Molokini
Island · Maui County ·

Molokini

Island · Maui County ·

Uninhabited crescent island with clear turquoise waters

snorkeling
clear water
fish
diving
turtles
crater
boat trip
marine life
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null
Molokini by null

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Jan 28, 2026

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@travelleisure
28,641 Postcards · 5,542 Cities

10 Places Where You Can See the Bluest Water in the U.S.

"Situated three miles from Maui’s southwest coast, the small island of Molokini remains a hidden gem with near-empty, crescent-shaped beaches that have golden sand and some of the clearest, turquoise water in all of the Aloha State. So clear, in fact, the waters have visibility depths that often reach up to 200 feet." - Travel + Leisure Editors

https://www.travelandleisure.com/places-with-the-bluest-water-in-the-united-states-7185526
Molokini
@afar
25,132 Postcards · 3,702 Cities

Expert Travel Tips for Visiting Hawaii During COVID-19 - AFAR

"An uninhabited crescent island near Maui that is celebrated as a top snorkeling destination and a highlight for underwater excursions." - Annie Fitzsimmons

https://www.afar.com/magazine/where-to-go-now-in-hawaii
Molokini

Avudai I.

Google
Best experience for snorkelling. Out of the world. Nature’s beauty for visual treat.

Daniel H.

Google
Awesome snorkeling. First time as your typical middle age office worker. We went on January, the water was cool but it wasn't too cool. We adjusted to it fine. You need to physically be able to lift yourself up to a stair step just barely in the water to get back onto the boat. I'm north of 220 pounds, and while challenging it was doable. I highly recommend it. We were able to hear what sounded like 1,000s of distant whales in our go-pro videos. Super clear water, so many species of fish. Even saw a seal!

Fer V

Google
As an inexperienced swimmer, I was nervous about snorkeling at Molokini Crater, but it turned out to be an amazing experience! The crew was friendly and professional, providing detailed instructions and all necessary gear. The water was crystal clear, and I quickly felt comfortable thanks to the supportive guides. The marine life was stunning. I saw colorful fish, coral reefs, and even sea turtles. The crew ensured our safety and shared interesting facts about the marine life. The tour was relaxed, allowing plenty of time to explore at my own pace. It’s a fun, memorable adventure with breathtaking underwater views!

Jerry H.

Google
The water is very clear so you can see a long way. Lots of reef fish to see while snorkeling. Molokini is a mist visit location for snorkelers to go when they are on Maui.

Maya T.

Google
After coming here for snorkeling, we did not find any places around. The only thing I wish for is if there were some restaurants close by or something, because we got really hungry after the trip. I'd definitely suggest to bring some snacks or even pack a big lunch to each on the trip.

Brandon F.

Google
Best snorkeling! Four Winds crew was the best! Shout out to Dayton and Ryan!!

Mike B.

Google
Great experience, so many fish and a few turtles. I even saw a eel, right in the coral. Thus place does get packed though. Everyone knows about it and the fish are forsure feed here. They all come up to you for food. Scuba is the way to go, the coral is shrinking but there is enough to experience marine life.

TJ M.

Google
Great visibility and great views during the trip. There are better places to snorkel/dive, but this is worth the trip. Saw turtles and a whale on the trip to/from.
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Hank C.

Yelp
A fantastic partially submerged volcano crater that provides a lot of sea life and reef life area to grow and where tourists come on the various boats to snorkel. It can be crowded so pick your tour(s) wisely. The smaller groups are easier. Saw a ray, turtle and plenty of fish here. Also a lot of seabirds nesting on the crater walls. Water is crystal clear this far from shore (no sand to stir up) and on a sunny day you can see 100+ feet down.
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Scott F.

Yelp
Most people say Molokini is an island. It is a moon shaped crater that can be seen from many destinations. Molokini became a big highlight of my trip in Maui because during the first morning my group and I went out there to do some snorkeling. Then afterwards we could easily see Molokini from the beach of our condo and from the middle of Haleakala. Of course I had to watch Moana in the evening because somehow the history of the crater made me want to watch it. The water is beautifully blue and very clear. You can see a lot of different fish around the crater. A few miles away you can see sea turtles and sometimes dolphins. I recommend checking out Molokini on your trip to experience its awesomeness!
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Rhonda W.

Yelp
toll a excursion from Maui to the crater for snorkeling. We were aware the coral had been greatly damaged by a boat. The water was very choppy that day and my husband got super sick and was miserable. The pics I took are better than what I really saw as the water was so deep and the fish were down towards the bottom so didn't get great views. when I cropped the pics they looked better.
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C N.

Yelp
I'd highly recommend taking a trip out to the Molokini Crater if you are staying in Maui. There are a bunch of boats that will take out out to the crater which is about an hour boat ride from Maalaea. We did the guided trip from Fair Winds II and had a great experience so would highly recommend their group when taking the trip out to Molokini. Located out in the great blue, it's a crater that provides clear blue waters brimming with plenty of sealife like coral, sea urchins and plenty of fish. No need to worry about things like sharks or dangerous sea life as they don't visit the Molokini crater. The crater itself is a huge C-shape which prevent the waters from getting choppy so the waves are pretty calm in this area. The area within the crater isn't too deep so you can swim down enough to get some shots. Would recommend getting an underwater digital camera from a rental (the Fair Winds II provided us with one for $40) and the shots came out great. Skip the disposable underwater cameras as they're about $15, don't take great photos and only provides about 22 pictures. The digicam that we were provided let us take up to 3000 photos. FYI: If you easily get seasick, this may not be the trip for you. The trip out was on a clear day with no trade winds yet the ride there was still pretty rough. I took motion sickness pills ahead of time and still felt crappy by the time we got there. Luckily the Fair Winds II provided me with some homemade ginger ale which can help calm your stomach for motion sickness. Also don't eat anything acidic (like oranges or pineapple) as this will further upset your stomach.

Lynn S.

Yelp
Skip the expensive boat trips out to Molokini if you are a decent swimmer and have snorkel experience. You will see much more diversity of sea creatures and coral/sponges along Makena coastal reefs. Ahihi Kinau Reserve is one example of a wonderful array of sealife to view underwater. $5 parking supports the Reserve. Another is 5 Caves (5 Graves) along Makena Road. This one has a more advanced lava entry and exit area and a significant swim out to 5 caves area. Athletic types can do this one or someone very comfortable in the ocean with guidance from a more experienced snorkeler.
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Brianna S.

Yelp
Molokini is a small uninhabited island about an hour, boating time, away from Maui. There are snorkel tours that leave out of Buzz's Wharf that take you to and fro, and let you swim in this crystal clear waters. They say you can see anywhere from 100-150 feet down, the water is so clear. After going there, I can say that I am a believer! Saw the most gorgeous coral, fish, and even a smaller white tipped reef shark on our trip... But no turtles. If you are looking for a spot to swim with them, try Napili or Black Rock. FYI, the address for Molokini is wrong, somehow got a signal to check in, but the tower must have been in Kihei.
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Miguel O.

Yelp
Excellent place for Snorkeling, for me one of the top ones in Hawaii. It is not far from Maui (Makena) and you can do this easily as a day trip. You can see in the following video what you can find in Molokini: https://youtu.be/mIXutrEBU_Q One piece of advice though: bring lots of sunscreen!!

Chris M.

Yelp
Amazing!!!!! Stop thinking about it and do it. I liked the smaller group with the the Reef Adventures Team. You won't be sorry. The turtles and fish were fabulous.

Nathary R.

Yelp
Amazing how clear visibility is, you will see a good amount of fish. I love snorkeling but I have snorkel better sites from shore. It's worth experiencing if you enjoy diving.