Top 15 Beaches on Maui

That’s right, folks! Get your cameras ready, grab some reef-safe sunscreen and a hat, and know that you’re about to see one of the most beautiful beaches in Hawaii. Even if you don’t have a full afternoon to spend at Makena, you MUST at least make a stop here for a short visit.

Big Beach is the largest stretch of Baldwin Beach Park. Even if you’re heading to Little Beach, you will have to access Big Beach to get there. The sand stretches about two thirds of a mile long and is roughly 100 yards wide. This is popular beach in Maui for weddings, swimming, body-boarding, skim-boarding and sun tanning. If you plan to swim while at Makena Beach, please heed all of the ocean safety signage. Make sure to NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON THE OCEAN. Big Beach is notorious for the frequency of rogue waves, so make sure to always be aware of your surroundings. If you don’t feel comfortable in the ocean here, do not go in. You might be better off climbing over the rocks on the west end of the beach to go swim at Little Beach.

First of all, Little Beach is one of Maui’s very few nude beaches. It’s an eclectic kind of beach with colorful individuals, and great opportunities for swimming. If you’re there late in the afternoon during a full moon, you may have a chance to see some fire dancers and join a drum circle! The best time to swim at Makena Beach is during the mid-morning hours. This is when the ocean is at its calmest, and when you will have the best water visibility. The water is crystal-clear here, but the sandy bottom can skew the clarity when the tide changes.

Walk all the way through the shops and you’ll find yourself just steps from the sand. The ocean here is divine! The sand is so soft and it gently slopes into the calm and crystal-clear ocean. The water here feels amazing and you can always count on lots of sunshine. For those who will be traveling with a bigger group, this area is perfect. There are so many different restaurants, bars and shops, all within a short walking distance for those who tire of the sun easily. Many fun ocean activities are available from this Maui beach. There is parasailing and boating, and rentals for surfboards, boogie boards and stand-up paddle boards are readily available. The far right side of Ka’anapali Beach is “Black Rock,” a popular place to jump off of a huge lava rock formation into the ocean. It’s also a great place for snorkeling.

If you’re headed out towards Historic Paia Town, you will get to Baldwin Beach about 2 minutes before you reach the town, pending traffic. There are two great beaches in the vicinity. First there is Baldwin Beach Park, marked by the baseball diamond, field and yellow lifeguard tower. Then you have Paia Bay, marked by a skate park and the Paia Youth and Cultural Center. Many newcomers to the area get these two beach spots confused.

There are so many things to enjoy at Baldwin Beach Park in Maui. Some favorite activities include running, dog walking, swimming, skim boarding, body boarding, sunbathing, socializing and hunting for seashells. This is a great beach for the whole family to have fun. The west end of Baldwin is known as “Baby Beach.” Here you’ll find a protective sea wall that provides a sheltered salt water pool. It’s perfect for little kids and babies! The east end of Baldwin is known as “The Cove”. Here you will find a great spot for swimming or just laying out in the sun. The Cove is also a place where you’ll see North Shore residents basking in the glory of their life on family outings and with drum circles, musicians, yogis and more. The middle section of Baldwin Beach should be reserved for those who are confident swimmers. It’s not a difficult place to swim, but if you’re not totally comfortable with ocean entry and exit, this may not be the best area for you.

Wai’anapanapa State Park is a 120-acre protected area. It has picnic pavilions, 12 rental cabins, tent camping areas, and all of the facilities needed for maximizing a beautiful East Maui adventure. The serenity of this place is like no other. Everywhere you look there is pure natural beauty, with vibrant green flora and the true essence of “Old Hawaii.”

During the winter months, Honolua is a huge surf spot for experienced surfers. During the calmer summer months, this is one of the best places on Maui for snorkeling and scuba diving. The bluffs above the beach provide a perfect spot to watch surfers from a safe distance, or to view an incredibly gorgeous West Maui sunset.

To snorkel at Honolua Bay, guests have a couple of choices. First you can book a snorkel cruise that will bring you right to the bay. You can also drive to Honolua, park near the sign for the Honolua-Mokule’ia Bay Marine Life Conservation District, and take a short hike through Honolua’s forest. When you plan to snorkel at Honolua Bay, make sure to enter the water on the right hand side of the rocky beach. Most people choose to go left to the sandy entrance, but the water there is sometimes cloudy due to a freshwater stream on that side of the bay.

This part of the coast is well protected, so guests can enjoy some calm wind conditions and clear visibility while snorkeling here.

To get to Maui’s White Rock Bay, follow Wailea Alanui Drive towards Makena. Take a right at the intersection that is after the entrance to the Kea Lani Beach Hotel. Drive down the paved road just until you reach a dirt road. Follow the path approximately 100 feet down to the beach.

Another reason Kapalua Bay is awesome is that it is one of the best places to snorkel. This is a great spot if you’d like to chance a meeting with a parrot fish, butterfly fish, wrasse, boxfish, scorpion fish, or the state fish of Hawaii, the humuhumunukunukuapua’a. You may also get to see a Hawaiian green sea turtle! The waves break ever so gently upon the shore, and the water is a clear blue with an inviting underwater playground. This Maui beach is great for couples on a romantic Maui beach outing, or for families looking for a quiet day on the beach. For those who are interested in ocean activities, there is a beach activities desk where you can rent water sports equipment and learn some information about local activities.

Some of the more popular Maui beach activities at this spot include swimming, body-surfing, snorkeling and surfing. This family friendly beach has salt-and-pepper sand, clear water, and plenty of shaded areas for a family picnic. This is a fabulous Maui beach for decompressing in a lush setting with gorgeous views of the coastline. Take it from us, you will not want to leave Hamoa Beach.

You will first drive through a grove of trees, and then see the Olowalu General Store and Leoda’s Bakery. The entrance to the beach is just before them, across the road at Mile Marker 14.

At Olowalu, beachgoers can find hundreds of acres of beautiful reef for snorkeling.This beach is perhaps best experienced on a snorkel tour since your charter will perch right where the snorkeling is best (roughly 200-400 yards offshore). If you are a confident swimmer, the best snorkeling can be found at 20+ yards out. The beach at Olowalu is great for families who are traveling with small children. The coastline is shallow and protected, and the ocean here has very clear visibility.

The most popular things to do at Ho’okipa are surfing, windsurfing, kite-boarding, stand up paddle-boarding, and snorkeling, all pending the season.

Ho’okipa Beach Park is an extremely popular spot for locals. The beautiful bunch of Maui residents who frequent Ho’okipa Beach does so on daily and weekly bases, most having done so for their entire lives. When you visit Ho’okipa, make sure that you make the most of your trip. Bring with you only good vibes, and you might find yourself BBQing and sharing laughs with some locals. If you don’t want to head down to the beach, there is a great lookout point above the beach park. The Ho’okipa Lookout is a perfect place to tailgate and take in a sunset, get some cool shots of surfers, and enjoy food from local vendors or a freshly cracked coconut.

The Hawaiian green sea turtles are known to frequent Ho’okipa’s shores. If you do see them, please do not touch or harass them in any way. Watch them from afar. They are still classified as an endangered species and are protected by both the NOAA and the State of Hawaii, as well as by Ho’okipa’s local families. Ho’okipa means “hospitality” in the ancient Hawaiian language, so make sure to bring an essence of that with you when you visit. Ho’okipa Beach Park is one of the most incredible beaches in the universe. You’ll quickly see and feel why once you get there.

In the ancient Hawaiian language, Oneuli means “black sands,” and that is exactly what you will see at this South Maui beach. Here, you’ll find that the black sand is actually ground lava rock. Also, as you reach the shore, you will notice that the edge of the water is actually hardened lava.

Oneuli Black Sand Beach is not the best spot to choose for a lazy day of sunbathing on Maui or for taking frequent dips in the Pacific. This beach is best for experienced swimmers, snorkelers, and scuba divers.

To find Oneuli Black Sand Beach, drive south from Wailea towards Makena. About 4 miles south of the Grand Wailea Resort, you will see a dirt access road just before the parking lot for Makena’s Big Beach.

While venturing down to Maui’s south shore, there are so many beaches to explore and experience. For snorkeling, sunbathing, and swimming, the options here are plentiful. Collectively, the Kamaole beaches offer a unique experience for all to enjoy. As they are close to one another, all three are just across the road from restaurants, food trucks, shopping, gas stations, and more. All three of Maui’s Kamaole beaches are fun-filled, yet convenient.

Kam 1 is a great place for sunbathing and a light ocean swim. With white sandy beaches all around you, it’s a no-brainer. Kam 2 is a beach park with plenty of parking, and big open spaces to BBQ and celebrate with family and friends. Kam 3 has the largest recreational park. It’s a sweet spot where you can meet new friends, skate, snorkel, and socialize during all times of the day and evening.

Stretching out from South Kihei to Wailea, the Kamaole beaches boast a coastal landscape like no other. It’s possible to find hidden coves, and it’s a great place to hunt for seashells. More importantly, there is an array of places to perch for the day with your family and friends.

Kams 1, 2 and 3 provide grassy lawns, BBQ areas, and restroom facilities. There are also areas covered by shade-trees, and many opportunities to enjoy some ocean activities.

Within walking distance from the Kamaole beaches there are many places where visitors can book activities. There are Maui snorkel trips, Maui surf lessons, and a variety of experiences for those who are in the know.

This Maui beach was named after a man who owned a home above the beach for many years. He was a very lucky man indeed! The length of the beach is roughly a third of a mile long, which makes it a great beach for a run on the soft golden sand, a sunset walk, swimming, sunbathing, or day-long picnics with the family. This is also a perfect Maui beach for stand-up paddling or snorkeling around the lava rock formations near the baby tide pools.

La Perouse Bay is named after French explorer Jean-Francois de Galup Comte de La Perouse. He was the first westerner to map out this area of the Island of Maui.

The Bay at La Perouse is the site of Maui’s most recent lava activity (approx. 1790). It is also home to some of Maui’s most playful Spinner dolphin pods. If you’re traveling to La Perouse to see the dolphins, make sure to arrive early, right at daybreak.

This South Maui bay is not a great beach for swimming, snorkeling, or too much exploring. La Perouse does offer a beautiful vantage point from which you can see the outer island of Kaho’olawe on a clear day. When you are at La Perouse, you will see a trail that heads towards East Maui. This trail has so much Hawaiian cultural and historical significance, and it is protected Hawaiian archeological land. If you do venture down this coastline trail, please do not travel off of the main path, and absolutely do not touch or move any rocks or stones. This area is part of Maui’s King’s Trail, and as such has many protected cultural and spiritual sights including salt pans, heiau stones (religious shrines), and fishing shrines. Look, but do not touch!

Features:

• Lifeguards (8 am – 5 pm)
• Showers and bathrooms
• Picnic tables (13 with grills)
• Volleyball courts
• Camping
• ADA accessible