M Swiet Productions via Getty Images
「船で私たちを月まで連れてって。ヒトデに囲まれて遊んでみたいの」
モロキニ島の美しい写真を見たら、ついそんな歌を口ずさみたくなる。モロキニ島はマウイ島の沿岸から3マイル（約4.8キロ）以内に位置する三日月型の火山噴火口だ。独特の形をした小島は波や潮の流れ、風を防ぐ壁の役割を果たしている。それによって、火口内は見事なまでに水が澄んでいる。
その透き通った水と豊富な海の生物たちのおかげで、この島はスキューバダイビングやシュノーリングを楽しむ人にとっての楽園となっている。豊かなサンゴ、色鮮やかな魚の群れ、ウミガやハワイモンクアザラシ、サメたちと一緒にここで一日過ごせば、ずっと夢でも見ているかのような気持ちでいられるだろう。
この火口は、23万年以上前の噴火でできたものであるが、そこには魅力的な歴史がある。6世紀には初期のハワイ人の漁場として使用され、第二次大戦中には米軍の航空機が爆撃の標的として利用していた。そして現在は周囲の77エーカー（約311平方メートル）も含め、海洋生物保護地区になっている。
この島では、ジンベイザメに会えるとても貴重な体験ができる。 この穏やかな巨大生物(体長40フィートまで成長することもある)は、最も大きな魚だ。
次にマウイ島に行く時には、モロキニ島への日帰り旅行を最優先するといい。あなたが経験豊富なスキューバダイバーであっても、シュノーケリングの初心者であっても、あるいは人魚になりたい人であっても、がっかりすることのない、冒険心あふれる体験になるだろう。
Hawaii In Photos
Napali coast, Kauai(01 of97)
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Bamboo forest, Maui(02 of97)
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Surfer in Maui(03 of97)
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Diamond Head, Honolulu(04 of97)
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Pearl Harbor(05 of97)
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Kailua Trail, Kauai(06 of97)
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Mt Haleakala on Maui(07 of97)
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Pu'u O'o Crater, Big Island(08 of97)
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Polynesian Cultural Center, Oahu(09 of97)
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Polynesian Dancer(10 of97)
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Kailua Bay(11 of97)
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Acai bowl (12 of97)
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Yoga (13 of97)
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Hula festival, Big Island(14 of97)
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Kelly Slater competes in the Billabong Pipe Masters, Oahu(15 of97)
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Laysan albatross, Kaena Point, Oahu(16 of97)
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Sheraton Hotel, Waikiki Beach(17 of97)
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Puu Oo crater, Big Island(18 of97)
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Hula dancer, Kauai(19 of97)
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Oahu(20 of97)
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View from Haleakala crater, Maui(21 of97)
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Honolua Bay, Maui(22 of97)
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Lanikai, Oahu(23 of97)
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Honolulu and Waikiki from Diamond Head(24 of97)
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USS Arizona Memorial (25 of97)
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Maui(26 of97)
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Oahu(27 of97)
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Hula dancer(28 of97)
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The largely submerged volcanic crater of Molokini, Maui(29 of97)
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Coral reefs at Waimando Bay(30 of97)
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Lone house in the Kilauea volcano lava flow, Big Island(31 of97)
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Wailua Falls(32 of97)
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Billabong Pipe Masters in Haleiwa, Hawaii(33 of97)
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Kauai(34 of97)
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Surfboards, Maui(35 of97)
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Kalaeloa Harbor, Molokai(36 of97)
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Yoga stretch(37 of97)
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Reef Hawaiian Pro in Haleiwa, Hawaii(38 of97)
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The Na Pali Coast, Kauai(39 of97)
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Kauai (40 of97)
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Hawaii sunset(41 of97)
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Makena Beach, Maui(42 of97)
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Humpback whale, Hawaii(43 of97)
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A bowl of 'ahi' or 'tuna poke' with limu (seaweed), green onion, chili pepper and shoyu (soy sauce).(44 of97)
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Waialae Country Club, Oahu(45 of97)
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Manini fish in Hanauma Bay(46 of97)
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The Napali Coastline, Kauai (47 of97)
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Ahi Poke(48 of97)
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Banzai Pipeline, Oahu(49 of97)
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Hawaiian picnic(50 of97)
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Pearl Harbor(51 of97)
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Ft. DeRussy Beach, Waikiki(52 of97)
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Kailua sun rise(53 of97)
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A food truck in Waimanalo, Oahu(54 of97)
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Barack Obama at the USS Arizona Memorial(55 of97)
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Ahi tuna (56 of97)
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Picasso Triggerfish, Hanauma Bay, Oahu(57 of97)
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Acai bowl(58 of97)
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Wok seared ahi at Merriman's Restaurant, Waimea(59 of97)
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Kauai(60 of97)
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Kilauea Coast Entry(61 of97)
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Banzai Pipeline on Oahu's North Shore(62 of97)
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Ala Wai Canal, Waikiki(63 of97)
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Hawaiian picnic(64 of97)
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Kauai(65 of97)
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Cracked coconuts (66 of97)
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Wild Spinner Dolphins, Maui(67 of97)
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Manini fish, Hanauma Bay(68 of97)
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Maui(69 of97)
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Green sea turtle, Maui(70 of97)
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Kalani Beach, Molokai (71 of97)
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Haleakala crater, Maui(72 of97)
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USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor(73 of97)
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Ka'apoko Tunnel linking Wailua and Hanalei Valleys, Kauai(74 of97)
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Acai bowl(75 of97)
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Peacock Flounder(76 of97)
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Wainapanapa Coastline, Maui(77 of97)
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Kuli'ou'ou Trail, Oahu(78 of97)
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Nualolo Valley, Kauai(79 of97)
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Wetlands and taro patchwork fields, Hanalei Valley, Kauai(80 of97)
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Waimea Canyon(81 of97)
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Queens Bath salt water pools, Kauai(82 of97)
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Poke with macadamia nuts and Hawaiian seaweed(83 of97)
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Waimoku Falls, Haleakala National Park, Maui(84 of97)
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Halemaumau trail(85 of97)
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Oahu(86 of97)
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Kailua Trail(87 of97)
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Acai berries(88 of97)
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Akule baitball, Kona, Hawaii(89 of97)
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Hana, Maui(90 of97)
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Waianapanapa state park in Hana, Maui(91 of97)
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Chinatown, Honolulu (92 of97)
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Acai sorbet(93 of97)
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First Lady Michelle Obama & White House social secretary Jeremy Bernard (R), Kualoa Ranch, Oahu(94 of97)
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2011 APEC Summit, Honolulu(95 of97)
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Maui (96 of97)
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Honolulu and Waikiki(97 of97)
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