Molokini
Encyclopedia
Molokini is a crescent
-shaped, partially submerged volcanic crater
which forms a small islet located in Alalakeiki Channel between the islands of Maui
and Kahoolawe
, part of Maui County in Hawaii
. It has an area of 93169 square metres (23 acre), a diameter of about 0.4 mile (0.643736 km), and is located about 2.5 miles (4 km) west of Makena State Park
and south of Maalaea Bay
. It is a popular tourist destination for scuba diving
, snuba
and snorkeling
. The islet is a Hawaii State Seabird Sanctuary.
, scuba
, and snuba
tours depart from Maalaea Harbor and Kihei Boat Ramp.
Molokini's crescent shape protects divers from waves and the channel's powerful currents. However, experienced scuba divers will also drift dive off the 300 feet (91.4 m) sheer outer wall, using the channel currents to carry them along.
The crater houses a lush reef with excellent visibility as deep as 150 feet (45.7 m). Molokini is home to about 250 species of fish, many endemic (see Ecology below). The best conditions occur in early morning.
Because Molokini attracts many boats, the Hawaii State Division of Boating and Recreation established mooring buoy
s and "Day Use Mooring Rules" for Molokini to protect against damage from dropped anchors.
Its popularity has led many water-sport guides to lament that overcrowding has made the experience less attractive.
In Hawaiian legend, Molokini was a beautiful woman. She and Pele
, the fire goddess, were in love with the same man. The jealous Pele cut her rival in two and transformed her into stone. The woman's head is supposedly Puu Olai, the cinder cone
by Makena Beach
.
indicates that Molokini erupted approximately 230,000 years ago.
Archaeological evidence, primarily in the form of stone sinkers and lures, show that early Hawaiians visited Molokini to fish. They also likely harvested seabirds, eggs and feathers.
During World War II
, the United States Navy
used Molokini for target practice because its shape is somewhat similar to a battleship. In 1975 and 1984 the US Navy detonated in-place unexploded munitions found within the crater, resulting in the destruction of large areas of coral. This resulted in a public outcry. A thorough search and risky manual removal of unexploded munitions to deep water was carried out by volunteer divers as a result. As well, a 2006 survey found no evidence of unexploded munitions on the islet itself.
From the 1950s through the 1970s, commercial harvesting of black coral occurred in Molokini.
In 1977 Molokini islet, the crater, and the surrounding 77 acres (311,608.2 m²) of underwater terrain were declared a Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD).
, Yellow Tang
, Moorish Idol
, Parrotfish
, Raccoon butterflyfish
and Bluefin Trevally
. Due to constant exposure to park visitors and the long history as a conservation district, the fish of Molokini are extremely comfortable with the presence of nearby divers. Small Whitetip reef shark
s and Moray eels are occasionally seen in the crater.
38 different hard coral species can be found in the waters of Molokini, as can approximately 100 distinct species of algae.
The islet itself is home to at least two different species of nesting seabirds: Bulwer's Petrel
s and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters. Additionally Great Frigatebirds have been observed on Molokini islet.
Regulations covering the Molokini Shoal MLCD (see History above) prohibit fishing, collection or removal of specimens, and fish feeding within its bounds. Additionally, dropping anchor within the MLCD is not permitted due to the potential of damage to the coral reef. Tour boat operators have been allocated fixed mooring points instead.
Crescent
In art and symbolism, a crescent is generally the shape produced when a circular disk has a segment of another circle removed from its edge, so that what remains is a shape enclosed by two circular arcs of different diameters which intersect at two points .In astronomy, a crescent...
-shaped, partially submerged volcanic crater
Volcanic crater
A volcanic crater is a circular depression in the ground caused by volcanic activity. It is typically a basin, circular in form within which occurs a vent from which magma erupts as gases, lava, and ejecta. A crater can be of large dimensions, and sometimes of great depth...
which forms a small islet located in Alalakeiki Channel between the islands of Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
and Kahoolawe
Kahoolawe
Kahoolawe is the smallest of the eight main volcanic islands in the Hawaiian Islands. Kahoolawe is located about seven miles southwest of Maui and also southeast of Lanai, and it is long by wide, with a total land area of . The highest point on Kahoolawe is the crater of Lua Makika at the...
, part of Maui County in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. It has an area of 93169 square metres (23 acre), a diameter of about 0.4 mile (0.643736 km), and is located about 2.5 miles (4 km) west of Makena State Park
Makena State Park
Makena State Park comprises in Makena, south of Wailea on the island of Maui, Hawaii.Big Beach, also known as "Oneloa Beach" and "Makena Beach", is a popular spot for sunbathing and bodyboarding by both tourists and locals. Big Beach is long and more than wide. The shore is fairly protected from...
and south of Maalaea Bay
Ma'alaea Bay
Ma'alaea Bay is a large bay in the southwestern coast of Maui, in the Hawaiian islands. Several small towns are located close to the bay, notably the town which shares its name, Maalaea....
. It is a popular tourist destination for scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
, snuba
Snuba
Snuba is an underwater breathing system developed by Snuba International.The word Snuba is a portmanteau of "snorkel" and "scuba". The swimmer uses swimfins, a diving mask, weights, and diving regulator as in scuba diving....
and snorkeling
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn...
. The islet is a Hawaii State Seabird Sanctuary.
Popular dive spot
Molokini is one of the top 10 dive spots in the world. SnorkelingSnorkeling
Snorkeling is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn...
, scuba
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
, and snuba
Snuba
Snuba is an underwater breathing system developed by Snuba International.The word Snuba is a portmanteau of "snorkel" and "scuba". The swimmer uses swimfins, a diving mask, weights, and diving regulator as in scuba diving....
tours depart from Maalaea Harbor and Kihei Boat Ramp.
Molokini's crescent shape protects divers from waves and the channel's powerful currents. However, experienced scuba divers will also drift dive off the 300 feet (91.4 m) sheer outer wall, using the channel currents to carry them along.
The crater houses a lush reef with excellent visibility as deep as 150 feet (45.7 m). Molokini is home to about 250 species of fish, many endemic (see Ecology below). The best conditions occur in early morning.
Because Molokini attracts many boats, the Hawaii State Division of Boating and Recreation established mooring buoy
Buoy
A buoy is a floating device that can have many different purposes. It can be anchored or allowed to drift. The word, of Old French or Middle Dutch origin, is now most commonly in UK English, although some orthoepists have traditionally prescribed the pronunciation...
s and "Day Use Mooring Rules" for Molokini to protect against damage from dropped anchors.
Its popularity has led many water-sport guides to lament that overcrowding has made the experience less attractive.
Mythology
Pele (mythology)
In the Hawaiian religion, Pele is the goddess of fire, lightning, wind, and volcanoes. She is a popular figure in many stories of ancient Hawaii known as Hawaiian mythology.-Legends:...
, the fire goddess, were in love with the same man. The jealous Pele cut her rival in two and transformed her into stone. The woman's head is supposedly Puu Olai, the cinder cone
Cinder cone
According to the , Cinder Cone is the proper name of 1 cinder cone in Canada and 7 cinder cones in the United States:In Canada: Cinder Cone In the United States:...
by Makena Beach
Makena State Park
Makena State Park comprises in Makena, south of Wailea on the island of Maui, Hawaii.Big Beach, also known as "Oneloa Beach" and "Makena Beach", is a popular spot for sunbathing and bodyboarding by both tourists and locals. Big Beach is long and more than wide. The shore is fairly protected from...
.
History
Potassium-argon dating by Yoshitomo Nishimitsu of Kyoto UniversityKyoto University
, or is a national university located in Kyoto, Japan. It is the second oldest Japanese university, and formerly one of Japan's Imperial Universities.- History :...
indicates that Molokini erupted approximately 230,000 years ago.
Archaeological evidence, primarily in the form of stone sinkers and lures, show that early Hawaiians visited Molokini to fish. They also likely harvested seabirds, eggs and feathers.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
used Molokini for target practice because its shape is somewhat similar to a battleship. In 1975 and 1984 the US Navy detonated in-place unexploded munitions found within the crater, resulting in the destruction of large areas of coral. This resulted in a public outcry. A thorough search and risky manual removal of unexploded munitions to deep water was carried out by volunteer divers as a result. As well, a 2006 survey found no evidence of unexploded munitions on the islet itself.
From the 1950s through the 1970s, commercial harvesting of black coral occurred in Molokini.
In 1977 Molokini islet, the crater, and the surrounding 77 acres (311,608.2 m²) of underwater terrain were declared a Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD).
Ecology
Molokini crater is home to approximately 250 to 260 distinct marine species. Most commonly observed among these are the Black TriggerfishBlack triggerfish
The black triggerfish, Melichthys niger, called Humuhumu'ele'ele in Hawaiian, is a blimp-shaped triggerfish with bright white lines running along its dorsal and anal fins. When in the water, it appears to be completely black...
, Yellow Tang
Yellow tang
The yellow tang is a saltwater fish species of the family Acanthuridae. It is one of the most popular aquarium fish.-Appearance:...
, Moorish Idol
Moorish Idol
The moorish idol, Zanclus cornutus , is a small marine fish species, the sole extant representative of the family Zanclidae in order Perciform. A common inhabitant of tropical to subtropical reefs and lagoons, the moorish idol is notable for its wide distribution throughout the Indo-Pacific...
, Parrotfish
Parrotfish
Parrotfishes are a group of fishes that traditionally had been considered a family , but now often are considered a subfamily of the wrasses. They are found in relatively shallow tropical and subtropical oceans throughout the world, but with the largest species richness in the Indo-Pacific...
, Raccoon butterflyfish
Raccoon butterflyfish
The raccoon butterflyfish, Chaetodon lunula, also known as the crescent-masked butterflyfish or lunule butterflyfish, is a species of butterflyfish . It is found in the Indo-Pacific region and in the southeast Atlantic...
and Bluefin Trevally
Bluefin trevally
The bluefin trevally, Caranx melampygus , is a species of large, widely distributed marine fish classified in the jack family, Carangidae...
. Due to constant exposure to park visitors and the long history as a conservation district, the fish of Molokini are extremely comfortable with the presence of nearby divers. Small Whitetip reef shark
Whitetip reef shark
The whitetip reef shark is a species of requiem shark, family Carcharhinidae, and the only member of its genus. A small shark usually not exceeding in length, this species is easily recognizable by its slender body and short but broad head, as well as tubular skin flaps beside the nostrils, oval...
s and Moray eels are occasionally seen in the crater.
38 different hard coral species can be found in the waters of Molokini, as can approximately 100 distinct species of algae.
The islet itself is home to at least two different species of nesting seabirds: Bulwer's Petrel
Bulwer's Petrel
The Bulwer's Petrel is a small petrel in the family Procellariidae, and is one of two species in the genus Bulweria . This bird is named after the Scottish naturalist James Bulwer.- Description :...
s and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters. Additionally Great Frigatebirds have been observed on Molokini islet.
Restrictions on Access and Activities
Molokini islet itself is federally owned and is a state seabird sanctuary. Thus unauthorized landing is prohibited. Permission to land must be obtained both from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Hawaii Division of Forestry and WildlifeRegulations covering the Molokini Shoal MLCD (see History above) prohibit fishing, collection or removal of specimens, and fish feeding within its bounds. Additionally, dropping anchor within the MLCD is not permitted due to the potential of damage to the coral reef. Tour boat operators have been allocated fixed mooring points instead.