Maui > Beach Guide
Are you looking for the best beach Maui has to offer? Look no further because we’ve described all of Maui’s best beaches below. Our local knowledge will help find the perfect beach for you, your friends, and your family!
SOUTH • WEST • NORTH • EAST
There are many other portions of coastline to visit on Maui that we are not listing here. Below we’ve only included traditional sandy beaches. If you’re looking for Maui snorkel spots, scuba diving locations, surfing spots, or wedding beaches, go to the appropriate section.
South Maui Beaches
Makena Beach – AKA Oneloa or Big Beach Maui
Located on the Southside of Maui, off of Makena Alanui Road, Big Beach claims our vote for the best beach Maui has to offer. You’ll find approximately a mile of perfect orange and white sand, cliffy dramatic landscape, and water that’s brilliant blue and green. There is little reef around here, which makes the sand bottom shine up through the water to give it that tropical brightness. There are three entrances to Makena Beach (Big Beach.) The first has the largest parking area and is the closest point to Little Beach, which is just around the corner. The second entrance has a smaller paved lot. The 3rd is dirt parking only. The beach over there is smaller than at the first 2 entrances.
Big Beach is famous for its inclined shoreline and large shore break. Skimboarding, bodyboarding, and body surfing are all very popular here for this reason. Caution is advised for those with children or inexperienced ocean swimmers when there’s a large swell. These waves are deceptively powerful and can dump you into the sand without notice. We don’t recommend snorkeling in this area. Surfing also isn’t usually done here because of the shore break conditions. Big Beach has Port-a-potties, picnic tables, and shady areas under large trees. Be careful when walking out on the sand at first. These trees have large thorns that can be found on the ground underneath and around them. We’ve seen these thorns go clear through a sandal while walking. Going barefoot can be dangerous near the trees. Wait to take off your sandals or shoes till you get out past the trees. Around the corner, to the North, is a path to Little Beach.
Little Beach – Makena
Maui has a couple of nudist beaches, of which Little Beach is Mecca. The waves here are perfect for bodysurfing, and sometimes surfing, but depending on what day and the time of day it is, you may be dodging naked people. During a South or Southwest Swell, the surf can be fun here (though fickle). It offers a left-hand reef break off of the Southside of the beach. This beach is beautiful and as perfect as can be. On Sundays, you’ll find a different atmosphere than usual with crowds unusually large for Little Beach. For sunset, everyone celebrates by swimming and cheering as a large drum circle beats away. Once it gets dark, Little Beach becomes a real spectacle. All types of people, nude or clothed, begin to dance in the circle with fire. The fire dancers at Little Beach are incredible. You’ll sometimes find professional fire twirlers with more than one ball of fire and fancy flaming outfits. The imagination is strong at Little Beach when it comes to new and entertaining ways to play with fire. We’ve seen everything from heated hula-hoops to burning bras. You’ll enjoy this ceremony that occurs every Sunday night. You don’t need to get undressed either. Bring a flashlight to get back over the cliff at night. Lately, the police have limited the event to stop around 8-9 pm, so get there before sunset to really experience Maui’s Little Beach activities.
Kamaʻole Beach Park 1,2,3
The three Kam’s are great beaches to enjoy with friends. The first, Northern Kama’ole Beach, is the largest of the beaches. The second is small but can offer fun waves for body surfing if the swell cooperates. The third Kamaole Beach is the favorite for South Maui Locals with a large grass park. This area is usually filled with lawn games and BBQs. The Southernmost Kamaole Beaches are smaller but nice. In peak summer, these little beaches can become very crowded. All of the Kama’ole beaches have parking and facilities. With some lifeguards, showers, restrooms, and volleyball courts, the 3 “Kams” can be a lot of fun.
Charley Young Beach
On the North end of Kamaole I Beach, you’ll find a large beach known as Charley Young Beach. With great views and perfect sand, Charley Young Beach is a great spot to spend with family and/or friends. Charley Young Beach has port-a-potties, and showers, but no lifeguards. The parking for this beach is limited to what you can find on the side of South Kihei Road. This is a swimming beach that offers visitors the best beach Kihei has to offer.
Cove Park
The cove is extremely popular for longboard surfing in Maui. Located off of South Kihei Road, a little south of the halfway mark in Kihei, The Cove has a little beach perfect for learning to surf. From this point Northward, the ocean becomes a bit murky throughout Kihei. The beaches are still nice, but the water is not ideal for snorkeling, diving, or swimming. There are no facilities or lifeguards here and you’ll have to park on the side of the road. Though not an ideal spot to enjoy a Maui beach, you’ll find that surfing here is often a lot of fun. They also offer Maui surf lessons here. If you have experience surfing, rent a board via Maui surfboard rentals and get free delivery and pick-up.
Kalama Beach Park
Possessing a large amount of land, but not much sandy beach, Kalama beach Park has great facilities and plenty of room for large gatherings. Kalama has areas for plenty of sports like basketball, baseball, soccer, and tennis. For those who like to play volleyball, Kalama is a dream come true. The volleyball courts are well-lit well into the night. There’s also a small skate park and a roller rink for hockey.
Keawakapu Beach
Keawakapu is the best beach available when it comes to Maui portrait photography with your family. Vacationers tend to get great pictures of the rocks and sunset here. It’s a long beach that is in front of private residences. With some parking and a shower at the southernmost entrance, this is also a local favorite. Five Palms Restaurant below the Mana Kai has the best view of the beach.
Maluaka Beach
In front of the Makena Beach & Golf Resort (formerly the Maui Prince), Maluaka is one of Makena’s gems. This beach is beautiful and has great snorkeling and swimming. Areas around here are often referred to as Turtle Town Maui. With picnic areas, restrooms, and showers, Maluaka is the best beach close to the Makena Beach and Golf Resort. It also has the only beach-entry cruise in south Maui aboard the Kai Kanani. This is the closest departure point if you’re wanting to visit the famous Molokini Crater.
Polo Beach
Located in front of the Kea Lani Maui Resort, Polo Beach is world-famous for its beauty. The sand is gorgeous and the area around it is immaculately maintained. This spot is pretty spectacular for beach-going, but it’s also the only location where Maui Sailing Canoe departs from. This is one of the coolest ways to see Maui and go snorkeling at spots hard to access from the shore.
Ulua and Mokapu Beaches
Mokapu and Ulua are famous for the fun snorkeling and beginner scuba diving in Maui. This easy shore diving spot is well recognized by most of the South Maui scuba schools as being the easiest beginner dive in Maui waters. On the South side of Ulua, the water can stir up and makes for bad snorkeling. Both Mokapu and Ulua are great beaches for lying out and swimming too.
Paʻako Beach
AKA Secret Cove or Makena Cove. Secret Cove in Makena is not so secret. They call it a secret because it’s tucked away between homes in Makena. You have to enter through a rock wall where one wouldn’t expect such a beautiful beach. It’s a very small beach and becomes much smaller with the constant weddings that are performed there. If you can manage to get this beach with only a few other people on it, you’ve got it made. The ocean can be entered in two spots and has some great snorkeling. There are no facilities and very little parking in this area.
Wailea Beach
With a paved path to walk past the Wailea resorts, this is a fun area to visit. Wailea Beach is adjacent to restaurants and shops with restrooms and equipment rentals. Though it can be crowded with tourists, Wailea Beach is really beautiful. Often you’ll find a local company offering stand-up paddle boards for rent as well as access to a large trampoline over the water.
La Perouse Bay
La Perouse is not known for its beaches. The long walk to the bay from where you park is made by dodging sharp volcanic rock. The black and red rock looks as though it stretches on forever into the horizon. If you’re adventurous and have enough drinking water, hiking through and past La Perouse can be exciting. There are very small beaches (patches of sand) tucked into the corners of the rock. La Perouse is also known for its heavy and dangerous waves during large south swells. This left-hand wave breaks on the dry reef and is only rideable when it’s head high or bigger. The rule here is that the smaller it is, the more dangerous it is. Evidence of reef fatalities speckles the area with makeshift crosses. The snorkeling and diving in this area are unparalleled. If you’re patient, spinner dolphins can be seen here in large groups. This volcanic area is the most southern point on Maui. The vast expanse of the lava-rich landscape was thought to have been created by the last eruption of Haleakala in 1790.
Mai Poina ʻOe Laʻu Beach
This beautiful beach, in front of the Kohea Kai Resort Resort, is worth mentioning because it’s often completely empty. It’s also a great spot to take a long walk since the beach connects with beaches all the way to Maʻalaea. On AKA Sunseeker Beach, you can walk for miles without seeing many people, and enjoy incredible views. This is also the perfect shore location to view whale watching (in season.)
Makena Landing AKA Five Caves or Five Graves
An excellent spot for snorkeling and scuba diving, Makena Landing is located off of Makena Road. The beaches here are not very big, but nestled in incredible spots with great views. This area is well known for its underwater sea caves and abundance of reef sharks.
Oneuli Beach
South Maui’s only red sand beach, Oneuli Beach is tucked away off of Wailea Alanui Drive. The sand here is not like Hana’s Red Sand Beach in that the sand is finer and mixed with darker minerals. There’s a trail that leads to the top of the cinder cone from which the sand was made. These eruptions created red and black cinder that has eroded to become sand. Oneuli has great fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and swimming but no lifeguards or restrooms. During South or West swells, this beach can be dangerous with large waves. Because the red sand is so dark, you may want to keep your shoes or sandals on. The sun can bake the sand till you get crispy so wear a lot of sunblock and limit your exposure.
Chang’s Beach
Located in Kihei, Chang’s Beach is highly valued by Maui locals. A smaller beach tucked away near Kalama Park, Chang’s Beach has showers and picnic tables but no lifeguards or restrooms. The waves here can be good for surfing if a South Swell hits it right. Summer is best for surfing in this area, although seasoned surfers find it to be fickle.
Waipuilani Park
With a large sand beach and a lawn, Waipuilani Park is a great spot to enjoy an event or watch a sunset. It has restroom facilities and some shaded areas too. This north Kihei location has murky water, so it isn’t great for swimming or water activities other than kiting if Konas are blowing.
West Maui Beaches
D.T. Flemings Beach Park
Kapalua has many of the best beaches Maui offers. From Ironwoods to D.T. Flemings, you’ll love the beautiful perfect beaches here. Flemings is located on the Upper West of Maui, and the North of Kapalua. It is a public beach park with lifeguards, facilities, picnic tables, barbeque grills, and great water People swim, body surf, and surf here regularly. Flemings has a good-sized parking lot and plenty of beach to lounge on. Like most beaches in Maui, Flemings can get windy in the afternoon.
Kaʻanapali Beach & Black Rock
Famous for its high volcanic ocean cliff which brave divers jump from, Black Rock is a wonderful place to snorkel and swim. The ocean is usually calm in this resort area inviting the masses to swim here. Off of the point, there are sometimes strong currents, so use caution. The beach is large and long with multiple hotels along it. Lifeguards are present, but you’ll not find any restrooms unless you’re staying at a hotel. Black Rock Maui can be found in the West in the middle of Ka’anapali Beach. Swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving at Black Rock are all amazing because of the abundant coral, bright tropical fish, and gentle sea turtles. Just watch out for cliff divers! For the full snorkeling experience, join Trilogy on a trip you won’t forget!
Kapalua Beach
One of the most beautiful beaches in Maui, Kapalua Beach is the kind of tropical perfection you expect from Maui. It has great swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving all around the area. Another Kapalua Beach is Ironwoods. This beach is often uncrowded, but the water here isn’t great for swimming. The reef is shallow from the shore all the way out. It’s dangerous to be in the water here, especially during the winter swells. But, in saying this, the beach is breathtaking.
Napili Bay
Next to the Napili Kai Resort, Napili Bay is one of the most beautiful bays on Maui. It has a steep incline into the water with unblemished white sand. The water is beautiful and bright blue. A monk seal has made this beach his home. If you see him, leave him alone and stay at least 15 feet away. Snorkeling is good on both sides of the bay. Parking is difficult unless you’re staying in the resorts in the area. Facilities are also reserved for residents and guests of the resorts.
Launiupoko Beach Park
Launiupoko Beach is fun for longboard surfers and picnics. With two parking areas, this park is easily accessed on the way to Lahaina right off of the road. This is a great park for families with small children because of a natural pool formed and enhanced with a lava rock wall surrounding it. This great beach has picnic facilities and restrooms. You’ll find Launiupoko is a local Maui favorite.
Puamana Beach County Park
Another great spot on the way to Lahaina is Puamana Beach. It has all the facilities you may need with picnic tables, bbq grills, and restrooms. A popular Maui surf spot for longboarding, Puamana Beach Park is a great place to swim and snorkel as well.
Wahikuli State Park
A great place to snorkel and swim is the Wahikuli State Park of Lahaina. Offering bbq grills, restroom facilities, and picnic tables, Wahikuli State Park is great for getting together with family and friends. Maui locals love to take advantage of this great location and ample facilities.
North (Central) Maui Beaches
Kanaha Beach Park
This is a great beach for kiteboarding and windsurfing. Kanaha’s ample afternoon wind conditions make this an excellent spot for these exciting sports. The swimming and beach are nice as well. Holding volleyball areas, lifeguards, showers, picnic tables, and restroom facilities, Kanaha is a local favorite for enjoying time with friends.
Kite Beach
Famous for being the World’s best kite surfing beach, kite beach is home to those who originated the sport. These beaches are behind the airport and a bit tricky to find. Once there, you’ll find gorgeous beaches with many kites being launched into the air. These professionals are great to watch, but be careful where you sit your towel down. If you’re in the path of the kites, you could be in harm’s way.
H.A. Baldwin Beach Park
For a great park with a lot of beach, go to Baldwin Beach Park. This spot has flawless sand and gorgeous water. Though usually very windy, it can be a great place to swim and play beach games with friends and family. Baldwin even has a baby beach with a lagoon for lounging and playing with smaller children. The currents outside can be strong and hazardous so use caution when swimming.
Hoʻokipa Beach Park
Along the Hana Highway towards Haiku, The most consistent Maui surf spot, Hoʻokipa is world famous for its afternoon windsurfing perfection. The beach is large with two narrow entrances to the water. Hoʻokipa Beach Park has all the facilities you need. With bathrooms, lifeguards, picnic areas, showers, and plenty of parking, Ho’okipa is a great place to enjoy the beach while watching world-class surfers battle large powerful waves. Because the exits are so small and currents are persistent, Ho’okipa Beach Park can be a dangerous place to swim (and you’ll rarely see anyone swimming). Surfing and windsurfing should be left to experts and not attempted by anyone who may question their skills.
Waiheʻe Beach
With good surfing in the winter, Waiheʻe Beach is a small and narrow beach with low capacity. This may be its reason for being uncrowded most of the time. Waiheʻe is perfect for those who want a little privacy on the beach.
East Maui Beaches
Hana Beach Park
Hana Bay is the focal point of Hana, Maui, with good surf off the North side of the bay. This whole area is dominated by Hawaiian culture and activities. With no lifeguards, Hana Bay has picnic, and restroom facilities. This is a great place to people-watch and enjoy outrigger canoe races while enjoying something tasty at the snack bar or at your own picnic.
Hamoa Beach
Past Hana, you can find a flawless beach to the South called Hamoa Beach just off of Haneoʻo Road. With views of Alau Island and tropical foliage all around, Hamoa Beach is a favorite of anyone who visits it. Hamoa has been rated as one of the best bodysurfing beaches in Maui. The walk down to the beach from the parking can be steep past the Hotel Hana Maui. Hamoa has no lifeguards but an ample picnic area and restrooms shared with the hotel. This beach can experience large surf in the winter and anytime that East swells are present.
Waiʻanapanapa State Park
When it comes to Black Sand Beaches, Waiʻanapanapa’s Honokalani Beach is the best beach Maui has. You’ll find the entire area interesting. From the large sea cave down by the water to the legendary caverns deep below, you’ll find this to be one of your favorite Maui beaches. The waves break on a shelf, so caution is recommended when swimming. The lush green flora and the black rock and beach fall in stark contrast to the bright blue ocean and white foam from crashing waves. Waianapanapa has the most picturesque of the beaches in Maui. On the way to Hana, stop at this beach and take a walk around. Advanced reservations are now required before entering the park.
Koki Beach
A quiet and beautiful beach near Hana and Hamoa beach is Koki Beach. This incredible red cliff-ridged beach is susceptible to wind. The main reason visitors tend to neglect this beach is because of the abundance of trash and washed-up debris. We’re not certain why this beach accumulates so much trash, but it’s unfortunate.
Honomanu Beach
Honomanu is about halfway to Hana from the Paia area. This rocky beach is a little difficult to get to with a regular Maui rental car. If you have a four-wheel drive, it’s accessible. Located in a nestled bay between towering cliffs of rainforest, Honomanu is a quiet spot for locals. Surfing here can be fun with the right swell, but it’s a local spot. The left side of the bay has one of the heaviest and most dangerous waves in the islands when it breaks. There are a few downers to this incredible location. Being remote on the way to Hana, car theft can be high in this area. If you get your car stolen or items stolen from your car, it will take you quite a long time to get up to the road and to finally stop someone to get a ride in order to get to a phone or cell reception. All this makes for an ideal place to steal a car. Also, Quite possibly one of the sharkiest spots on the island, Honomanu is also not a good place to swim because of the shallow sharp rocky bottom.
