South Maui Beaches
Kihei, Wailea, Makena, and Maalaea on the south side of Maui have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world! All of Maui's beaches are public beaches, there are no private beaches. So though you may see that a beach is hidden behind condominiums, big resorts, or the expensive homes in Wailea, you can access all the beaches one way or another. And every beach in South Maui has a beautiful view of the sunset every night!
Kama'ole Beaches
Kama'ole Beach Park is really a set of three beaches stretching 1.5 miles along S. Kihei Rd, known as Kam I, Kam II, and Kam III. Kama'ole I beach is also known as Charley Young Beach by the locals and has 2 parking areas. Kam III has a good parking lot that fills up early. Snorkeling is good at all 3 beaches if you stick to the rocky points at the end of each beach. You can also walk or jog the length of all 3 beaches, crossing over the rocky points or picnic areas to get from one beach to the next. Kam III is popular with locals and has a large grassy area behind the beach where parties are often held. Kam II is a favorite, good for snorkeling & boogie boarding, and it is a great beach for wading if the winds are calm, as the sand slopes out into the water for a ways.
Watch for the yellow or red flags posted on all three beaches to let you know if rip currents are active; red flags are an indication to stay out of the water. Kam II has a great wall right next to S Kihei Rd that is crowded most nights as people watch the beautiful sunsets. These beaches have lifeguards and bathroom facilities and showers are nearby.
Watch for the yellow or red flags posted on all three beaches to let you know if rip currents are active; red flags are an indication to stay out of the water. Kam II has a great wall right next to S Kihei Rd that is crowded most nights as people watch the beautiful sunsets. These beaches have lifeguards and bathroom facilities and showers are nearby.
Keawakapu Beach
Keawakapu Beach is a beautiful .7 mile long stretch of sand on the south end of Kihei Rd. The north end of the beach has great tide pools for exploring, and the southern end is good for snorkeling (don't snorkel near the tidepools, visibility is not great and it's very rocky to get in and out). This beach is great for laying out in the sun, snorkeling, and boogie boarding. On the south end, this beach joins up with Mokapu Beach.
There are 3 parking lots for Keawakapu Beach: one lot is at the 5 Palms entrance, the 2nd entrance is just after off S Kihei Rd just before the Days Inn, and the 3rd parking lot is at the end of S Kihei Rd - before it turns left and becomes Okolani Dr stay straight and the road dead ends into the lot.
There are 3 parking lots for Keawakapu Beach: one lot is at the 5 Palms entrance, the 2nd entrance is just after off S Kihei Rd just before the Days Inn, and the 3rd parking lot is at the end of S Kihei Rd - before it turns left and becomes Okolani Dr stay straight and the road dead ends into the lot.
Ulua & Mokapu Beaches
Mokapu Beach and Ulua Beach are right next to each other and both beaches have access from the Wailea Beach path. Mokapu Beach is backed by the Andaz Resort and Ulua Beach by the Wailea Elua Village. These two beaches are on either side of a rocky outcropping with a beach path that leads to both and a bathroom and shower area to rinse off the sand when you are finished. Ulua Beach has a more gentle slope to the water whereas Mokapu has a sand shelf.
On calm days Ulua Beach is great for snorkeling especially around the middle outcropping of rocks. You'll see quite a few divers head into the water from this beach and on windy days this is a favorite for boogie boarders. These beaches get really busy starting around 10am. As with all the South Maui beaches, this is another great spot for watching sunsets!
Watch for the Ulua Beach / Mokapu Beach sign on Wailea Alanui Dr. The parking lot allows you to reach both of these beaches. The parking lot will fill up early though we have found spaces available throughout the day and especially later in the afternoon closer to sunset.
On calm days Ulua Beach is great for snorkeling especially around the middle outcropping of rocks. You'll see quite a few divers head into the water from this beach and on windy days this is a favorite for boogie boarders. These beaches get really busy starting around 10am. As with all the South Maui beaches, this is another great spot for watching sunsets!
Watch for the Ulua Beach / Mokapu Beach sign on Wailea Alanui Dr. The parking lot allows you to reach both of these beaches. The parking lot will fill up early though we have found spaces available throughout the day and especially later in the afternoon closer to sunset.
Wailea Beach
Wailea Beach is a beautiful sand beach stretching over 1300 feet with a gentle slope into the water making it great for wading and swimming. Snorkeling can be good at either end of the beach near the rocky points when the waters are calm. There are public parking areas and bathrooms available. This beach will get busy early with people staying at the Grand Wailea and Four Seasons resorts and you will see beach chairs and cabanas lining the beach so get here early to find a good spot! You can find plenty of spots to get drinks or food at the nearby resorts making this a great beach to spend the day. During whale season you can often spot whales frolicking out in the ocean. The resort chairs, cabanas, umbrellas, and pool areas are for resort guests only (designated by a colored wristband), but Wailea Beach is a public beach.
For public parking look for the Wailea Beach sign (it's small) off Wailea Alanui Dr after the Grand Wailea Resort but before the Four Seasons Resort. The Wailea Beach Path runs along the back of the beach and you can take it in either direction for a beautiful stroll.
For public parking look for the Wailea Beach sign (it's small) off Wailea Alanui Dr after the Grand Wailea Resort but before the Four Seasons Resort. The Wailea Beach Path runs along the back of the beach and you can take it in either direction for a beautiful stroll.
Polo Beach
Polo Beach lies between the Fairmont Kea Lani and the Polo Beach Club to the south. There is plenty of parking when you turn onto Kauhaki St off of Wailea Alanui Dr. On the North end of the beach in front of the Fairmont you will find cabanas and lounge chairs for the resort guests, so head down to the south end which will be quieter and less busy. There are bathrooms, showers, and a grassy park with picnic tables and BBQ's. Another great beach with a gentle sandy slope makes for great swimming or wading and there is snorkeling at the north end near the rocky point. Watch for large swells and rip currents on windy days.
Po'olenalena Beach
Po'olenalena Beach is another great beach. The parking lot is right off Makena Alanui Rd past the Grand Wailea and Four Season resorts. Watch for a yellow gate on the Makai (ocean side) of the road. Another beautiful sandy beach stretching a 1/2 mile, this beach doesn't feel too crowded. On the north end of the beach you can take a path up and over the rocks to another stretch of sand. Divided by a rocky outcropping, there is a small bit of sand where the turtles like to swim and you can spot them as they come up for air. Watch for the crabs in the sand and try not to step on the tiny holes they inhabit. The snorkeling here is great on calm days; if there is wave action just be careful as the water can push you into the coral or rocks. The sand slopes gently into the water quite a ways out making yet another great beach for swimming and wading, but also enough waves for fun boogie boarding. Locals love this beach and you can often find a one or two selling crafts in the parking lot or a group party set up on the beach on the weekends. There are no showers or bathrooms at this beach, just a portable toilet in the parking lot.
Tour boats and kayak groups anchor off the south end of the beach to let snorkelers have a swim. This area is known as a turtle cleaning station and there are some really big turtles . Enter the water at the south end of the beach and swim out past the point to your left; you will swim over several reef fingers to find the turtles that are being cleaned by small groups of black fish. Only swim out this far on days when the weather and ocean are calm; windy days can cause big currents, undertows, and unsafe conditions.
Tour boats and kayak groups anchor off the south end of the beach to let snorkelers have a swim. This area is known as a turtle cleaning station and there are some really big turtles . Enter the water at the south end of the beach and swim out past the point to your left; you will swim over several reef fingers to find the turtles that are being cleaned by small groups of black fish. Only swim out this far on days when the weather and ocean are calm; windy days can cause big currents, undertows, and unsafe conditions.
Palauea Beach
Palauea Beach, also known as White Rock Beach, is another beautiful beach on Maui. To get here, take Wailea Alanui Dr to Kaukahi St (Kaukahi St also takes you to Polo Beach) and take a left on Makena Rd. Take the road a short distance past beautiful homes and look for a porta-potty on the ocean side of the road; you can parallel park or there is a small dirt parking lot on the left. A short walk down the sandy path through the trees takes you to the beach.
Residents are often here in the mornings walking or playing ball with their dogs. This beach backs up to the beautiful homes you drove past. A great sandy beach with sand crabs (try not to step on the holes in the sand, those are the crabs homes!), and super clear water on a calm day. Not the best beach for boogie boarding because of how the waves break on the sandbar, but great snorkeling on the North & South ends along the rocky outcropping. Only snorkel in clear water, if it has rained or is windy and the water is not clear, save it for another day as tiger sharks are known to frequent the area (heard that from a local!).
Freestyle divers can be seen entering the water at the South end of the beach frequently. The name White Rock comes from the areas of white rocks under the water just off the beach. Canoes can be seen each morning paddling by or stopping at the end of the South rocky outcropping to do some snorkeling.
Residents are often here in the mornings walking or playing ball with their dogs. This beach backs up to the beautiful homes you drove past. A great sandy beach with sand crabs (try not to step on the holes in the sand, those are the crabs homes!), and super clear water on a calm day. Not the best beach for boogie boarding because of how the waves break on the sandbar, but great snorkeling on the North & South ends along the rocky outcropping. Only snorkel in clear water, if it has rained or is windy and the water is not clear, save it for another day as tiger sharks are known to frequent the area (heard that from a local!).
Freestyle divers can be seen entering the water at the South end of the beach frequently. The name White Rock comes from the areas of white rocks under the water just off the beach. Canoes can be seen each morning paddling by or stopping at the end of the South rocky outcropping to do some snorkeling.
Maluaka Beach
Maluaka Beach is another beautiful beach with clear water. The sand slopes gently out into the water making this a great wading beach on a calm weather day. Other days the waves come crashing in and it's best to find a comfortable place on the beach and watch the occasional surfer. With views of Molokini Crater in front of you and the slopes of Haleakala behind you, this beach has showers and bathrooms at the north end. Kai Kanani charters will beach their catamaran here to load passengers directly from the sand to the boat. Turtles swim by here on their way to and from a turtle cleaning station. Take your beach umbrella with you, there isn't any shade and on some afternoons a quick rain shower will come down from the slopes of Haleakala.
Take Makena Alanui Rd south and just before the road narrows turn right onto Honoiki St, then left onto Makena Rd. There is a turnout where you can drop off and pick up, and there is a large parking lot on the left across from the church. The second entrance is located 1 mile further south on Makena Kenolio Rd.
Take Makena Alanui Rd south and just before the road narrows turn right onto Honoiki St, then left onto Makena Rd. There is a turnout where you can drop off and pick up, and there is a large parking lot on the left across from the church. The second entrance is located 1 mile further south on Makena Kenolio Rd.
Makena Beach, aka Big Beach
Big Beach (also known as Makena Beach or Oneloa Beach meaning 'long sand') is almost 2/3 of a mile long and 100 feet wide with stunning water colors, a fantastic view of Molokini Crater, beautiful sunsets, and gorgeous soft sand. With 2 parking lots and lifeguards at both ends of the beach, this is a popular location for boogie boarding and wave jumping. Additional parking can be found by parking along the road.
The pounding waves are no joke so be careful; this beach is also known as Breakneck Beach. A great beach for sunbathing, you'll find food trucks available for lunch in the parking lots or along the road. Bring your beach umbrella and reef safe sunscreen as there isn't much shade. On the north end of Big Beach you can take a path over the rocky outcrop to Little Beach which is known as a nude beach. Not surprisingly, Big Beach is fantastic for photographing sunsets!
Take S Kihei Rd towards Wailea and take a right on Wailea Alanui Dr. Keep going straight along the coast, the road will narrow and turn into Makena Alanui Rd. There are 2 entrances into Big Beach, both are paved parking lots and now require a small parking fee for visitors. There is signage on the road for the parking lots, you can't miss it! Big Beach is a State Park and the parking fee is $5. Because it is a state park, drones are not legal to use here.
The pounding waves are no joke so be careful; this beach is also known as Breakneck Beach. A great beach for sunbathing, you'll find food trucks available for lunch in the parking lots or along the road. Bring your beach umbrella and reef safe sunscreen as there isn't much shade. On the north end of Big Beach you can take a path over the rocky outcrop to Little Beach which is known as a nude beach. Not surprisingly, Big Beach is fantastic for photographing sunsets!
Take S Kihei Rd towards Wailea and take a right on Wailea Alanui Dr. Keep going straight along the coast, the road will narrow and turn into Makena Alanui Rd. There are 2 entrances into Big Beach, both are paved parking lots and now require a small parking fee for visitors. There is signage on the road for the parking lots, you can't miss it! Big Beach is a State Park and the parking fee is $5. Because it is a state park, drones are not legal to use here.
Makena Cove aka Secret Beach
Makena Cove, also known as Secret Beach, is absolutely stunning. After you pass the 2nd entrance for Big Beach on Makena Rd keep an eye out for a opening in a rock wall on the right hand side. There is a sign but it is covered in stickers, look for the cars parallel parked along the rock wall. This is a popular spot for weddings and it's a small beach so visits are usually short. The beach itself is small with a great view of Molokini Crater. If you walk over to the right side while the tide is down, there are some great little tide pools to explore and you can see Big Beach from afar. You can also take a short path to the left, often passing fisherman on the rocks, to another short stretch of sand. The waves crashing up on the volcanic rocks here is mesmerizing, and yes, beautiful sunset shots abound! More of a sight-seeing beach, you won't find many people swimming or snorkeling. This is a great beach to go and relax with your beach chairs and just enjoy the waves and scenery.
La Perouse Bay
La Perouse Bay is at the end of Makena Rd and isn't a beach but a stretch of coastline bordering the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve. To get here you need to keep driving past Wailea and the big resorts and Big Beach staying on Wailea Alanui Rd and then Makena Alanui Rd. The road will narrow, get a bit bumpy with some dips, and you will see the most recent lava flow on Maui from about 1790. The scenery on the drive is stunning and rugged with Haleakala on your left, and the color of the ocean water against the black lava rock is worth seeing. There is a parking lot on the right hand side of the road and just past that is the end of the road with additional parking. If you get here early you will likely see pods of spinner dolphins swimming out in the bay. We have seen snorkelers race out to swim with the dolphins, and as tempting as that can be, it really isn't safe to do so and it is always best to leave the marine life to themselves.
This area is ideally for experienced snorkelers and getting in the water can be a challenge, winds pick up in the afternoon so morning is best. There is usually a local park ranger available to talk to, ask for advice about entering the water and what the conditions are like. You can take a walking path known as the King's Trail from the parking lot headed south and see some terrific scenery. This is a strenuous trail, about 5 miles round trip, so take lots of water and wear good shoes as there are loose lava rocks - this not a path for flip flops. Along the way you may see some wild goats and remnants of ancient Hawaiian civilizations.
La Perouse is the end of the road on south Maui, so you will go back the way you came to head back to Wailea or Kihei.
This area is ideally for experienced snorkelers and getting in the water can be a challenge, winds pick up in the afternoon so morning is best. There is usually a local park ranger available to talk to, ask for advice about entering the water and what the conditions are like. You can take a walking path known as the King's Trail from the parking lot headed south and see some terrific scenery. This is a strenuous trail, about 5 miles round trip, so take lots of water and wear good shoes as there are loose lava rocks - this not a path for flip flops. Along the way you may see some wild goats and remnants of ancient Hawaiian civilizations.
La Perouse is the end of the road on south Maui, so you will go back the way you came to head back to Wailea or Kihei.
Sugar Beach
One of the longest beaches on Maui, Sugar Beach is great for a jog or a long stroll. Since this beach is considered to be in Central Maui, it is often windy making it great for flying kites and doing some kite surfing. Not the best beach for swimming with the wind making the water choppy and cloudy. Whale watching can be great in the Winter months, and kayak clubs often set out from this beach. Watch for thorny Acacia trees along the treeline.
For parking, take Mokulele Hwy to north Kihei and turn right onto North Kihei Road. Then either turn left shortly onto South Kihei Road and look for roadside parking for the south end of the beach, or proceed on North Kihei Road past the condominiums and look for parking on the ocean side of the road for the northwest end of the beach.
For parking, take Mokulele Hwy to north Kihei and turn right onto North Kihei Road. Then either turn left shortly onto South Kihei Road and look for roadside parking for the south end of the beach, or proceed on North Kihei Road past the condominiums and look for parking on the ocean side of the road for the northwest end of the beach.