Beaches On Maui

More than likely the main reason you came to Maui in the first place was the plethora of beautiful beaches. Maui has more beaches than any other Hawaiian island, and most of them happen to be in the driest and sunniest parts of the island: South Kihei, Wailea, and Makena. Below are our favorites, starting from Kihei.


  1. Kalama Beach & Cove Park (Kihei). Not good for swimming and no beach really, but great for beginner surfing and SUP, as you can tell by the many surfing schools opposite the park.

  2. Kamaole I, II, III  (Kihei). We love these beaches, and that is why we purchased our condo (Kihei Akahi D-211) directly opposite. Nice and sandy in and out of the water, lifeguards, showers, shaded park benches behind the beaches under the trees, excellent snorkeling between Kam II and Kam III, as well as between Kam II and Kam I, plus great boogie boarding at Kam III. Best in the mornings if you want to avoid the afternoon wind which can be annoying if you are just sunbathing instead of enjoying the water.

  3. Keawakapu (Kihei/Wailea). Another great beach. Skip the first parking spot adjacent to Five Palms, and drive straight to the end of the road where, after you park, you'll end up at the middle of Keawakapu beach. Long and sandy, perfect for long walks, and you may see a Kite boarder here too. You can also walk further south to Mokapu beach, which sometimes has good boogie boarding, and even further to Ulua beach.

  4. Ulua (Wailea). Good for SCUBA diving, especially with the tailored-made bench for SCUBA tanks behind the beach. Aside: check out our page on SCUBA diving in Maui.

  5. Palauea or White Rock (Wailea). Good snorkeling on both ends, and spearfishing can also be good here.

  6. Po'olenalena (Wailea). Nice boogie boarding and usually lots of space to yourself. The far end of the north side (taking the trail over the rocks) seems to be a clothing optional part of the beach.

  7. Makena Landing (Makena). Easy entry/exit with kayaks, if you are into kayaking. Also another nice SCUBA diving site.

  8. Maluaka (Makena). Great snorkeling. Also the Kai Kanani boat leaves from here for snorkeling trips to Molokini.

  9. Big Beach (Makena). Amazing boogie boarding, if you are past the beginner stage… or else just watch the locals and stay safe from the dangerous shore break. If in doubt, ask the lifeguards that this beach provides.

  10. Hamoa (Hana). Great boogie boarding and, in our opinion, the best beach for swimming if you are doing the Road to Hana with time to spare.

  11. Ho'okipa (Paia). For very experienced windsurfers and surfers.

  12. Pe'ahi (aka Jaws). For professional surfers. If you are finding out about this beach on our website, then it is not for you. For the rest of us, it is good to go watch the show the few times it is breaking...

  13. Honolua Bay (West Maui). Not a beach. If you are lucky with the conditions, mostly in the summer, the snorkeling is considered the best on the island of Maui.

  14. Kapalua (West Maui). Probably the calmest beach on the island, making it ideal for families with kids which frequent the beach.

  15. Napili (West Maui). When the conditions are right, you can have a lot of fun body boarding here.

  16. Ka'anapali (West Maui). Nice long sandy beach, if you can ignore the backdrop of beachfront resorts and the large number of tourists. The area called Black Rock has good snorkeling and is a good place to catch the sunset.

  17. Hulopo'e Beach (Lana'i). This beach is on the island of Lana'i, and in our opinion is the best snorkeling beach in all of Maui county. It will cost you over $100 for the boat trip for 2 people, you'll have to spend the entire day on the beach (not much else on that island), but if you are beach people and repeat Maui guests then it is worth doing it once. There is also a short pleasant hike on the south side of the beach with great views of Sweetheart Rock (Pu'u Pehe).

Looking for more stuff to do? Why not check out all of our recommendation  lists for Maui:  Maui Towns And Areas,  Must Do,  Road To Hana,  Beaches,  Nature,  Food,  Beer/Alcohol,  Water Activities,  Non-Water Activities,  Shows and Events,  Souvenirs,  Grocery Shopping, and  What The Owners Still Love About Maui.