Beach sights in Maui
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Keawakapu Beach
There's a lot to like about Keawakapu Beach, which stretches from the southernmost part of Kihei to Wailea's Mokapu Beach. Not only is Keawakapu Beach less crowded than Kihei's roadside beaches but it offers a stellar view, and during winter humpback whales come quite close to shore.
With its cushiony soft sand, it's a favorite place for people doing sunrise yoga and wake-up strolls and it's also a good spot for a sunset swim. Mornings are the best time for snorkeling; head to the rocky outcrops that form the northern and southern ends of the beach.
There are three beach access points, all with outdoor showers. To get to the south end, go south on S Kihei Rd until it dead-…
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Big Beach
The Hawaiian name for Big Beach is Oneloa, literally 'Long Sand'. And indeed the golden sands stretch for the better part of a mile and are as broad as they come. The waters are a beautiful turquoise. When they're calm you'll find kids bodyboarding here, but at other times the breaks belong to experienced bodysurfers, who get tossed wildly in the transparent waves.
In the late 1960s this was the site of an alternative-lifestyle encampment that took on the nickname 'Hippie Beach.' The tent city lasted until 1972, when police finally evicted everyone. More than a few of Maui's now-graying residents can trace their roots on the island to those days. The turnoff to the main p…
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Ho'okipa Beach Park
Ho'okipa Beach Park reigns supreme as the world's premier windsurfing beach, with strong currents, dangerous shorebreaks and razor-sharp coral offering the ultimate challenge. Ho'okipa is to topnotch windsurfers what Everest is to mountain climbers.
The beach is also one of Maui's prime surfing spots. Winter sees the biggest waves for board surfers, and summer has the most consistent winds for windsurfers. To prevent intersport beefs, surfers typically hit the waves in the morning and the windsurfers take over during the afternoon.
The action in the water is suitable for experts only. But a hilltop perch overlooking the beach offers spectators a bird's-eye view of the worl…
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Kapalua Beach
The picture-perfect Kapalua Beach gets the seal of approval! Not only do tourists sun on the beach here, but endangered monk seals sometimes haul out to snooze the afternoon away on the soft white sand.
And what good taste they have. This crescent-shaped beach, with its clear view of Moloka'i across the channel, offers everything you need for a day at the beach. Long rocky outcrops at both ends of the bay make Kapalua Beach the safest year-round swimming spot on this coast. You'll find good snorkeling on the right side of the beach, with lots of large tangs, butterfly fish and orange slate-pencil sea urchins.
Take the drive immediately north of Napili Kai Beach Resort to g…
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Kaihalulu (Red Sand) Beach
A favored haunt of nude sunbathers, Kaihalulu (Red Sand) Beach on the south side of Ka'uiki Head owes its sand to the red cinder hill and its turquoise waters to Hana's pollution-free remoteness. The cove is partly protected by a lava outcrop, but the currents can be powerful when the surf is up. Water drains through a break on the left side, which should be avoided. Your best chance of finding calm waters is in the morning.
The path to the beach is at the end of Uakea Rd beyond the ballpark. It starts across the lawn at the lower side of the Hana Community Center, where a steep 10-minute trail continues down to the beach. En route you'll pass an overgrown Japanese cemete…
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Malu'aka Beach
Forget about calling it Malu'aka Beach - everyone just calls this 'Turtle Beach.' Snorkelers and kayakers flock here to see the sea turtles that frequent this golden-sand beach fronting the Maui Prince Hotel. You'll find fantastic coral about 100yd out. Sea turtles feed along the coral and often swim within just feet of the snorkelers. It's best at the south end of the beach, and that's where everyone else will be.
There are beach parking lots, rest rooms and showers at both ends of the beach. At the north side, there's the lot opposite Keawala'i Congregational Church. Or, after driving south past the Maui Prince Hotel, take the first sharp right, where there's additional…
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Little Beach
Little Beach, also known as Pu'u Ola'i Beach, is south Maui's au naturel beach (though nudity is officially illegal). Hidden by a rocky outcrop that juts out from Pu'u Ola'i, the cinder hill that marks the north end of Big Beach, most visitors don't even know Little Beach is there. But take the short trail up the rock that links the two beaches and bam, there it is, spread out in front of you. The crowd is mixed, about half gay and half straight.
Little Beach fronts a sandy cove that usually has a gentle shorebreak ideal for bodysurfing and bodyboarding. When the surf's up, you'll find plenty of local surfers here as well. When the water's calm, snorkeling is good along t…
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Wailea Beach
The largest and widest of Wailea's beaches, Wailea Beach is backed by both the Four Seasons and the Grand Wailea resorts, so it's no surprise that the bulk of Wailea's vacationers get their tans there. The beach slopes gradually, making it a good swimming spot.
When the water's calm, there's snorkeling around the rocky point on the south side of the beach. Divers entering the water at Wailea Beach can follow an offshore reef that runs down to Polo Beach. At times there's a gentle shorebreak suitable for bodysurfing. The beach access road runs between the Four Seasons and Grand Wailea resorts.
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HA Baldwin Beach Park
Bodyboarders and bodysurfers take to the waves at HA Baldwin Beach Park about a mile west of Pa'ia, at the 6-mile marker. The wide sandy beach drops off quickly and when the shorebreak is big unsuspecting swimmers can get slammed soundly. If you see lots of bodysurfers in the water, it's probably big! Showers, rest rooms, picnic tables, and a well-used baseball and soccer field round out the facilities.
The park has a reputation for drunken nastiness after the sun sets but it's typically fine in the daytime when there's a lifeguard on duty.
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Kalepolepo Beach Park
Children love to play in the calm, shallow waters at Kalepolepo Beach Park, which borders the south side of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary headquarters.
The swimming area is essentially a big pool, because the waters are encircled by the stone walls of Ko'ie'ie Fishpond. The most intact fishpond remaining on Maui, Ko'ie'ie was built in the 16th century to raise mullet for the ali'i (royalty). The 3-acre fishpond is on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Hamoa Beach
Hamoa Beach has lovely gray sands, and is used by Hotel Hana-Maui, but open to all. Author James Michener once called it the only beach in the North Pacific that actually looked as if it belonged in the South Pacific. When surf's up, surfers and bodyboarders flock to the waters, though beware of rip currents. When it's calm, swimming is good in the cove.
Public access is down the steps just north of the hotel's bus-stop sign. Facilities include showers and rest rooms.
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Kanaha Pond
Just beyond Hwy 37, near its junction with Hwy 36, Kanaha Pond provides a haven for rare Hawaiian birds, including the endangered black-necked stilt, a wading bird with long orange legs that feeds along the pond's marshy edges. Even though this graceful bird has a population of just 1500 in the entire state, you can count on spotting it here.
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