For a quiet 100yd stretch of sand, try this unmarked beach a short drive northeast from downtown, just beyond mile marker 7. Things liven up on weekends, when local families arrive with picnics, guitars, dogs and kids. There's a submerged lava shelf running parallel to the beach about 25ft from shore that's shallow enough for swimmers to scrape – it's easy to avoid if you look out for it. Parking at the shoreline access sign. No facilities.
Tavares Beach
North Shore & Upcountry
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Piʻilanihale Heiau & Kahanu Garden
23.18 MILES
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15.73 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…
19.61 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…
25.8 MILES
Wai'anapanapa means 'glistening waters', and the clear mineral waters in the cave pools here will leave you feeling squeaky clean. There's a natural lava…
17.08 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…
28.65 MILES
With its clear water, white sand and hala-tree backdrop, this famous crescent is a little gem; author James Michener once called it the only beach in the…
16.45 MILES
Got your camera? This beauty takes its name from the triple cascade that flows down a steep rock face on the inland side of the road, 0.5 miles past the…
20.57 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…
Nearby North Shore & Upcountry attractions
0.62 MILES
Marked by its roadside stupa, this Tibetan Buddhist center offers daily, weekly and monthly prayer and meditation sessions, retreats and dharma talks. Or…
1.37 MILES
Bodyboarders and bodysurfers take to the waves at this palm-lined county park about a mile west of Paʻia. The wide sandy beach is lovely for sunbathing…
3. Hoʻokipa Beach Park & Overlook
1.42 MILES
Hoʻokipa is to daredevil windsurfers what Everest is to climbers. It reigns supreme as the world’s premier windsurfing beach, with strong currents,…
2.49 MILES
Extending west from HA Baldwin Beach, this 2-mile stretch of sand is a good walking beach. Its nearshore reef makes it less than ideal for swimming, but…
4.57 MILES
Well, you can’t judge a beach by its cover. Wedged between downtown Kahului and the airport, and hidden behind a strip of ironwood trees, this mile-long…
6. Hui Noʻeau Visual Arts Center
4.93 MILES
Occupying the former estate of sugar magnates Harry and Ethel Baldwin, Hui Noʻeau is a regal setting for a community arts center. In 1917 famed architect…
5.36 MILES
This unique nonprofit is a self-described healing sanctuary offering a meditative moment on your trip. Your kids will love the rock-garden labyrinth walk…
5.72 MILES
You wouldn’t expect a wildlife sanctuary to be so close to the main road, but a short walk leaves the traffic behind. This shallow marsh is a haven for…