Molokini Islet, Maui, Hawaii

Less than three miles offshore from southwestern Maui, sheltered by Kaho’olawe and its own natural breakwater rim, the submerged crater of Molokini is a favored day-trip destination for snorkeling, diving, and whale-watching.  The crater’s crumbling semicircular rim of dry land supports nesting colonies of Wedge-tailed Shearwater and Bulwer’s Petrel, and often hosts a few other seabirds, including Yellow-billed Tropicbird, Great Frigatebird, and Brown Booby.

Maui Nui – Intro
Maui Nui – Index
Hawaii – Birds

Orientation

Directions

Most of the boats that regularly take visitors to Molokini leave from Ma’alaea Harbor.  A few also leave from the Kihei Boat Ramp (nearer to Molokini) and at least one from Lahaina Harbor (farther).

Tour operators include:

Molokini Maui: Ma’alaea Harbor, 808-270-0885

Pacific Whale Foundation: Ma’alaea Harbor, 888-651-9785

Redline Rafting, Kihei Boat Ramp, 808-856-4274

Birdfinding

Shore landings are not allowed at Molokini, and the tour boats are required to moor at specific points in the shallow crater area, all of which limits the options for birdwatchers and makes vessel selection crucial to the visitor’s satisfaction.

Some tours circumnavigate the island, but this is the exception and would generally not be available as a discretionary response to a passenger’s request.  Besides the boat’s sailing plan, key factors include weather conditions, boat traffic, and the other passengers’ expectations.  It might be possible to arrange for bird-oriented course alterations, but this would likely require discussion and agreement in advance, preferably before deciding on which boat to ride.

Molokini Islet with Kaho’olawe in the background.  Go Hawaii

The seabirds known to occur regularly at Molokini are:

Wedge-tailed Shearwater – about 1,000 to 1,500 pairs, mostly March to October.

Bulwer’s Petrel – about 50 to 100 pairs, mostly April to September, nocturnal (sometimes also late afternoon, especially June to September when feeding chicks).

Yellow-billed Tropicbird – uncommon year-round.

Great Frigatebird – a few roost year-round; more (high count: 131) from July to September.

Brown Booby – a few present year-round, possibly associated with colonies on Kaho’olawe.

Molokini Islet’s semicircular shape shelters the shallow crater area, which makes it ideal for snorkeling.

Others not known to occur regularly in the immediate vicinity of Molokini, but sometimes observed there or nearby, include: Laysan Albatross, Hawaiian Petrel, Red-tailed Tropicbird, Red-footed Booby (sporadic; up to 18 found roosting among Great Frigatebirds in August 2019), “Hawaiian Noddy”, and Sooty Tern.

Most of the regularly scheduled tours leave port around 7:00 a.m. and return mid-day.  Most visit multiple locations and combine snorkeling with whale-watching or other sightseeing.  Morning tours generally do not provide a high probability of seeing Bulwer’s Petrel.  For improved odds, it might be worthwhile asking about afternoon departures—which are fewer, but not unheard of.  Alternative times may be easier to arrange at the Kihei Boat Ramp, where the distance to Molokini is approximately six miles (compared to 12 miles from Ma’alaea Harbor and 22 miles from Lahaina Harbor).

Bulwer’s Petrel breeds on Molokini, but its nocturnal habits make it difficult to see.  © Peter Flood

Molokini supports a significant breeding colony of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters.  © Deborah Metters

Notes

When to Visit

Time of Year.  The breeding colony is most active from June or July to September, with the Wedge-tailed Shearwaters arriving in March and Bulwer’s Petrels arriving in April, and chicks hatching around June and fledging in August or September.  There is little bird activity at Molokini from October to mid-March.

Time of Day.  Most of the seabird species at Molokini are active all day, including the Wedge-tailed Shearwater, which attends its nest diurnally.  The exception is Bulwer’s Petrel, which typically attends its nest at night, but often approaches the colony in late afternoon.