About Auntie Snorkel
Auntie Snorkel is Maui's original family-owned snorkel shop, established in 1985 by the beloved 'Auntie' whose spirit of aloha still defines the business today. The current owners purchased the shop over sixteen years ago and kept the name out of respect for the goodwill she built—and they've taken that legacy even further, amassing over 7,000 five-star reviews across Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Facebook. Their flagship location in Rainbow Mall sits directly across from Kamaole Beach I, putting guests just a three-minute walk from some of Kihei's best snorkeling with sea turtles and colourful reef fish.
The rental selection covers far more than masks and fins. Auntie Snorkel stocks stand-up paddleboards, surfboards, boogie boards, skimboards, bicycles, GoPro cameras, beach chairs, umbrellas, coolers, wagons, wetsuits, life jackets, and float belts—essentially every piece of gear a family could need for a day on the water. Their self-described 'Fun Specialists' provide personalised recommendations on the best snorkel sites based on current conditions, tide charts, and wind patterns, and the shop's website features a detailed Maui guidebook with beach-by-beach breakdowns.
A second location on Keawe Street in Lahaina extends their reach to West Maui visitors, and budget-friendly online discounts—often 50 percent off snorkel rentals and 25 percent off wetsuits—make them one of the best values on the island. The owner still works the shop floor alongside family, giving the operation a personal warmth that chain competitors simply cannot replicate. For anyone who wants premium snorkel gear paired with genuine local expertise, Auntie Snorkel is the shop Maui locals recommend first.
