Showing 1-13 of 13 results
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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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.
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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.
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Makaluapuna Point
Makaluapuna Point, the northwest point of Oneloa Bay, is topped by a curious formation known as the Dragon's Teeth. The lava rock here has been cut by whipping surf into 3ft-high spikes that bear an uncanny resemblance to pointed teeth. It's a fun site to walk to and only takes about 15 minutes return.
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Makena Landing
This is a kickin' bay for water activities. There's no better place on Maui for kayaking and when seas are calm snorkeling is good along the rocks at the south side of Makena Landing, the boat launch that's the center of the action. Makena Bay is also a good place for shore dives; divers will want to head to the north side of the bay.
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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.
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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.
Showing 1-13 of 13 results
