Beaches

MAUI

Maui boasts 81 accessible beaches and features more miles of swimmable beach than any other Hawaiian island. If you can only visit a few beaches while on Maui, these are the ones we suggest. Whether you want a relaxing beach day or are looking for some jaw-dropping scenery, these are the beaches worth visiting.

WEST-SIDE BEACHES

Just a few steps from our Napili Beach House vacation home is Napili Bay - a picturesque, crescent shaped bay with rolling waves.  The beach is narrow here so we suggest going when the tide is low for more sandy real estate.  The Sea House restaurant on the north end is a great place for happy hour.  Near the southern tip is a popular breakfast spot called the Gazebo - but be prepared to wait at least an hour for a table in this quaint restaurant overlooking the bay.

Black Rock and Ka'anapali Beach - This beach fronts the Ka'anapali resorts on the west side of Maui.  A paved walking path along the beach leads to restaurants and Whaler's Village, an outdoor mall.  Black Rock is on the northern end of Ka'anapali beach and provides excellent snorkeling on calm days.  At sunset, the ceremonial cliff dive takes place here.

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Launiupoko Beach Park - Live like a local for a day at this popular beach park where each weekend, local families gather to celebrate birthdays under the shade trees.  The protected cove is perfect for little ones to play in the water without worrying about waves.  This is also a local surf spot with long, low waves.

Fleming Beach in Kapalua​ is a rugged northern beach with crashing waves and picnic tables.  There are a few trails that lead from this beach which makes it a nice spot to spend an afternoon.

SOUTH-SIDE BEACHES

Big Beach in Makena (also called Makena Beach) is a wide, sandy beach without development.  Lifeguards have been added recently due to the often rough surf.  There are no hotels or homes in this area which makes it a local favorite.  Go early on a sunny day and you will get some amazing photos.

KAM I, II, AND III in Kihei are three beautiful, family-friendly beaches with sandy shorelines, lifeguards and convenient to shops.  Kam III has a sloping grassy area which is a great place to watch the whales in winter or sunset year-round.  This is another popular birthday party location and perfect for a game of catch or Bocci ball.

Keawakapu is the southernmost beach in Kihei and is a beautiful walking beach at sunset.  Sandy shores and limited parking make it a local favorite.

Ulua Beach in Wailea is a perfect place to snorkel right from shore.  Pacific Whale Foundation volunteers are there some mornings to answer questions and pass out reef-friendly sunscreen.  A plaque is located by the showers which will help to identify the fish you will see.  

NORTH SHORE BEACHES

Ho'okipa Beach is just beyond Paia on Hana Highway.  If you want to see where the local surfers ride the waves, park in the overlook parking lot and watch the action from above.  In winter, the north shore can bring in some huge surf.  Listen to local surf reports and take a drive to view the waves just past Paia town.

HANA BEACHES

Maui's most beautiful black sand beach is located in Wai'napanapa State Park on the Hana Highway just before the town of Hana.  Explore the small cave at the bottom of the staircase that leads to the black sand beach, or walk out along the right side to view the blow hole from a safe distance.

Hamoa and Koki Beaches are two more gems located in Hana.

BIG ISLAND 

The Kohala Coast is home to some of the most exotic resorts and scenic beaches in in the world. Here are our favorites. 

Kauna`oa Beach (Mauna Kea Beach) is possibly the most beautiful stretch of white sand in the state. Because of parking restrictions a pass must be obtained from the guard shack at front entrance. Usually not a problem if you get there early. If Mauna Kea lot is full, request a pass for Mau’u Mae beach and ask for directions—it is also on the grounds of the hotel, past the golf course and to the north. Mau’u Mae is particularly remote and pristine—worth the hike through the kiawe and down a rocky hill to a very special “secret beach”!

Anaeho`omalu Bay, known locally as ‘A’ Bay, is a crescent of coarse salt and pepper sand fronting the Waikoloa Marriott Hotel. Because of fresh water welling up into the bay, snorkeling is C+. However there is easy beach access, shower and restroom facilities and usually calm waters.

Mauna Lani Beach, a family-friendly stretch of sand and calm waters with decent snorkeling. The usually calm waters of the small bay in front of the beach are a playground for beach-lovers of all ages. Full amenities are located nearby.

Pau`oa Beach, a natural sea wall protects this small beach just south of the Fairmont Orchid Hotel. This and the neighboring Beach Club beach are the best beaches for small children and beginning snorkelers. If you spend money at the hotel restaurants or shops have your parking ticket validated to avoid having to pay the parking fee.

Holoholokai Beach is located just north of the Fairmont Orchid Hotel.  The beach is mostly rocky and the waters are potentially hazardous. Some visitors park here to walk the petroglyph trail, others park here to avoid the public parking fee imposed by the hotel.

Waialea Beach, known to locals as ‘Beach 69,’ so nicknamed because of the number on the power pole near the parking area (It is now power pole #71). This small beach is reached via the Old Puako Road south of Hapuna Beach and offers paved parking and full facilities.

Hapuna Beach - This beach is a half mile of white sand, roiling winter surf, and sunny skies. Showers, restroom facilities, pavilions, and easy accessibility make it a popular destination for families.

Spencer Beach Park is just another mile up the road, north of Mauna Kea.  Turn off of Hwy 19 and take a left onto HI-270 and take a left at the sign for Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site--a temple built by King Kamehameha (also known as Kamehameha the Great). It was built in 1790 and is one of the last major temples built in the Hawaiian Islands.

A very popular beach with “locals”, Spencer Beach offers full facilities including camping. The park offers a pleasant beach and usually calm waters. It is close to Kawaihae harbor, the main shipping terminal for the west side of the island.

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