 Little
Beach at Makena (Pu'u Ola'i Beach) is
Maui's unofficial-clothing optional beach. Little Beach is
adjacent to Makena Beach (Big Beach,) but is unaccessible by car.
Drive to Makena Beach which is located a few miles miles past the
Maui Prince Hotel along Makena Ala Nui road. Park at the paved
parking lot and walk to the beach. Theft from cars is common here,
so remove your valuables from your car. At the northwest end of
the beach there is a path up the lava rocks that takes you over
the outcrop to Little Beach. This is, perhaps, the best spot in
Hawaii for nude sunbathing. The swimming and snorkeling are
excellent.
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Black Rock -- Ka‘anapali Beach.
Black Rock Beach is excellent for beginning snorkelers and
swimmers to experienced SCUBA divers. Coral and tropical
fish are abundant. This is the northernmost section of
Kaanapali Beach. A beach walk win
restaurants. |
D. T. Fleming Beach Park -- Kapalua
 A
favorite for body and board surfing, this public park also
features good swimming. Facilities include picnic tables
and
restrooms. Lifeguards on duty. |
Ka‘anapali Beach -- Ka‘anapali Resort
 West Maui's
"signature beach. Three miles
of white sand; sailboat and catamaran rides and
rentals; surf and windsurf lessons. Easy walking
access from all Kaanapali hotels.
Features “Dig Me Beach. Named
"America's Best Beach"
in 2003” |
Kapalua Beach -- Kapalua Resort
Known to Maui veterans as Old Fleming Beach, Kapalua is the first
of Maui's beaches,
and the first beach ever, to be named “"America's
Best Beach" (1991).” A truly
beautiful tropical beach which offers swimming, snorkeling and
SCUBA diving. |
Launiupoko Beach Park -- South of Lahaina
Another local favorite with a unique natural pool surrounded by a
lava rock wall.
Excellent for small children; picnic tables and restrooms. |
Napili Bay -- South of Kapalua
An excellent snorkeling spot for novice and expert ocean
adventurers. |
Puamana Beach County Park – Lahaina
This beach provides swimming, picnic tables, restrooms, grills and
a grassy park.
Waves are excellent for beginning and intermediate surfers. |
Wahikuli State Park – Lahaina
Another local favorite with calm water conditions for swimming,
snorkeling and boogie
boarding. Restrooms, picnic tables and grills are available. |
| SOUTH MAUI BEACHES |
Kama‘ole Beach Parks I, II and III – Kihei
Ample parking, lifeguards, volleyball courts and excellent
swimming conditions make the Kamaole Parks local favorites. |
Keawakapu Beach – Kihei
Classic views and varied conditions mark this beach. A
beachcomber's
delight, this beach offers a half mile walk to the Wailea Resort. |
Kihei Beach – Kihei
 A
series of beaches, coves
and tidepools along over
six-miles Kihei coastline.
Some areas offer lifeguards,
restrooms, and picnic facilities. |
Mai Poina ‘Oe Ia‘u Beach Park – Kihei
Excellent swimming kite-surfing, and windsurfing. Facilities
include picnic tables,
showers and restrooms. Wintertime whale sightings are almost
guaranteed. |
Makena Beach State Park – Makena
Big Beach at Makena is one of Maui's signature
beaches with a seemingly endless expanse of white sand.
Picnic facilities and restrooms
are available. The adjacent Little Beach is an informal (and
nominally illegal) clothing
optional beach with excellent body surfing. |
Maluaka Beach – Makena
 This
beach, adjacent to the
Maui Prince Hotel, offers
snorkeling. Keep your eyes
peeled for the green sea turtles
which are abundant here. |
Mokapu Beach Park – Wailea
Excellent swimming and snorkeling. Water sports equipment rentals
are available at
concessions in front of the Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort. |
Polo Beach Park – Wailea
 Another
superb Wailea beach,
popular with Maui resident
and visitors. Excellent swimming
restrooms are available.
Named "America's Best Beach"
in 1999. |
Ulua Beach Park -- Wailea
Another local favorite with excellent swimming, snorkeling,
and beachcombing. Early morning and sunset walkers
and joggers abound. |
 Wailea
Beach – Wailea
Excellent swimming with restrooms and equipment
rentals. Along with most other
Wailea beaches, the venue for a paved beach walk meandering past
Wailea's hotels,
restaurants and shops. Named "America's Best
Beach" in 1999. |
CENTRAL MAUI BEACHES Kanaha Beach Park – Kahului
Famous the world over for its excellent windsurfing
conditions, Kanaha also offers good swimming and
diving. Close to town, this beach is a popular spo
for lunch and local volleyball enthusiasts. Lifeguards
restrooms, showers and picnic tables. |
Waihe‘e Beach -- Waihe‘e
This beach is narrow and relatively free of crowds. It faces
east and is a popular surfing spot. |
EAST MAUI BEACHES H. A. Baldwin Beach Park – Paia
 A
picture-perfect Hawaii
beach with excellent swimming
and bodysurfing. Also features
a "baby beach" with a protected
lagoon. Lifeguards, restrooms
and picnic facilities. |
Ho‘okipa Beach Park -- Pa‘ia
A world-famous venue for professional windsurfing and
board surfing. Many contests are held at Ho'okipa.
Winter surf can be massive, with excellent and safe viewing
and photography. Picnic tables and restrooms are
available. |
 Hamoa
Beach – Hana
Outstanding swimming and bodysurfing.
A large beach with a cove-like atmosphere, it can be dangerous to
swim here due to strong currents, so use caution. The beach is
near the Hotel Hana, and the hotel does offer a shuttle service
down to the beach. |
Hana Beach Park – Hana
 A
favorite with local families,
Hana Beach Park is one
of the safest swimming beaches
on the island. Many local
community events are held here. |
 Red
Sand Beach in Hana (Kaihalulu Beach), Maui
Red Sand Beach – Hana
A "secret beach" with volcanic red sand and good
swimming and snorkeling.
Free spirits love this beach despite its challenging location --
not for the faint of heart! |
 Wai‘anapanapa
State Park – Hana
Excellent camping facilities, as well as cabins make
Wai‘anapanapa State Park one
of Maui's best beaches. Overlooks a black-sand beach
with good swimming,
snorkeling and freshwater pools in caves. |
 A
large white sand beach, Koki is best to visit in summer, as the
beach can become rather barren and exposed with dangerous rocks
during winter. There are limited amenities here, but camping is
allowed on the beach, giving it an advantage over many of the
other Maui beaches.
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BOATING
It's easy to be the captain of your own ship off the coast of Maui. There
are companies across the island, especially in Lahaina and Maalaea
harbors, that rent motorboats, catamarans, sailboats and other vessels.
Hotels are another good source for boat rentals. Be sure to ask the
indi-vidual companies about rental requirements.
CRUISES
For a beautiful view of Maui and its neighbor islands, try an ocean
cruise. Companies offer the tours, which usually last two to five hours,
across the island. Good places to climb aboard are Lahaina, Maalaea,
Kaanapali and Kapalua. Cruises are a competitive business on Maui, so keep
your eye open for bargains.
WHALE WATCHING
whale watching makes a big splash on Maui from November to mid-May when
humpback whales migrate here from Alaska to give birth and nurse their
young. For an up-close look at these magnificent creatures, head to Maui's
south coast or climb aboard a whale-watching boat tour. Most tours leave
from Lahaina or Maalaea harbors.
JET-SKIING
One of the newest ways to make waves is making a splash on Maui. Jet
skiing is popular here, especially in Kaanapali, and there are companies
across the island that rent one- to three-person models of the watercraft.
They also have all the equipment you'll need, and some even offer personal
instruction. Jet skiing is permitted from May 15 to December 15.
OCEAN RAFTING
If you're ready for the ride of your life, try ocean rafting. This
high-horse-power, motorized adventure is sure to give you an adrenaline
rush. The solid-body inflatable rafts are big enough to brave the waves
but small enough to let you explore isolated coves, sea caves and beaches
that larger cruises miss. Look for companies offering Ocean rafting tours
in Lahaina and Maalaea harbors.
KAYAKING
Want to see Maui's many out-of-the-way coves and bays? Start paddling.
Popular kayaking destinations include La Perouse and Honolua bays, Makena
and Hana.
PARASAILING
Parasailing, which provides an unparalleled view of the Pacific's crystal
blue waters, has really taken off at Maui resorts. Once you're strapped
into a parachute tethered to a motorboat, you'll be lifted more than 400
feet above the ocean's surface. Parasailing season is May 15 - December
15, and most rides last about 10 minutes.
SNORKELING & SCUBA DIVING
Much of Maui's beauty lies below the surface. The waters are swimming with
more than 700 species of fish, colorful coral, seashells and more. Ready
to dive into Maui's wonders? Grab your snorkeling or scuba diving gear and
explore.
DEEP-SEA FISHING
The deep-sea fishing off Maui lures fisherman from near and far. Take a
half- or full-day excur-sion and try to bring home the catch of the day.
Pacific blue, striped and black Marlin is common in this area of the
Pacific, as are swordfish, sailfish, and yellowfin and dolphin tuna.
SURFING
During the winter months, Hookipa Beach and Honolua Bay become Maui's
premier surfing destinations, with waves that often exceed 15 feet. But
beginners should make a break for the calmer waters of Lahaina and the
beaches in West Maui. Ready to catch some waves? Lessons are offered and
boards are for rent at shops across the island.
WINDSURFING
Maui's Hookipa Beach, just east of Paia, has been dubbed the windsurfing
capital of the world. So, needless to say, conditions here are excellent.
So good, in fact, that the O'Neill International Championship is held here
each March and April. For beginners, the calm waters and gentle winds at
Kanaha Beach in Kahului are the perfect place to learn the logistics of
the sport.
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