Sunsets are a communal affair in South Maui – just look at the throngs crowding the beach wall at Kamaʻole Beach Park II in the late afternoon. It’s a scene repeated up and down the coast here every day.
With miles of strip malls, condo complexes and upscale resorts, Kihei and Wailea look too commercial and overbuilt at first glance. But dig deeper. You’ll find a mixed plate of scenery and adventure, stretching from Kihei to Makena and beyond, that’s truly unique. You can snorkel reefs teeming with turtles, kayak to remote bays or sail in an outrigger canoe. The coral gardens are so rich you can dive from the shore. And the beaches? Undeniably glorious, whether you’re looking to relax beneath a resort cabana or to discover your own pocket of sand. Add reliably sunny weather, quiet coastal trails and a diverse dining scene and South Maui’s a pretty irresistible place to land.
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Kihei & South Maui.
Beach
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 from the main road and less visible than Kihei’s main roadside beaches just north. It’s also less crowded, and is a great place to settle in and watch the sunset.
Beach
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 activities. The beach slopes gradually, making it a good swimming spot. When it’s calm, there’s decent snorkeling around the rocky point on the southern end. Most afternoons there’s a gentle shorebreak suitable for bodysurfing. Divers entering the water at Wailea Beach can follow an offshore reef that runs down to Polo Beach.
Beach
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 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 boogie boarding here, but at other times the shorebreaks can be dangerous and suitable only for experienced bodysurfers, who get tossed wildly in the transparent waves.
State Park
Makena State Park should be high on every traveler’s itinerary. Its crowning glory, Big Beach, is the scene that people conjure up when they dream of a Hawaiian beach – beautiful and expansive, with virtually no development on the horizon. Although it's a state park, Makena remains pretty much as nature intended, with no facilities except for lifeguard stations and a couple of pit toilets and picnic tables.
Nature Reserve
Although scientists haven’t been able to pinpoint the exact date, Maui’s last lava flow probably spilled down to the sea here between 1480 and 1600 CE, shaping ʻAhihi Bay and Cape Kinaʻu. Today, the jagged lava coastline and the pristine waters fringing it have been recognized as a unique marine habitat and designated a reserve. Thanks in part to the prohibition on fishing here, the snorkeling is incredible but getting overcrowded. Consider coming for just the scenic drive. Obey all regulations and respect the fragile surroundings.
Beach
Snorkelers should head straight for Ulua, to the south of the point. The coral at the rocky outcrop on the right side of the beach offers Wailea’s best easy-access snorkeling.
Bay
Want to kayak along the coast? Then drop into this pretty bay. There’s no better place on Maui for kayaking – as you might surmise from the collection of kayak-tour vans parked here every morning. When seas are calm, snorkeling is good along the rocks at the southern 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 should head to the north side of the bay.
Beach
Dubbed ‘Turtle Beach,’ this golden swath of sand behind the closed Makena Beach & Golf Resort is popular with snorkelers and kayakers hoping to glimpse the surprisingly graceful sea turtles, which feed along the coral and often swim within a few feet of snorkelers. Terrific coral is about 100yd out, and the best action is at the southern end of the beach. Come on a calm day – this one kicks up with a little wind, and when it’s choppy you won’t see anything.
Beach
Covered in a blanket of golden sand, Kamaʻole Beach Park III has full facilities and lifeguards, plus a playground and parking lot. Great spot for a beach day. The shaded picnic tables start filling up early on weekends. Also has accessibility parking, pathways and beach access for visitors with disabilities.