Imagine coming eye to eye with a humpback whale without getting wet! It’s possible at “Humpbacks of Hawaii Exhibit & Sphere,” one of two brand-new attractions at the Maui Ocean Center.

Visitors don 3D glasses to embark on a 15-minute virtual whale encounter in the Sphere, a 118-seat theater shaped like a giant golf ball. The first of its kind in Hawaii, this adventure is made possible with a state-of-the-art surround- sound system and laser-projected 4K imagery filmed in Maui waters. The footage was shot specifically for the Sphere by Daniel Opitz of Ocean Mind, which has produced documentaries for Animal Planet, the Discovery Channel and National Geographic International.

Over whale seasons (November through May) in 2016 and 2017, Opitz captured the images under the supervision of and with permits granted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, whose mission includes conserving and managing coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.

The Sphere’s screen is 58 feet in diameter, so when 4K whale images are projected on it by multiple laser projectors, they are life-size and incredibly sharp.

“Until now, most people have observed humpback whales only from above the ocean’s surface,” said Tapani Vuori, the ocean center’s general manager. “Our exhibit transports guests far below the waves, giving them an up-close look at one of the largest mammals on Earth. This is a visceral experience unlike anything else, revealing the majestic beauty of the humpback whales in their natural environment.”

Marvel at a lone male singing, a whale breaching, a mother swimming with her calf and several whales swimming in a pod. Representing a milestone in immersive, multisensory learning, the Sphere film was a finalist for this year’s South by Southwest Interactive Innovation Award.

“Humpbacks of Hawaii” was developed in collaboration with NOAA, local artisans, marine mammal specialists and nonprofit research organizations such as Whale Trust, the Oceanwide Science Institute and the Pacific Whale Foundation.

Exhibit highlights include a station for creating a whale song, a touchscreen table that shows the locations of other humpback populations in the world, a timeline on the floor that follows the humpbacks’ journey between Alaska and Hawaii, and a topographic map that reveals current sightings of whales around Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe, the subject of the ocean center’s other new exhibit.

“Kaho‘olawe: A Story of History and Healing” takes visitors from the island’s first settlements around 1000 A.D. to restoration efforts today through videos, news reels, rare artifacts, archival photography, newspaper clippings and more.

Measuring just 45 square miles, Kahoolawe is the smallest of ­Hawaii’s eight main islands. Because of its lack of fresh water, it was always sparsely and sporadically populated, primarily by fishermen in temporary coastal communities.

Still, Kahoolawe has played a key role in Hawaiian history. Among its most notable geographical features is Pu‘u o Moa‘ula Iki, “hill of the little red chicken.” Red was a sacred color in ancient ­Hawaii and, contrary to the benign translation of the hill’s name, ­Kahoolawe was seen metaphorically as a fighting rooster warrior.

A 360-degree representation of Pu‘u Moa‘ula Iki is a highlight of the Kahoolawe exhibit. Long ago, the hill was used for celestial navigation training because it offered panoramic views of the constellations, ocean currents and, on clear nights, Oahu, Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Hawaii island. Centuries later, when the United States entered World War II in 1941, Kahoolawe became the site of military exercises, including target practice.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower transferred title of Kahoolawe to the U.S. Navy in 1953, and bombing continued there for close to 50 years, even after the island was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. Years of strong opposition finally paid off in 1990 when President George H.W. Bush ordered the bombing and use of live rounds during maneuvers to stop.

In 1993, the state Legislature established the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve, which encompasses the island and ocean waters extending 2 miles from its shores.

The following year, the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission was formed to manage it, and the Navy returned ownership of the island to the state. By law, use of the reserve is restricted to education, historic preservation, environmental restoration and Native Hawaiian cultural, spiritual and subsistence purposes.

Created in partnership with the commission, the exhibit includes artifacts and content that were part of exhibits at Bishop Museum in 1996 and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., in 2002. With guidance from Hokulani Holt, a member of the Kahoolawe commission, and Dane Maxwell, the ocean center’s Hawaiian cultural advisor, exhibit designer Chris Masterson supplemented existing materials with additional pieces and insights.

The result is a fresh, comprehensive study of Kahoolawe’s geography, marine life, pre-contact settlements, sacred sites, the devastation caused by decades of military presence and the progress being made to reduce erosion, recharge the water table and replant native vegetation.

Despite the ecological damage he has seen, Mike Naho‘opi‘i, executive director of the Kahoolawe commission, is optimistic. “Yes, there are chapters in Kahoolawe’s story that are tragic, but we are looking ahead, not at the past,” he said. “Maui Ocean Center’s exhibit raises awareness about Kahoolawe and the importance of healing it environmentally, culturally and spiritually. Through energy, commitment, hard work and hope, we can do it. We can — we will — ensure a bright future for Kahoolawe.”

Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based freelance writer whose travel features for the Star-Advertiser have won several Society of American Travel Writers awards.