Manicured golf courses and ritzy enclaves drop away and the scenery gets wilder as you drive toward Maui’s northernmost point. Ironwood-lined Punalau Beach, 0.7 miles after the 34-mile marker on Honoapiʻilani Hwy, makes a worthy stop if you’re up for a solitary stroll. Swimming is a no-go though, as a rocky shelf creates unfavorable conditions for water activities. Don't attempt the drive down the rough dirt beach road unless you've got 4WD and know what you're doing. Park by the highway.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
24.79 MILES
From break of day to twilight, this sparkling stretch of sand is a showstopper. Extending from south Kihei to Wailea’s Mokapu Beach, Keawakapu is set back…
3.05 MILES
For a long day on the beach, it’s hard to beat this crescent-shaped strip at the southwestern tip of Kapalua. Snorkel in the morning, grab lunch at the…
26.2 MILES
Sunbathe like a celebrity at this sparkling strand, which fronts the swish Grand Wailea and ever-posh Four Seasons resorts and offers a full menu of water…
29.32 MILES
The crowning glory of Makena State Park, this untouched beach is arguably the finest on Maui. In Hawaiian it’s called Oneloa, literally ‘Long Sand.’ And…
26.66 MILES
This spot offers a scenic overview of the Kalaupapa Peninsula, formerly an isolation zone for sufferers of Hansen's disease (leprosy), from the edge of a…
11.03 MILES
If you’ve seen just one photograph of Maui's lush interior, odds are it was of the magnificently phallic 2250ft ʻIao Needle, the green pinnacle that…
8.5 MILES
Home to West Maui’s liveliest beach scene, this gorgeous stretch unfurls alongside Kaʻanapali’s resort hotels, linking the Hyatt Regency Maui with the…
26.06 MILES
The island's main beach is kept looking beautiful, with manicured lawns and clean restrooms, thanks to Pulama Lana‘i‘s legion of groundskeepers…
Nearby West Maui attractions
1.01 MILES
Honolua Bay is an advanced surfer’s dream. It faces northwest and when it catches the winter swells it has some of the gnarliest surfing in the world.
1.3 MILES
Also known as Slaughterhouse Beach, this cove is excellent for snorkeling, and is a top-rated bodysurfing spot during the summer. Its attractive white…
2.01 MILES
Surrounded by ironwood trees and backed by an old one-room schoolhouse, this sandy crescent looks like an outpost from another era. In keeping with its…
2.18 MILES
Razor-sharp spikes crown rocky Makaluapuna Point, known informally by the nickname Dragon’s Teeth. The formation does look uncannily like the mouth of an…
2.18 MILES
This site is of cultural significance to Native Hawaiians and is off-limits to the general public.There are an estimated 2000 Hawaiians laid to rest here,…
6. Nakalele Point Light Station
2.33 MILES
Dating back to 1908, the light station started out as wooden structure with a temporary light on top, then became a watch shelter. It wasn't until 1922…
2.41 MILES
The best things in life are free – that certainly applies to West Maui's magical blowhole, which spurts water up to 100 feet in the air, like a geyser. If…
2.45 MILES
Also known as Ironwoods Beach, this white-sand jewel is fringed by low sand dunes covered in beach morning glory. It's a picturesque place to soak up the…