Vacation rentals on Maui attract people who love the ocean. In fact, eco tourism is one of Maui’s biggest attractions, drawing hundreds of thousands of guests to vacation condos and beach houses annually. As we are all aware, even on vacation we must take care of the ocean and its living creatures. When you come to Maui, here are some great ways to enjoy the beauty of the Pacific and some specific details about sea life conservation and protection that applies to all tourists. Remember, if we don’t take the time to protect what we have now, there won’t be anything left to come back to Maui for in the future. Your vacation rental in paradise is only as magical as the ecology around it.

Help Protect Maui’s Marine Animals

That huge, lukewarm pond that laps at Maui’s shores is alive with wildlife. Some of these animals, like humpback whales, Hawaiian monk seals and sea turtles, are considered endangered species and are protected by federal laws. Dolphins, though not endangered, are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Here are some rules and guidelines to follow when viewing marine wildlife:
1. Stay at least 100 yards from humpback whales, 50 yards from dolphins, monk seals and sea turtles.
2. Marine animals are allowed to approach humans, but it is against the law for humans to approach chase, surround, kill, touch or swim with these creatures.
3. Limit observation time to 30 minutes.
4. Feeding marine mammals is prohibited under federal law. To report suspected violations, call the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at 1-800-853-1964.
For more information, check with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary in Kihei (1-800-831-4888), the NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service in Honolulu (1-808-973-2937) or the Department of Land and Natural Resources in Honolulu (1-808-587-5404).

There is something spellbinding about squinting into a Pacific morning sun and spying a pod of wild dolphins spinning like shiny toy tops out of a sun-polished sea. Seemingly carefree, these marine mammals may appear out of the blue and put on a show for you.

Spinner dolphins, the most frequently observed species, are gregarious by nature. They were named for their habit of leaping above the surface of the water and swirling like glistening silver-clad Olympians. Scientists can’t explain why spinners spin. It could be a method of communication or a way to get rid of parasites. Or maybe these friendly creatures, appearing to wear perpetual smiles, just like to have fun.

Spinner dolphins can be seen almost daily along the south shore of Lana’i. They commonly travel in pods of 50 to 150 individuals and feed at night, foraging in deep ocean channels and resting during the day in sheltered bays along the coast. Resting pods are often visible during daylight hours and should not be disturbed.

Enter the World of Wild Dolphins

Any boat tour in waters off Maui, Moloka’i and Lana’i offers the opportunity for spotting dolphins, but the Pacific Whale Foundation’s Lana’i Wild Dolphin & Snorkel Eco-Adventure throws years of dolphin research into its tour package. Experienced marine research naturalists accompany passengers on daily dolphin sighting tours along the Lana’i coast. The focus of the tour is a bay where researchers have documented the behaviors and social interactions of a group of approximately 200 spinner dolphins.

PWF also offers a Wild Dolphin Encounter that focuses exclusively on watching dolphins and includes a guarantee that you’ll see dolphins or take another trip free.

That huge, lukewarm pond that laps at Maui’s shores is alive with wildlife. Some of these animals, like humpback whales, Hawaiian monk seals and sea turtles, are considered endangered species and are protected by federal laws. Dolphins, though not endangered, are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Here are some rules and guidelines to follow when viewing marine wildlife:
1. Stay at least 100 yards from humpback whales, 50 yards from dolphins, monk seals and sea turtles.
2. Marine animals are allowed to approach humans, but it is against the law for humans to approach chase, surround, kill, touch or swim with these creatures.
3. Limit observation time to 30 minutes.
4. Feeding marine mammals is prohibited under federal law. To report suspected violations, call the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at 1-800-853-1964.
For more information, check with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary in Kihei (1-800-831-4888), the NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service in Honolulu (1-808-973-2937) or the Department of Land and Natural Resources in Honolulu (1-808-587-5404).

Dive Maui’s Rugged North Shore

If you’ve been to the moon, skirted splintering ice shelves in the Arctic, and toughed your way to the top of a holy mountain in the Himalayas, you might think Maui’s a tad tame. That would be because you’ve never tried diving Maui’s rugged North Shore.

A pair of professional divers, with a burning need to push the limits, has founded North Shore Explorers, a green and extreme company that specializes in trips to dive sites less explored. On a trip with NSE, you might find yourself scaling vertical undersea cliffs or exploring uncharted sites with spectacular terrains and unusual, sometimes rare, sea life.

All the trips are drift dives made from a 30-foot vessel once used for Navy Seal operations. The overbuilt RIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable-Zodiac style boat) is outfitted with twin 300HP Turbo Diesel engines with Jet Drive and run on 100 percent bio-diesel fuel. Christened Pailolo (crazy seas), she retains some of her Navy hardware but has been overhauled and modernized with the latest electronics and safety equipment.

North Shore Explorers staffs a crew of professional dive guides, instructors and boat captains, many of whom also hold jobs with other local companies.

In addition to diving trips, the company runs scenic tours of the North Shore, and during the winter months, when the big swells roll in, NSE offers big wave tours of well-known sites, such as Jaws, or Pe’ahi. 

If you’ve been to the moon, skirted splintering ice shelves in the Arctic, and toughed your way to the top of a holy mountain in the Himalayas, you might think Maui’s a tad tame. That would be because you’ve never tried diving Maui’s rugged North Shore.

A pair of professional divers, with a burning need to push the limits, has founded North Shore Explorers, a green and extreme company that specializes in trips to dive sites less explored. On a trip with NSE, you might find yourself scaling vertical undersea cliffs or exploring uncharted sites with spectacular terrains and unusual, sometimes rare, sea life.

All the trips are drift dives made from a 30-foot vessel once used for Navy Seal operations. The overbuilt RIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable-Zodiac style boat) is outfitted with twin 300HP Turbo Diesel engines with Jet Drive and run on 100 percent bio-diesel fuel. Christened Pailolo (crazy seas), she retains some of her Navy hardware but has been overhauled and modernized with the latest electronics and safety equipment.

North Shore Explorers staffs a crew of professional dive guides, instructors and boat captains, many of whom also hold jobs with other local companies.

In addition to diving trips, the company runs scenic tours of the North Shore, and during the winter months, when the big swells roll in, NSE offers big wave tours of well-known sites, such as Jaws, or Pe’ahi.