Must see attractions in West Maui

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…

Home to West Maui’s liveliest beach scene, this gorgeous stretch unfurls alongside Kaʻanapali’s resort hotels, linking the Hyatt Regency Maui with the…

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…

Beginner and intermediate surfers head to this beach park, a popular wayside 3 miles south of Lahaina. The park is an ideal spot for families; na keiki …

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…

This one-mile pathway between Kaʻanapali's fancy resorts and gobsmackingly beautiful beach offers a gentle stroll, with sunset and people-watching…

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.

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…

This cliffside perch overlooks Maʻalaea Bay, which is a favored nursing ground for humpback whales. Pull over in winter to watch their annual time here…

Also known as Slaughterhouse Beach, this cove is excellent for snorkeling, and is a top-rated bodysurfing spot during the summer. Its attractive white…

The deep golden sands and gentle curves of Napili Beach offer good beachcombing at any time and excellent swimming and snorkeling when it’s calm. Look for…

This idyllic golden-sand beach at Kaʻanapali’s less-frequented northern end is a good place to lose the look-at-me crowds strutting their stuff further…

The long, sandy Hanakaʻoʻo Beach Park, extending south from Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, has a sandy bottom and water conditions that are usually safe…

Stretching south from Kahekili Beach Park to the Sheraton Maui, this paved path is pleasant for a morning stroll, passing tropical trees, a cafe, a golf…

Home to the Thousand Peaks surf spot, toward Ukumehame's western end, this uncrowded break is a good option for long-boarders and beginner surfers wanting…

Manicured golf courses and ritzy enclaves drop away and the scenery gets wilder as you drive toward Maui’s northernmost point. Ironwood-lined Punalau…

Two miles north of Lahaina, Wahikuli Wayside Park occupies a narrow strip of beach, with three separate parking areas, flanked by the busy highway…

This shady beach park, 1.5 miles south of Lahaina, is rocky but sometimes has good conditions for beginner surfers – otherwise it’s mostly a quick stop…

Has an offshore left- and right-hand reef break called S-Turns that attracts intermediate surfers. Sometimes crowded. Keep an eye out for rocks, urchins…

Lahaina was a popular restocking stop for whaling ships traveling between Japan, the Arctic and New England during the Golden Age of whaling (1825–60)…