I have to hand it to the marketing folks at the Maui Ocean Center; they keep coming up with the cleverest ways to attract visitors. I’ve profiled some of their kitschier events in previous blogs, but this one has got to be my favorite.
If you were planning to be on the Hawaiian Island of Maui between the dates of October 24-31, I would highly encourage you to celebrate Halloween at the Ocean Center. This year’s event is freakier than ever. Which is not that big of a stretch considering the aquarium is home to warty frogfishes and multi-colored octopuses that don’t even need to don costumes for the holiday.
The center’s Halloween underwater adventure includes trick-or-treating (kids will receive candy and “Freaky Fish” cards); naturalist presentations with names such as “Honu’s Horrors”: At Turtle Lagoon, Shocking Sharks and Franken-fish” and “Creature Costumes and Camouflage;” a tour of a haunted undersea cave; and a chance to sleep with the fishes during the “Fright Night” Sleepover.
By the way, if you are planning to visit Maui for Halloween or during another time of the year you will be happy to know that the floating paradise recently recaptured “Best Island in the World” honors in Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards poll. (The Hawaiian Island of Kauai came in second place.)
“The Valley Isle” also beat out the Best Australian City (Sydney), Best U.S. City (San Francisco), Best Europe City (Florence) and Best Asian City (Bangkok) to take top destination in the world honors.
The island’s luxury accommodations likely helped garner the votes it needed to take top honors. The Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea (Hawaii’s only AAA Five Diamond and Mobil Five Star property and the place where celebs such as Harrison Ford, Jennifer Aniston, and Jessica Simpson stay) was named Top Resort in Hawaii and also ranked No. 15 in the world. By the way, the Halekulani on Oahu (the hotel I spent part of my honeymoon at) placed fifth in the poll.
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