Maui Beaches

Maui Beaches

Most of Maui’s beaches are located on its western coast and protected from big waves by neighboring islands, thereby offering good swimming during much of the year. Since the western (leeward) sides of Hawaii islands are the sunniest, Maui is a very popular destination for beach and sun lovers. Maui’s most popular beaches include Kaanapali beach, the Kamaole beach parks, Wailea beach, Kapalua beach and Napili bay. Kaanapali beach has a similar vibe to Waikiki but less crowded, and offers many tourist activities including snorkeling. Maui has many good snorkeling locations including Black Rock, Mokapu beach, Honolua Bay, Laperouse Bay, Kapalua beach and several others. Hawaii’s only truly nude beach, Little Beach, is located adjacent to Big Beach, hidden behind a little hill.

Baldwin Beach Park thumbnail
Beautiful sand but murky water (from nearby runoff). Quiet during weekdays but very busy on weekends.

Big Beach thumbnail
The widest beach on the island and rarely crowded. A vicious shore break usually makes for poor swimming conditions for most people.

Kamaole Beach Park 1 thumbnail
This is Kihei's best beach with good swimming and reasonable snorkeling at the rocky ends of the beach. Backing the beach is a very busy road, but the beach is somewhat protected by small dunes. T...

Kamaole Beach Park 2 thumbnail
Slightly smaller than Kamaole Beach Park 1, also with good swimming and reasonable snorkeling at the rocky ends of the beach. As popular as it's two sister beaches.

Kamaole Beach Park 3 thumbnail
The smallest of the 3 Kamaole beach parks with a large grassy area behind the beach for kite flying. Especially busy on weekends.

Keawakapu Beach thumbnail
One of maui's nicest beaches with soft sand and good swimming but no snorkeling. Suprisingly uncrowded given its easy access for both Wailea and Kihei vacationers. Very expensive vacation homes li...

Little Beach thumbnail
This is Hawaii's only real nude beach in that the beach is both popular and nearly everyone will be ... [continued]

Makena Landing Beach Park thumbnail
Makena Landing Beach Park is a popular beginner dive site and also a good beginner snorkel site beca ... [continued]

Makena Park Black Sand Beach thumbnail
This beach is part of Makena State Park - it's located just north of Big Beach. The sand is actually ... [continued]

Maluaka Beach thumbnail
Good swimming, and snorkeling on the left side of the beach.

Palauea Beach thumbnail
One of the less crowded beaches in the area with good swimming.

Polo Beach thumbnail
Good swimming, and the boogie boarding here tends to be better than surrounding beaches.

Poolenalena Beach thumbnail
One of the lesser known beaches in the area with good snorkeling at the rocky end sections of the beach.

Secret Cove thumbnail
Secret Cove is a very picturesque but small beach just south of Big Beach. This is a popular locatio ... [continued]

Ulua and Mokapu Beach thumbnail
Two popular adjoining beaches, Mokapu (the left or southern section) offers better swimming. Good snorkeling around the rocky center.

Wailea Beach thumbnail
A picturesque beach with soft sand and good swimming. The beach is backed by two very impressive hotels (including Hawaii's best - the Four Seasons) and can get crowded (as seen in photo).

Hamoa Beach thumbnail
A fun beach with fine sand

Red Sand Beach thumbnail
Red Sand beach is one of the most unusual and interesting beaches in Hawaii. The beach has been carv ... [continued]

Tavares Beach thumbnail
This is a pretty beach with good swimming that's popular with families. The 150 yard long Tavares be ... [continued]

Black Rock thumbnail
Good snorkeling at the northern tip of Kaanapali beach, but expect to crash into other snorklers especially if a turtle makes an appearance.

DT Fleming Beach Park thumbnail
Good swimming with occasional boogie boarding surf. Reasonably quiet during weekdays but very popular on weekends.

Kaanapali Beach thumbnail
Maui's flagship beach. Although fronted by many hotels, the mile long beach is always busy but rarely overly crowded. Good swimming, and occasionaly beginner surfing and boogie boarding. Snorkelin...

Kahekili Beach Park thumbnail
The extension of Kaanapali beach past black rock. A beautiful beach with excellent swimming but poor snorkeling. Reasonably quiet throughout the week, especially compared to Kaanapali Beach.

Kapalua Beach thumbnail
Beautiful beach with excellent swimming and good snorkeling.

Mokuleia Bay thumbnail
Good snorkeling wihen the ocean is calm during the summer months

Napili Beach thumbnail
A charming beach with excellent swimming. Very popular - expect crowds throughout the week.

Oneloa Beach thumbnail
A quiet beach with lovely sand. A rocky ocean bottom make for poor swimming and snorkeling, save the far left portion.

Turtle Bay Resort Beach Malaekahana State Park Goat Island Hukilau Beach Park Laie Beach Park Kokololio Beach Park Punaluu Beach Park Kahana Beach Park Kualoa Beach Park Kailua Beach Kailua Beach Park Lanikai Beach Waimanalo Beach Sandy Beach Hanauma Bay Waialae Beach Park Kuilei Cliffs Beach Park Sans Souci Beach Ala Moana Beach Park Waikiki Beach Central Waikiki Beach South Kapiolani Beach Park Ko Olina Lagoon 1 Ko Olina Lagoon 2 Maili Beach Park Makaha Beach Park Papaoneone Beach Makua Beach Yokohama Beach Mokuleia Beach Park Turtle Beach Waimea Bay Pupukea Beach Park Ehukai Beach Park Sunset Beach Park Kawela Bay Salt Pond Beach Park Kahiliwai Beach Pali Ke Kua Beach Kiahuna Beach Baby Beach Lawai Beach Poipu Beach Park Brennecke Beach Shipwreck Beach Mahaulepu Beach and Trail Kalapaki Beach Nukolii Beach Lydgate Park Waipouli Beach Park Kealia Beach Anahola Bay Aliomanu Beach Molo'oa Bay Larson's Beach Pilaa Beach Rock Quarry Beach Secret Beach Anini Beach Anini Beach West Sealodge Beach Puapoa Beach Hideaways Beach Ke'e Beach Haena Beach Park Tunnels Beach Lumahai Beach West Lumahai Beach Waikoko Beach Hanalei Bay Kekaha Beach Park Polihale Beach Palauea Beach Polo Beach Wailea Beach Ulua and Mokapu Beach Keawakapu Beach Kamaole Beach Park 3 Kamaole Beach Park 2 Kamaole Beach Park 1 Secret Cove Big Beach Little Beach Makena Black Sand Beach Maluaka Beach Poolenalena Beach Hamoa Beach Red Sand Beach Tavares Beach Baldwin Beach Park Mokuleia Bay Kaanapali Beach Black Rock Kahekili Beach Park Napili Beach Kapalua Beach Oneloa Beach DT Fleming Beach Park Pololu Beach Mahukona Beach Park Spencer Beach Park Mauumae Beach Mauna Kea Beach Hapuna Beach Wailea Bay Fairmont Orchid Beach Makaiwa Bay Anaehoomalu Bay Four Seasons Beach Kukio Beach Kikaua Beach Maniniowali Beach Makalawena Beach Kekaha Kai Beach Park Wawaloli Beach Old Kona Airport Beach Park White Sands Beach Park Kahaluu Beach Park Punaluu Black Sand Beach Kehena Beach Kohala Ranch Makaiwa Bay Fish Pond Kiholo Bay Kealakekua Bay Honaunau Bay Place of Refuge South Point Kilauea Crater Kilauea Iki Crater Thurston Lava Tube Chain of Craters Road MacKenzie State Park Ahalanui Warm Spring Kapoho Tide Pools Paradise Park Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Garden Waipio Valley Akaka Falls Sharks Cove Valley of the Temples Lanikai Point Lanikai Hill Pali Lookout Makapuu Lookout Spitting Cave Diamond Head LaPerouse Bay Haleakala Crater Haleakala Backside Seven Sacred Pools Wailua Falls Hana Kahanu National Tropical Botanical Garden Nahiku Road Lower Puohokamoa Falls Iao State Valley Park Olivine Pools Ohai Trail Acid War Zone Trail Honokeana Bay Kapalua Coastal Trail Honolua Bay Pihea Trail Spouting Horn Wailua Falls Opaekaa Falls Okolehao Trail Kilauea Lighthouse Queens Bath Kalalau Trail Napali Coast Waimea Canyon