Snorkel· Maui· Hawaii
Honolua Bay Marine Life Conservation District
21° 0.9′ N · 156° 38.3′ W
West Maui's best reef snorkel: a no-take bay where dense coral covers both sides from 10 to 40 ft, richest and most varied along the northeast shore, with a sand channel down the middle.
Practical
Coordinate is DOBOR day-use mooring Honolua NS-1 (21 00.876 N, 156 38.343 W), a bow-and-stern pair. DOBOR lists NS-1, NS-2 (north side) and SS-1 (south side) bow-and-stern moorings. MLCD established 1978, 45 acres, rule HAR 13-32: no fishing, taking or injuring any marine life; no taking sand, coral or rocks; carrying legal gear and catch taken outside the district aboard a boat is allowed. Commercial activity needs a DLNR permit. The sand channel slopes to about 60 ft at the mouth. Honolua Stream silts the water near the old boat ramp, so visibility improves farther out; avoid after heavy rain. Avoid in winter high surf. No facilities ashore; land access is by a forest path from the highway (to-hawaii.com).
Best for
The top reef snorkel in West Maui, by mooring ball in summer
Season
May–Sep; closed out by winter north swell