Maui beaches have long been rated as some of the best in the world. With so many diverse beaches, there is something for everyone – young and old, sunbathers to extreme sports enthusiasts. Here’s a listing of South Maui beaches. Enjoy exploring which of these great beaches is best for you…
Kalama Beach & Cove Park
This huge, 36-acre beach park has everything to offer visitors and local residents alike. Although the beach is very small here, the park provides excellent facilities for picnicking and family outings. The cove is extremely popular for longboard surfing and stand up paddling. Located on South Kihei Road, the Cove has a little beach perfect for learning to surf. Though not an ideal spot to enjoy a Maui beach, you'll find the surfing here is often a lot of fun. They also offer surf lessons here.
Kamaole Beach Park I, II & III
Kamaole III is the southernmost of the three Kamaole Beach Parks along South Kihei Road in Kihei. It's separated from Kama'ole II by a rocky area which has good snorkeling if the water is calm.
Of the three Kamaole Beach Parks, Kamaole III has the largest grassy field, near the south end of the park – it's large enough to play a good game of football. On the weekends this park is a very popular place for the locals to have birthday parties and other celebrations. If it's a child's birthday, there will almost certainly be a giant inflatable "jumpy castle" (or two or three) set up.
The Kama’ole Beaches are great family beaches with plenty of stores and restaurants close by.
Keawakapu Beach (Home of Mana Kai Maui)
Keawakapu Beach is a sparkling jewel set at the far southern end of South Kihei Road in South Maui. At 1/2 mile long, there's plenty of room for everyone and the beach is very popular with tourists and locals alike. Multi-million dollar houses line the shore, but they're unobtrusive and the number of people in them doesn't overwhelm the beach. The sand is very fine and soft and slopes gently into the water, producing a superior swimming experience. In the mornings you might find a glassy smooth ocean to swim in.
Mokapu and Ulua Beaches
These two beaches are accessed by the same path. The right path leads to Mokapu which fronts the old Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort while the left path leads to Ulua Beach. Ulua is the more popular of the two and was named one of the Top 10 Most Beautiful Beaches in America. This beach was named for an offshore island and bird sanctuary that was destroyed during WWII artillery practice. The beach is great for swimming with its sandy bottom. Snorkeling and diving in the area is fairly good although the water is sometimes cloudy. The area around the rocky point at the south end of Ulua is recommended.
Wailea Beach
With a paved path to walk past the Wailea resorts, this is a fun area to visit. Wailea Beach is adjacent to restaurants and shops with restrooms and equipment rentals. Though it can be crowded with tourists, Wailea Beach is a beautiful beach fronted by the Grand Wailea and The Four Seasons Resort.
Polo Beach
This is a lovely sand and rock beach with clear water for swimming and excellent snorkeling. While in the water, be careful of the slippery rocks. The beach is long and wide with sand dunes located inland. The beach is fronted by the Kea Lani Resort.
Poolenalena Beach
This beautiful, often deserted, half-mile sandy beach is paradise! The shoreline slopes gently into the ocean making it perfect for swimming. There are lava rocks at each end of the beach providing excellent snorkeling opportunities.
Palauea Beach
This beach is lesser known and less crowded than others. Snorkeling around the rocky point is excellent most of the time. Swimming is good with a very sandy bottom and gently sloping bottom.
Maluaka Bay and Beach
Next to the Maui Prince Hotel, Maluaka is one of Makena's gems. It is one of four beaches that surround Makena Bay. This beach is beautiful and has great snorkeling and swimming. Areas around here are often referred to as Turtle Town Maui. A shady, grassy area provides room for picnics, playing and relaxing.
Big Beach
When you think of a vast expanse of undeveloped beach, crystal clear water, and no crowds, you're dreaming of Big Beach. At 2/3 mile long, Big Beach has plenty of room for everyone, and is far from the hustle and bustle of normal life. In fact, it is even far from the hustle and bustle of vacationing! Easy to get to, undeveloped and wild, Big Beach is a must-see on Maui.
Big Beach (and the Makena area in general) has a curious weather pattern that produces a cloud over the beach most afternoons (some people call this the "Makena Cloud"). This is usually a blessing, since the beach can be very hot when the sun is beating down on you, but keep in mind that it might not be 100% clear skies all the time here, even if it is clear at Mana Kai Maui.
Big Beach often has larger surf than the surrounding beaches, and the waves break right at the shore in what is known as a "shore break". Shore breaks make for terrible body boarding-- the wave carries you in and then just collapses, dropping you from six feet in the air straight down onto the sand. You'll see some locals body boarding and skim boarding, but unless you know what you're doing, you'd be better off trying it elsewhere.
Ahihi Kinau Beach
Ahihi Cove is the first beach located inside the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve. It is a protected area and it is illegal to spear or capture fish in the reserve. There is no sand beach here, but the cove is protected from wind and surf and the snorkeling is usually terrific. This area is the site of the last lava flow on Maui in 1790. The lava covered everything as it poured down from Haleakala creating a surreal moonscape.
This is snorkeling at its best! You will feel comfortable entering the water anywhere along this reserve. Ahihi Bay itself is a great place to get used to your gear if you are new or rusty at snorkeling. After you get comfortable in the water, head out of the bay for some of the best snorkeling on the island.
LaPerouse Beach Sanctuary
Located in the Ahihi Kinau Natural Area Reserve, LaPerouse bay is a protected area. The entrance to the water is very rocky but the snorkeling can be excellent during calm seas. This area is covered in rough lava from the last eruption of Haleakala in 1790. Several trails inland traverse the area. King's Highway, an ancient Hawaiian footpath, continues toward Cape Hanamanioa from the bay. This is an excellent place to snorkel if it isn't too windy. There is a pod of dolphins that frequents the area – usually in the early morning hours. If you are lucky, they will swim with you!
