Maui snorkel trip help
 

We're going to Maui for our honeymoon in September and were planning to take the kayak trip that goes from La Perouse Bay to "Aquarium" and "Fishbowl." But the entire area, Ahihi-Kinau Reserve, is now closed to commercial operators.

So we're looking for another snorkel trip and are trying to decide between a trip to Molokini and one to Lanai. We would like to take one guided trip because neither of us have snorkeled before. Any thoughts on which one is better and which boat operators are best? The best ones to Molokini seem to be Four Winds and Paragon, but I'm a little lost on the ones to Lanai.

Amy

Take the Four Winds to Molokini as long as you are comfortable in the water. It is a nice boat and they do a good job. Molokini is extraordinary. If you are staying in S. Maui, you may also want to try snorkeling on your own. Pick up equipment at some place like Snorkel Bob's (there are lots of others where you can buy or rent) and go to Ulua Beach in Wailea. It is terrific.

I think the snorkeling is better at Molokini than just about anywhere and would not go to Lanai for that. The Island itself, is worth a short trip though, especially if you golf. It is wonderfully low key and the people are charming. Castle & Cook own the two big resorts, Manele Bay down on the beach and Koele Lodge in Lanai City. If you go, a stroll through Lanai City is fun as well. If nothing else, the Ferry ride over is a nice little ride in itself. You won't be here for whale watching but you will often find spinner dolphins escorting you in one direction or the other. Enjoy your stay.

I probably should have provided a little more information.

We were looking forward to the snorkel kayak trip because it seemed like there would be many more fish than people - something I've heard is an issue at Molokini.

Plus, we were really looking forward to the possibility that we would see and maybe even swim near spinner dolphins.

I've heard that spinner dolphins hang out near Lanai, but wasn't sure where or which boat trip might give us the best option to see them. At the same time, the "blue bible" says water clarity may not be that great at Lanai.

Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

One of the many problems cited with the kayak trips at Ahihi-Kinau were kayakers harrassing dolphins.

You might want to look at excursions with the Pacific Whale Foundation. They have a Molokin-Lana`i Dolphin Encounter that I have taken. It leaves early in the morning and arives at Molokini before the party boats get there. They are pulling up anchor and heading off to Lanai by the time the other boats are arriving at Molokini. You will see spinner dolphins and turtles on the way to Lana`i. When we did the trip the water was perfectly clear. PWF has naturalists who will anwer questions and they even did a special swim fo rhte keiki where the naturalist swma down and brought up various sea life so the kids could get a closer look. And, the profits from the trip go back to the Foundation.

Since you are snorkel novices you may wish to do the PWF Lana'i dolphin/snorkel excursion. We did it Thanksgiving. Waters on east side were as calm and clear as lake water. Plenty of fish... And, it's easier getting in water off a boat than wading in from shore. I found Molokini densely crowded, but not with water breathers.

Ahihi-Kinau is closed to tour operators or everyone? Why doesn't Maui Kayak's website say that I wonder? We took their La Perouse trip last July and LOVED it. And yes, there were a LOT of kayaks in the area where the dolphins hang out.

I don't want to talk you out of a guided trip, but snorkeling is really easy, just relax, practice breathing with your face in the water a little bit first, float on your stomach and kick gently, and wear a floaty snorkel vest if it helps you feel comfortable (I do). You can see Aquarium, Fishbowl, and tons of other snorkel sites on your own, which you'll probably want to do after your boat trip whets your appetite--snorkeling rules!

love
roxy

Roxy -
It was your trip report that got me so excited about this kayaking trip.

I sent an e-mail to Maui Kayaks and didn't hear back. But one of the other companies, Maui Eco-tours, said Ahihi-Kinau was just recently closed to commercial tour operators, but may in the future be closed to everyone.

If it's still open when we go, we may try to get to the snorkel sites there. The kayaks just looked like a much easier way to get there - and seemed more enviromentally friendly than hiking around.

Amy

The Maui News had two articles on this closure at the weekend. Click on http://www.mauinews.com/news/news.asp and scroll down to April 17 and 18 for these reports.

It's really a shame, but not that surprising. When we went out with Maui Kayaks, Dec 26th, a trip we loved even though the dolphins did not come to visit....

well although there was bad blood between competitors, their respect for the regulations of the environment was obvious. The number of people on the water, and the dismay over the blue book telling people to hike on their own ---- which is a bad idea since hikers don't know where the only entry is that protects this fragile environment, therefor causing tremendous damage to the ecosystem...well it was bound to come to this.

With new regulations, I hope they have decided to hire a park ranger to guide hikers to enter these protected water educated. That was what our kayak guide was truly hoping for. And in calm waters, I will definately head back there on my own, however, on our trip, the surf and wind were up and it was a fullbody workout that would have felt hazardous without our guide. Good luck searching out new adventures, and continue to respect the precious few places set aside. Maholo, G

It was nasty out there last week. My husband and I love to hike Hoapili and did a trek out to Kanaio last Weds. There was a kayak tour company there when we got back and the operators were involved in a nasty yelling match with some locals. Tour operators insisted they were not going to stop operations. Early Saturday the DLNR police were there to enforce the ban.

The area is a not a park, but a Natural Area Reserve as well as a valuable historic area rich in archeological sites. We have noticed a huge increase in traffic to the area in the past year, and with it has come trash, human waste and desecration of sacred places. In the past year burial mounds have been opened and visitors have been moving rocks in the archealogical areas.

If you do visit Keoneoio or Ahihi-Kinau, please kokua. Don't disturb the area, do not take a`a as souvenir, or leave messages written out in coral. Do not step on the coral reef, do not swim in the anchialine pools, respect the animal and plant life that call this place their home. Walk only the clearly marked trails. There are sacred places out there, as well as many species of wildlife, some that live nowhere else in the world. There is a movement right now to completely close the area to all visitors, to save the area only for the people of Maui. I was asked to sign such a petition on Saturday. It is sad that so many people do not learn the kapus before visiting, and have caused such damage. This is one of my favorite places on the island and it would be so sad to see it closed.

Thyme,

Also, PLEASE do not try to kayak La Perouse on your own, if it is still open to everyone, unless you are skilled kayakers. Kayaking the open ocean is not easy, it gets really windy and choppy, and you need to move closer and farther from shore to navigate well in certain spots. During the two different days we were there, we saw lots of people trying to do it themselves and ending up fighting against getting pushed up onto the rocks--just several hundred feet from shore. It was scary watching them trying to fight their way out of a dangerous situation, and a woman who lived right there in front of those rocks told us it happens all the time, and that some have to be rescued.

Glad you enjoyed my trip report! Let me know if you have any questions!

love
roxy

I'm sad to hear that the La Perouse kayak tour has been cancelled. Does anyone know if the Makena/Wailea tour from Maui Kayaks is just as good?

Essentially, we don't really want to do a tour for snorkelling, but also don't want to miss on our great snorkelling!

HTG2Maui,
It's a crying shame if inconsiderate tourists cause the closing of the Ahihi-Kinau Reserve to the general public. It's really troubling to hear that such a sanctuary is getting desecrated.

Do you think they'll require permits in the future to access the area? In a way I'm hoping for it so that most potential visitors will not want to deal with the hassle in order to visit. Then it could be left to those who really want to experience the area, who I imagine would appreciate and respect it the most.

We are getting closer to having this area closed off in order to protect it. It is no longer a matter of "if," but now of when, where and to what extent.

http://mauinews.com/news/story/06292...1panel0629.asp

I know that many of you feel great affection for Maui Revealed, but there is a growing sentitment here that it greatly contributed to and accelerated the situation at Ahihi-Kinau. And a friend who owns property on Kaui recently shared with me the concerns of the Kaui book as well.