store Cookbook" - Beverly Gannon and Bonnie Friedman (2000)
After a nice intro about her family, the restaurant's neighborhood and the restaurant itself, chef/restauranteur Beverly Gannon breaks the cookbook into seasons, starting with spring and ending, naturally, in winter. Along the way, the recipes are well laid out, easy to follow and there are plenty of photos. Hali'imaile General Store is one of the most popular and well-reviewed restaurants on Maui. If you loved eating here, you'll be thrilled to recreate the signature dishes (minus, sadly, the crab dip) at home.

Chef Gannon's Maui restaurants: Gannon's (Wailea); Hali'imaile General Store (Makawao)

"Merriman's Hawai'i" - Peter Merriman and Melanie P. Merriman (2015)
Starting with an intro by renowned chef Peter Bayless, "Merriman's Hawai'i" covers 75 recipes over 262 pages. There are gorgeous pictures for every recipe. Even better, reading this book is like taking a culinary tour of the Big Island. As you're reading, you'll meet local artisans who supply the "farm" portion of his farm-to-table culinary ethic. Maybe because it's the most recently published, this book is the sharpest looking and most interesting read of the five cookbooks in this article.

Chef Merriman's restaurants:
Maui: Merrimans (Kapalua), Hula Grill (Ka'anapali), Monkeypod (Wailea), Monkeypod (Ka'anapali opening Fall, 2017)
Big Island: Merriman's (Waimea)
Kauai: Merriman's (Poipu), Gourmet Pizza and Burgers by Merriman (Poipu)
Oahu: Moku Kitchen (Honolulu), Monkeypod (Ko Olina)

Do you have a favorite Hawai'ian food-based cookbook? Tell us on Twitter @HIOceanProject and Instagram @hawaiioceanproject

Book your Dinner Cruise or Lanai Snorkel at Hawaii Ocean Project!

Fun Facts About the Humuhumunukunukuapuaa

We are sure that you have heard of Hawaii’s state fish, the Humuhumunukunukuapuaa, and have been challenged to sound out this seemingly complicated set of letters. Lucky for you, we won’t make you do that and will often refer to this fish as “humuhumu” like the locals do. Instead, we wanted to share a little bit of what makes the Hawaiian triggerfish so unique!

Growing up to 10 inches long, the humuhumu definitely has a name that is longer than its body! Tiny but mighty, this fish has a tough body structure and rough scales, enabling it to wiggle into small, rocky crevasses to hide from predators. The “trigger”, which is the second spine of the humuhumu, also allows it to lock onto the jagged edges of the reef while it rests.

It is a little known fact but the Hawaiian triggerfish is not on the endangered species list, unlike the Hawaiian monk seal and the nene goose. It is also not a common fish you will find on a dining table, even in the days of Old Hawaii. Early Hawaiians would actually use dried humu as fuel for cooking fires to create more desirable fish dishes.

Roughly translated, the name humuhumunukunukuapuaa means “fish with a snout like a pig” and is believed to stem from the warning grunts a distressed humu makes as well as its pig-like eating habits. Out in the open, away from the safety of the coral, the humuhumu finds its meals by scooping sand off the shallow ocean floor and sifting the inedible pieces out through their mouths in jet streams. While their special fins allow them to burst away once threatened the humuhumu has as a camouflage mechanism of sorts as an added security measure. Capable of changing the pigment of their scales, the colorful humuhumu is able to blend with its surroundings and feast in peace.

This Hawaiian fish is known to be pretty territorial despite its size and has the tendency to nip intruders with their one-of-a-kind blue teeth, so we recommend admiring from afar for those joining us on our Lanai snorkel boat trips! Among the famous humuhumunukunukuapuaa, you will most likely to come across some honu (turtles) that frequent the waters off Maui as well as an array of other colorful fishes!

If you have any questions about the marine life you’ll encounter on our Maui sunset cruises or Hawaii snorkeling tours, you will find our contact information at the bottom of the page. Hope to see you on board – so HOP to it, book today!

The Harmful Effects of Sunscreen on our Oceans

Sunscreens have been making headlines lately due to their contribution to coral bleaching and ocean acidification. Coral bleaching is the phenomenon whereby coral loses its color and rejects symbiotic organisms, essentially killing the coral. While rising sea temperatures are the main culprit behind coral bleaching, researchers believe oxybenzone, a UV blocker used in many popular sunscreens, is aiding in the destruction of coral reefs as put forth in this 2015 study: "Toxicopathological Effects of the Sunscreen UV Filter, Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3), on Coral Planulae and Cultured Primary Cells and Its Environmental Contamination in Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands."

While the researchers focused on oxybenzone, it's not the only ingredient in sunscreen that is harming the coral. Here are the five ingredients you need to avoid when purchasing sunscreen:

Oxybenzone: used in over 3,500 different sunscreens worldwide
Octinoxate: which lasts longer on the body than oxybenzone, but is used less frequently by manufacturers because it's known to be even more dangerous to the ocean
Octocrylene
4-mehtylbenzylidene: 4MBC, which is banned in the U.S., but not in Canada and parts of Europe
Butyparaben

Zinc oxide and organic sunscreens, especially those that are 100% biodegradable, while still possibly damaging, are believed to be much better alternatives than those using the five dangerous compounds listed above.

The best choice, though, is to avoid sunscreen altogether. Instead of sunscreen, we recommend you simply cover up when swimming in the ocean. Sun protection shirts and rash guards are cool looking and do a good job of protecting the skin. Wearing a hat to the beach is always smart. Using umbrellas and tents to create shade are also excellent ways to avoid direct sunlight.

We realize, however, that covering up isn't always practical. You came to Hawai'i to play in the sunshine! The non-profit, non-partisan Environmental Working Group (EWG) has a fantastic Sunscreen 101 guide that lists over 250 reef-safe sunscreens, including the best kid-friendly ones. They've even built a little Amazon store so you can purchase these products online. Additionally, there are a few locally made, reef-friendly sunscreens. Three examples are Raw Love, SolKine and Mama Kuleana.

On Maui, reef-healthy(er) sunscreens can be found at health food stores (such as Hawaiian Moons in Kihei, or Whole Foods in Kahului), as well as surf shops. Be sure to carefully read the active ingredients listed on the bottle because some manufacturers will say they are "reef-friendly," but then go ahead and use harmful ingredients. Again, avoid the five dangerous ingredients listed above, and you'll be doing your part to help save the coral reef.

The Hawai'i state legislature attempted to ban oxybenzone from our waters, but the bill stalled on the last day of the 2017 session. State lawmakers are already working to pass the bill in 2018. If it passes, Hawai'i will become the first state in the union to ban oxybenzone.

Best Tide Pools on Maui - HOP to it

Maui is blessed with miles and miles of sandy beaches. Not all beaches, though, have tide pools. In fact, most don't have them. But when you come across a great tide pool, you can use it as an ecological teaching moment for children or just enjoy the sea life being presented to you. You will find fish, crabs and even turtles in and around tide pools. The tide pools listed below are mostly safe for people of all ages, though we end with one of the most dangerous places in all of Hawaii.

Baldwin Beach (Paia)
While the parking lot, bathrooms and lifeguards are all on the east side of the beach, if you walk west down the beach, you will come to "baby beach," a large, calm tide pool that is blocked by a massive reef. The pool is safe for all ages, though bear in mind, the life guards are on the other side of the beach so keep an eye out on your children. The pool is large enough that you will often see people swimming laps in the calm waters. There is very little shade here, so be sure to pack a hat!
Napili Bay (Napili)
The south side of the ever-popular Napili Bay features some outstanding tide pools. Here you'll find a wide variety of marine life in a protected little area. While Napili Bay doesn't really have any amenities to speak of (no parking, bathrooms, showers of lifeguards,) the beach itself is always rated as one of the best on Maui. If you're staying at one of the resorts or condos that line the bay, checking out the tide pools is a no-brainer.
Keawakapu Beach (Kihei/Wailea)
The north end of the beach (the Kihei side) has nice tide pools for exploring. You will probably see turtles in and around the tide pools. This beach is around a mile long with three separate parking lots and entries. For the tide pool, though, you can park at the 5 Palms public lot. There are showers, though there are no public restrooms or life guards. During a full moon, the tide pools are exceptionally vibrant.
Kuau Cove (Paia)
Though tiny, this little beach is perfect for children, as a natural reef blocks it from waves, creating a calm, near wave-free atmosphere. There are lots of tide pools to explore and soft, white sand to build castles. Because of the shallow reefs and smooth waters, it's a fantastic place to teach children how to snorkel. The beach is located under Mama's Fish House, so it's sometime's referred to as Mama's Fish House Beach.
Olivine Pools (Kapalua)
Before we start in, a word of caution. It can be VERY dangerous here. There have been MANY deaths at these pools. (Read the comments at the bottom of this excellent online guide book post about Olivine Pools.) One rogue wave can send visitors, even when standing above the pools, out to sea. This is no joke, just Google (or Bing) "olivine pools maui death". OK, do you still want to visit? What you'll find here are stunningly beautiful tide pools teeming with sea life. Where the other tide pools on this list are great for children, this one is pretty much adults only. To get to them, you need to scramble down about a half-mile of lava rocks. Kids can make it, but they might scrape some knees in the process.

Where are your favorite tide pools on Maui? Hit us up on Twitter @HIOceanProject and Instagram @hawaiioceanproject or leave a comment below.

Best Golf Courses on Maui - HOP to it

Maui is home to many fine golf courses, far more than the five listed here. With the exception of one, all of the courses here are public. The one club that is private offers one-day guest memberships for visitors. From courses that double as PGA stops to municipal courses with stunning views, if you're a golfer, there's much to love about Maui's golf courses.

Kapulua Golf (Kapalua)
Let's face it, if you're a golfer arriving on Maui, you probably have your heart set on playing the Plantation Course at Kapulua (7,411 yards/Slope 144.) This track is home to the PGA’s Tournament of Champions every January and it is long, but a few downhill holes help mitigate the length. With wide fairways and forgiving greens, the course is actually accessible for most golfers with even limited experience. The Bay Course (6,600 yards/Slope 135,) though shorter than the hilly Plantation Course, plays roughly equal in length. Both courses offer gorgeous views. But really, given the option, play the Plantation Course. It should be on every golfer's bucket list.Plantation: From $225 - $325
Bay: From $165 - $225
(Kapalua Golf)
Wailea Golf Club (Wailea)
With three courses (Gold, Emerald and Old Blue), Wailea has something for every golfer. The Gold course (7078 yards/Slope 138) was once the home of the Champions Skins Game. With four-to-six tee boxes on every hole, the Gold course is playable for everyone. The Emerald course (6,825 yards/Slope 135) is a seven-time recipient of Golf for Women magazine's Top Fairways Award for the country's most female-friendly golf clubs. Finally, the Blue course (6,545 yards/Slope 129) affectionately called Old Blue, is the oldest of the three, but still gorgeous and in excellent condition. All three courses offer stunning views and are challenging, but extremely playable by golfers of all skill level.Gold: From $145 - $250
Emerald: From $145 - $250
Old Blue: From $120 - $190
(Wailea Golf Club)
Kahili Golf Course (Wailuku)
Known for their friendly staff and great views, Kahili Golf Course (6,554 yards/Slope 135) is a sneaky favorite amongst locals and visitors alike. The winds can be challenging, but the course plays fair and somewhat long. Whether you're facing the Pacific, gazing out towards the Haleakala summit or scanning across the local sugar cane fields, the Kahili views are amazing. As an added bonus, the restaurant features the best buffet on the island.Standard rates run from $79 - $99. Book online to save.
(Kahili Golf Course)
King Kamehameha Golf Club (Wailuku)
King Kamehameha (7060 yards/Slope 139) is the only private course on Maui, but they do offer one-day memberships, which is perfect for visitors. You might want to channel your inner-Dustin Johnson because King Kamehameha plays long and is certainly challenging, with a whopping 580-yard first hole. The views of the West Maui Mountains are memorable, but the crown jewel of the course may be the incredible Frank Lloyd Wright-designed clubhouse.Call or email for one-day memberships: 808-249-0033, [email protected]
(King Kamehameha Golf Club)
Maui Nui Golf Club (Kihei)
The Maui Nui Golf Club (6,801 yards/Slope 135) has been called a fair, yet challenging course. The difficulty increases, though, in the late morning and afternoons if the tradewinds are blowing. The course offers amazing views of the Pacific, Haleakala and the West Maui Mountains. The restaurant has one of the best happy hours on Maui, so try to finish between 2:30 - 6:00.Standard rate: $119. Many packages offered. Book online to save.
(Maui Nui Golf Club)

Best Tropical Gardens on Maui - HOP to it

While it seems odd to spend money to see plants and flowers on Maui when they are so prevalent for free, sometimes it's helpful to see all the different types of flora in one location. For you Instagrammers, tropical gardens present excellent flower photo and selfie opportunities. Here are our choices for the five best tropical gardens on Maui.

Maui's Garden of Eden (Hana)
As seen in "Jurassic Park", the Garden of Eden, while on the pricey side, is one of the more beautiful places on Maui. That's saying a lot! With scenic views of waterfalls, the ocean and, of course, acres and acres of plants and flowers, it's easy to spend a couple of hours here just roaming around.
Adults: $15
Children: $5
Infants: free
(Maui's Garden of Eden)
Kula Botanical Gardens (Kula)
Featuring colorful plants and flowers, a koi pond, an aviary, a rock formation and more, the Kula Botanical Garden, is located on the slopes of Haleakala. The plants are labeled for easy identification. Short of heading out to Hana, there isn't a better place to see native plants on Maui.
Adults: $10
Children 6 - 12 years old: $3
Children under 6 are free
(Kula Botanical Gardens)
Kahanu Garden (Hana)
Located on the Hana coast, Kahanu Garden resides in one of the largest hala forests on the Islands. The gardens feature plants of value for Hawaiian, Polynesian, Micronesian and Melanesian peoples. Beyond the lush plant-life, Kahanu Garden is also home to the massive man-made lava rock structure, Pi'ilanihale Heiau, a registered National Historic Landmark. If you're driving the Road to Hana, Kahanu Garden is worth a stop.
Adults (13 and up): $10
Children (12 and under): Free
(Kahanu Garden)
Iao Valley State Monument (Wailuku)
Popular for its clear views of the Iao Needle, the park also includes a half-mile, paved path through a botanical garden with clear signs that introduce visitors to numerous plants and flowers that grow on Maui. If you park down the hill from the entrance, you can skip the parking fee. The park was closed for most of 2017, but as of November 22, it's once again open to the public.
Parking: $5.00 (free for residents)
(Iao Valley State Monument)
Maui Tropical Plantation (Wailuku)
Free to walk around, this is one of Maui's hidden gems for a cheap family outing. The grounds are gorgeous with native Hawai'ian plants and flowers and a pretty lagoon. The world-class restaurant Mill House is on the premises, serving up some of the best meals on Maui. The gift shop is loaded and there's an ice cream shop to satisfy your sweet tooth. Monday - Saturday they feature a farmers market with fruits and veggies grown on their farm. For an even bigger adventure, visitors can try the family-friendly (ages 5 and up) zipline tour.
Free to walk around
Tram tour: Adults: $20/Children 3 - 12: $10
(Maui Tropical Plantation)

Do you have a favorite tropical garden on Maui? Or a favorite nature spot? Tell us on Twitter @HIOceanProject and Instagram @hawaiioceanproject or leave a us a comment below.

Best Coffee Shops on Maui - HOP to it

A good coffee shop is somewhere you want to nest, a place where you can do anything from check your email to chat with friends. For this list, we aren't talking about the best coffee. Instead, we are talking about are the best places to enjoy coffee. Of course, the coffee at these places is actually really good. Hawaii is the only state in the nation that produces coffee for mass consumption. While Kona is famous for its coffee (as it should be), Maui-grown coffee is also excellent. Whether you're talking story with friends, catching up on the latest news using free wi-fi, or enjoying a nice breakfast or lunch, here are the Maui coffee shops we recommend, listed alphabetically.

Crema Maui (Pukalani)
Better known to pep up parties with their unique coffee catering experiences, they now have a brick and mortar utilizing Restaurant Marlow's quiet hours. This is the perfect location to enjoy your macchiato before exploring Upcountry Maui. 7am to 1pm daily. (Crema Maui)

Akamai Coffee Co. (Kihei)
Using 100% Maui grown coffee and roasting their own coffee, Akamai has two locations. The Kihei location is a beautiful, modern space with plenty of room and very clean. While not necessarily charming, it does have the feel of high-end showroom, like an Apple Store for coffee. The "living wall," where flowers seem to grow straight out of the wall, is really neat. (Akamai Coffee Co.)

The Coffee Store (Napili)
Located in a small strip mall, the unassuming Coffee Store in Napili serves up excellent coffee in a nice, down home atmosphere. The staff is super friendly and you never feel rushed. Serving fresh pastries, bagels, acai bowls and both breakfast and lunch sandwiches, if you need more than coffee to get you going, The Coffee Store has you covered. (The Coffee Store)

Grandma's Coffee House (Kula)
Using handpicked beans from the Haleakala mountainside, Grandma's then hulls and roasts them right there at the shop. They've been doing this since 1918, making it, to our knowledge, the oldest coffee house on Maui. They serve a full menu of wonderful breakfast and lunch plates. If you're coming down from Haleakala, there's no better place to stop. (Grandma's Coffee House)

Maui Coffee Attic (Wailuku)
With two levels of comfy chairs and couches and serving a full menu of excellent pastries and food items, entering the Coffee Attic is like entering your grandma's house... if your grandma can whip up tasty meals and make really good coffee. They serve only Maui Oma Coffee Roasting Co. coffees. One neat thing they do is freezing coffee ice cubes to use in their iced coffees. So instead of getting weaker when the ice melts, your drinks will actually get stronger. The Coffee Attic hosts many events and it's really popular amongst students. (Maui Coffee Attic)

Maui Coffee Roasters (Kahului)
Located within minutes of the airport, Maui Coffee Roasters is a great place to pick up last minute gifts of freshly roasted Kona coffee for family and friends. It's also a great place to chill with coffee and pastries or sandwiches before tackling the Road to Hana. With a comfortable, eclectic setting, Maui Coffee Roasters is the best place to stop for coffee in the "city." (Maui Coffee Roasters)

Where do you like to stop for coffee on Maui? Tell us on Twitter @HIOceanProject and Instagram @hawaiioceanproject