South Maui Beaches

Including beach description, map, and facilities
24 Maui Beaches in the Kihie, Makena, Wailea area

Big Beach
Makena, Maui

Considered by many as THE beach on Maui.  Beautiful wide crescent of gold sand.  Ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and sometimes boogie boarding.

● Portable toilets
● Picnic tables
● Food stands in parking lot and on road

Chang’s Beach
Makena, Maui

Little cove with fantastic snorkeling, sandy beach.  With some surf, boogie boarding can be very good.

● No lifeguard
● No restrooms
● Showers and picnic tables

Charlie Young
Kihei, Maui

Part of Charlie Young Park and Kama’ole I.  Long stretch of sand with very good snorkeling.

● No lifeguard
● No restroom
● Outdoor shower
● Park Weblink

Cove Park
Kihei, Maui

Not a good swimming area.  Water is murky and full of seaweed.

● Boat ramp
● Portable toilet
● 2 picnic tables
● Park Weblink

Kalama Park
Kihei, Maui

Spacious and diverse park complex suitable for organized sporting events, outdoor concerts, fairs, festivals and gatherings of all kinds.

● Beach access and extensive sports and recreation
● Baseball/Softball fields
● Basketball/ Tennis courts
● Skate park
● 2 Covered Picnic Pavilions with 110v outlets
● Park Weblink

Kalepolepo Park
Kihei, Maui

Lots of shady trees and stays pretty quiet, making it a good getaway from the crowd and sun. Small sprinkling of sand, murky water not good for swimming.

● 4 Picnic  tables and 3 grills
● 9 Parking spaces
● Portable toilet
● Park Weblink

Kamaole I
Kihei, Maui
(North end also known as Charlie Young Beach)

A long and pretty stretch of fine sand.  The best of the 3 Kamaole Beaches.

● Good swimming most of the time
● Restrooms with showers
● Lifeguard
● Easy access
● Park Weblink

Kamaole II
Kihei, Maui

Good beach, but not as nice as Kama’ole I.  Good snorkeling around the rocky points at each end.

● Lifeguard
● Picnic area
● Outdoor shower
● Park Weblink

Kamaole III
Kihei, Maui

Most popular with the locals.  Great boogie boarding.

● Huge lawn/picnic area
● Large parking area
● Portable toilets
● Outdoor shower
● Park Weblink

Keawakapu Beach
Kihei, Maui

Beautiful beach with lots of sand on shore and in the water for great swimming. Few tourists visit this beach as large homes front the beach area. Located on Maui's driest coast, so you are almost guaranteed a sunny day here.

● No lifeguard
● Fair snorkeling
● Occasional high surf
● Click for video

Kihei Beach Reserve
Kihei, Maui
(Waipuilani Park)

● No lifeguard
● 6 Tennis courts
● 1 Volleyball court
● Restroom pavilion
● Park Weblink

Little Beach
Makena, Maui

Clothing optional beach.  Public nudity is illegal in Hawaii, although very little enforcement of anti-nudity laws is done at Little Beach. Hike over a steep lava outcropping at the north end of Big Beach to get here. Relaxed atmosphere, great swimming, snorkeling, boogie boarding and body surfing. Fire dancing and drum circle on Sundays, late afternoon to sunset.   If nudity bothers you, pass this one by.

● Food stands near by in Big Beach parking lot
● Wear shoes you can climb in and don’t carry too    much
● No facilities
● Portable toilets near parking lot for Big Beach

Mai Poina Park
Kihei, Maui

Murky water, not good for swimming.

● No lifeguard
● Good windsurfing access
● 1 Picnic pavilion with 3 grills and 1 uncovered table
● Park Weblink

Makena Landing Beach Park
Makena, Maui

Poor snorkeling. Usually calm entry, good for launching kayaks and intro or night scuba dives.  Visibility best on north side.

● No lifeguard
● No facilities

Maluaka Beach
Makena, Maui

Great beach.  Wide, pretty, gently sloping, excellent swimming and snorkeling.  Shade at south end.

● Restrooms
● Showers
● Picnic tables

Mokapu and Ulua Beach
Kihei, Maui

These 2 beaches share the same parking lot just south of the old Renaissance Hotel.  Mokapu is more picturesque, less used, and has slightly clearer water.  51 parking spots fill up early.

● Restrooms
● Outdoor shower

Oneuli Beach
Makena, Maui

Beautiful “salt and pepper” sand beach.  Lesser known, swimming marginal.  Snorkeling can be great, turtles very common on left side near hill.  Beware of currents if snorkeling.

● No facilities
● Wear flip flops or reef shoes, sand is rough

Paako Beach/Secret Cove
Makena, Maui

Located just south of Big Beach. Morning views of Molikini and Kaho’olawe outstanding.  Popular place for weddings due to scenic blue sky, rugged lava rocks and sandy beach.  Many photo opportunities.

● No lifeguard
● No facilities
● Some shady areas

Palauea Beach
Makena, Maui
(Also called White Rock)

Lesser known beach, not crowded during the week.  Very good snorkeling around the rocky point on the left.  Excellent swimming, not as windy as other beaches.

● No facilities
● Easy access

Polo Beach
Wailea, Maui

Named "America's Best Beach" in 1999.  Water is usually clear.

● Easy access
● Picnic tables
● Restrooms, shower
● Picnic tables and grills

Poolenalena Park
Kihei, Maui

A real gem.  Least known and least used beach in the Wailua/Makena area. Usually lots of turtles at the left and right sides.

● Great swimming
● Great snorkeling
● Easy access
● Good boogie boarding
● Park Weblink

Sugar Beach
Kihei, Maui

Gets its name from the sugary consistency of its fine, white sand. Popular location for walking the beach.

● Good swimming
● Good snorkeling

Wailea Beach
Wailea, Maui

Has been ranked as the best beach in America.  Clear water, fine-grained sand, picturesque setting, calm water, great swimming.

● Showers and restrooms
● Parking limited, get there early

5 Graves / 5 Caves
Makena, Maui

Good scuba site, fairly good snorkeling.  Turtles are common, several caves.

● No facilities