The Beaches Of Maui

Don't forget to check out the map page to find some of these beaches.

The next beach north of Napili Point is Napili Bay which has good swimming and boogie boarding and a long sandy beach. The photo on the right shows the beach, which is about 150 yards along an ocean path from B-22. Getting in and out of the water is easy because the sandy beach has a gentle slope.

Another nearby spot is Kapalua Bay which has been voted the best beach in the world. The snorkeling at Kapalua is great when the water's calm and the beach is always lovely. The parking is limited but if you come early or at noon, you can usually find a space.

These signs are set up near all water entrance spots. Remember that ocean conditions can change rapidly. Don't swim farther than you can swim back. And never turn your back on a wave.

Driving past Kapalua, there's a twisty road on which you'll meet lots of trucks full of freshly harvested pineapple. About 5 miles up is the Honoloa Marine Preserve. If the surf's up, park on the road and watch the boards fly by. If it's calm, there's great snorkeling off the beach. There are two ways down. The first has a long, very steep set of stairs; the second (a little farther up the road) is over an unmaintained and fairly level dirt roadway. Park on the side of the road. It's best not to leave anything valuable in your car and leave it unlocked. You'll avoid breakins and won't lose anything.

There are still some secluded beaches on Maui, if you look carefully. The one in the photo on the left is down past Makena. There are others scattered along the coast.

South of Napili, there's a stretch of beach at Olawalu, aka 'Mile Marker 14'. People park there all the time, so it's easy to spot. There's good snorkeling if you get out a ways but watch out for the thorny branches of the Kiawe trees that line the beach, and there have been some shark spottings nearby recently, so keep an eye out.

The Big Beach at Makena is also fun--long and sandy, though sometimes quite crowded. It's easy to get in and out of the water there and there aren't any rocks near shore. Makena's Little Beach is over a pali or rock outcropping from the Big Beach and is traditionally clothing optional.

If you can, take a snorkel/sail in a catamaran. The fish and turtles won't be better than the ones in Honokeana Cove, but it's fun to get out on the ocean. And it's nice to tumble off a boat with fins, rather than having to back up into the ocean! (Backing up in fins is much easier than walking forward.)

The Beaches Down Wailea Way

South of Wailea are some stunning lava beaches such as the one on the right. Although getting into the water and sunbathing are tricky, the snorkeling is superb. An added bonus is that these beaches are less crowded.

This is a lava jetty at Makena, which is just past Wailea.