Source: Maui Time, Maui News, Best of Maui, Maui Activities

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Nocturnal Tidepool Exploration
Friday or Saturday (January 8-9), Pacific Whale Foundation, Maalaea, 6:15-8pm

by Anuhea Yagi

January 07, 2010

Pack a flashlight and lace-up your sturdy outdoor shoes, and embark on a moonlit adventure. For adults ($10) and keiki six and older ($5), this is your chance to meet the intriguing nocturnal creatures of Hawaiian tidepools, as introduced by the Pacific Whale Foundation’s knowledgeable naturalists. In past outings, explorers have seen “brittle stars, shrimp, snails, urchins, octopus and lots of species of juvenile fish… unlock[ing] the mystery of why some fish are red, and check[ing] out [the] stalked eyes that some creatures use to see at night,” all the while learning “the eco-friendly way of interacting with tidepool animals, day or night.” Refreshments are provided, and reservations are required. Want more? The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua also offers three nighttime activities for keiki (5:30-8:30pm, $69 each). On Fridays and Mondays, “experience heightened sensory awareness” while discovering nocturnal wildlife in their Creatures of the Night program. On Saturdays, with the Twilight Coastal Adventure program, hike the Kapalua Coastal Trail to observe “the habitat of nocturnal shearwater and twilight tide pooling.” Or, on Mondays and Thursdays, with the Star Voyager program, turn your eyes to the night skies to learn the celestial navigation secrets of ancient Polynesians—with the aid of a big telescope! Reservations required. PWF: 249-8811 ext. 1 / Ritz-Carlton: 665-7292