Snorkel· Maui· Hawaii
Olowalu Reef
20° 48.3′ N · 156° 36.9′ W
A broad, shallow fringing reef off Olowalu village (Hekili Point), described as one of Hawaii's healthiest and most unusual reef systems, with coral heads hundreds of years old, a rare manta ray cleaning station and a blacktip reef shark nursery.
Practical
Coordinate is DOBOR day-use mooring Olowalu 3 (20 48.283 N, 156 36.881 W). DOBOR lists ten public day-use moorings here: Olowalu 1 to 5, White Sands, LP, Coconuts, Alii and PK, spread from about 156 37.0 W to 156 36.3 W. Day-use mooring rules (HAR 13-257): first come, first served; 2.5 hours per day if another vessel is waiting; no overnight mooring; no anchoring within 100 yards of an established mooring; elsewhere in the zone anchor only on sand, rock or rubble with no live coral. The gulch of Olowalu Stream, a gap in the mountains abreast of Hekili Point, is an excellent night mark (Coast Pilot). Visibility drops after rain and in south swell. Olowalu General Store and a juice stand are at the village (OSM). For an overnight stop, anchor on sand outside the mooring line (see Olowalu Anchorage).
Best for
Lunch-stop snorkel on mooring balls, mantas if you are lucky
Season
Best in trades with no south swell