'Ahihi Bay meets the road

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

In a nutshell: ‘Ahihi Bay’s Waiala Cove is an excellent place for beginner to intermediate snorkelers, SCUBA and kayaking.
Minuses: Rocky & no sand.
Sound-bite: “Eh, Brah – don’t stand up!”

DETAILS:
Typically called ‘Ahihi Bay (or even Ahi Bay by mistaken visitors), Waiala Cove is a small semi-protected cove of the overall much larger ‘Ahihi Bay. It is popular since it’s a convenient place for snorkelers to get in the water without hiking or swimming. For folks venturing away from the immediate entry area of the cove, larger coral formations and the more diverse populations of life they support begin revealing themselves. SCUBA and kayaking are also popular here. Parking options are very limited, and since the narrow road abuts the end of the cove, it doesn’t take many people showing up for a snorkel before it begins to feel over-crowded.

Waiala Cove itself is shallow, and entirely made from large lava rocks frequently covered with spine-covered sea urchins. The shallowness of the cove is a main attraction but also poses the main hazard – especially during times when the ocean is particularly rough or waves are coming directly into the cove. Since snorkelers are floating, they’re largely at the mercy of the water level and wave action – rough seas here mean you’re getting up-close and personal with shallow or partially submerged boulders. Snorkelers should avoid this cove in rough conditions.

During normal ocean conditions, more experienced snorkelers, swimmers and kayakers can venture out of the cove and into ‘Ahihi Bay (proper) where it remains shallow and is teeming with life. Within 100′ of shore depths rarely become deeper than 15′. Stronger swimmers, SCUBA divers and kayakers may choose to make their way even further out into the bay where average depths are 25′-35′. Snorkeling to the south (left) is where you will find the best coral formations. There are also caves and trenches close to shore. Besides all the fish, as you proceed further you’re also likely to encounter everyone’s favorite, the Honu (green sea turtle) and equally impressive eagle rays.

Click this image to read the sign - the close date has been extended into 2012.

Waiala Cove is part of the ‘Ahihi-Kiana’u Reserve, and one of the only parts of the reserve that is still open to the public. Careless descriptions in guidebooks along with some less than environmentally sound kayak tour companies literally trampled this fragile reserve ecosystem down. Areas like Mokuha (aka “Fishbowl”) and Kalaeloa (aka “Aquarium”) became an unsustainable draw for people after being publicized and commercially exploited. Several years ago commercial kayak tours were banned in the hopes that it would move the impact toward sustainability. But do-it-yourself hikers and kayakers filled the void, and since self-guided visitors are typically not as informed as those being guided, the unintended consequence was less informed visitors.

In 2008 the decision was made to close off almost the entire reserve to the public for two years while a better way to manage the reserve was determined. In 2010 that decision was extended for an additional two years. The Waiala Cove portion of ‘Ahihi Bay was chosen to be the only popular snorkel spot in the reserve where land-access would remain open. (To visit the other ocean portions of the reserve means you must access via non-powered boat or by swimming.)

It is very important to note that while virtually all guidebooks offer suggestions of places to enter the water from the rocks, the only place anyone should ever enter at Waiala Cove is via the concrete slab on the North end of the cove. Not only is it the easiest and safest way in, entering from other areas has impacted coral significantly. A volunteer group of concerned naturalists partnered with the State and other environmental groups had been educating visitors about this (and other sustainable practices), but the group’s presence at ‘Ahihi-Kiana’u has since been suspended pending the State’s study on more effective solutions.

Important information for beginner snorkelers:
An initial State-sponsored study suggested that beginning snorkelers be told to avoid this area because they’re more apt to make unintentional but common errors which impact the environment and can even be dangerous to themselves. This suggestion is somewhat controversial, because, while this is true, it has also been shown that the vast majority of visitors respect our ecosystems in Hawaii when they’ve been educated on their impacts and how to minimize them.

If you’re just starting snorkeling, please take a minute to read the following:

1. The first and most important thing is to observe the ocean. While this cove is typically calm, ocean conditions do vary. There are lots of unforgiving rocks, urchins, etc., and if the sea is rough in the cove it can become a hazardous place to snorkel.

2. If you have never snorkeled, this is not a good place to learn the very basics. I’d suggest all snorkelers coming here familiarize themselves with snorkeling first, at any of many sandy-beach entry locations, prior to coming to Waiala Cove.

3. Another thing to always keep in mind anywhere you snorkel is not to stand up. When you stand, you damage coral. More experienced snorkelers will adjust masks and clear water from snorkels while swimming or floating.

Key Info:
Location: Makena-Keoneoio Rd.* (5.3 Mi S. of Grand Wailea Resort) – (* Google and most other maps mistakenly call it Makena Alanui Rd.)
GPS Coordinates: 20.618205,-156.437201
Facilities: None
Get directions

View ‘Ahihi Bay & Waiala Cove in a larger map

You may also be interested in:

• ‘Ahihi-Kina’u Natural Area Reserve
• Palauea Beach (aka White Rock)
• Mokapu Beach

The last eruption on Maui.

Rating: 0 out of 5 stars

In a nutshell: Virtually all of ‘Ahihi-Kina’u Natural Area Reserve is closed until 2012
Minuses: Closed.
Sound-bite: “But the blue guidebook said to come!”

DETAILS:
A small potion of the ‘Ahihi Bay area is the only portion of this reserve that remains open to the public. In times past this area was loaded with prime snorkeling and kayaking, plus some interesting lava field hikes. Don’t fret – while the reserve is closed, excellent snorkeling can still be found. Lava field hikes are also still open past the southern boundaries of the reserve into the La Perouse Bay area.

Due to the closure, this is a drive-through experience as the road to La Perouse bisects the mauka and makai sections of the reserve. The lava here is the youngest on the island, and there is some debate as to when it last erupted. Carbon dating says ~1500-1600. But in the 1800’s, Europeans who misunderstood many of the nuances of the Hawaiian language, determined that this eruption was in 1790. The 1790 figure relies on a shaky translation of “the time of our grandparents” as literal, combined with some other data also of questionable source. People still like to quote the more recent date, I believe because it hits home the fact that Haleakala is still an active volcano which is all but certain to erupt again.

When looking at the lava fields for the first time, you may mistake it for tilled earth. This is ‘a’a lava, the most common form of lava, and distinguished by a chunky, sharp, rough clinkers (yeah, that’s a real word!) covering the surface of the flow.

If you look uphill while passing through the flow, you can clearly see the vent that was the source of this eruption.

Click this image to read the sign - the close date has been extended into 2012.

Why Is It Closed?
Careless descriptions in guidebooks along with some less than environmentally sound kayak tour companies literally trampled this fragile reserve ecosystem down. Areas like Mokuha (aka “Fishbowl”) and Kalaeloa (aka “Aquarium”) became an unsustainable draw for people after being publicized and commercially exploited. Several years ago commercial kayak tours were banned in the hopes that it would move the impact toward sustainability. But do-it-yourself hikers spurred on by Maui’s most popular mass-market guidebook kept the tourists coming in droves. Self-guided visitors are almost always far less informed as those being guided, and so by removing the more knowledgeable guides from the mix, the unintended consequence was even less educated visitors.

On the mauka side, unexploded ordinance was was also found during this same period (did I mention this was a former military training area?) and everything contributed toward the decision to include all of this area in the closing.

In 2008 the decision was made to close off almost the entire reserve to the public for two years while a better way to manage it was determined. When the deadline came in 2010 and they still had not drafted a functional plan, the closure was extended for an additional two years.

Ocean portions of the reserve are only closed to motorized craft, fishing, and taking of natural resources. Technically, you may enter at La Perouse Bay and snorkel or kayak makai the land boundary of reserve. This area is great for intermediate to advanced snorkelers, however, you absolutely must come informed and prepared and you don’t want to touch anything – including barren land (exposed lava rocks and islets included) or you could be looking at a hefty fine. If there is any question at all as to your ability and understanding, please let this area rest.

Key Info:
Location: Makena-Keoneoio Rd.* (Starts 5.3 Mi S. of Grand Wailea Resort and continues to La Peruse Bay – see map below.)
GPS Coordinates: 20.618205,-156.437201
Facilities: None
Get directions

View ‘Ahihi-Kina’u & La Perouse in a larger map

You may also be interested in:

• ‘Ahihi Bay & Waiala Cove
• Palauea Beach (aka White Rock)
• Mokapu Beach