Once you step onto any of our Maui beaches, you will know the true meaning of paradise. While the scent of a plumeria lei is intoxicating and the trade winds are delightful, it may be these exotic stretches of sand that will steal your heart away. When you are planning your list of things to do on Maui, this helpful guide will take you to some of the best Maui beaches we know.
West Maui – Kaanapali Beach Area.
Maui Kai and our oceanfront Maui vacation rentals are here and make a perfect base for exploring this part of the island. The majestic West Maui mountains, older than Haleakala, rise in the distance. This leeward side of the island is arid with gorgeous beaches and mostly dry heat.
Kaanapali has a long, white sand beach where you can swim year-round. Gorgeous Black Rock is here which makes for a picture-perfect location to watch dazzling Maui sunsets and snorkel. Kaanapali also features a popular beach walk that fronts various restaurants, resorts and the popular Whalers Village.
Other standouts for swimming include Kapalua Beach with its beautiful white sand and calm waters. Crescent shaped Napili Bay curves between two rocky points. Secluded Oneloa Beach has good body-boarding and D.T. Fleming Beach Park is great for surfing.
East Shore and Road to Hana.
Though the waves are usually better for surfing than swimming, the beaches on this side of Maui are too beautiful to miss. On the road to Hana you will find places like Waianapanapa State Park. This is a gorgeous black sand beach complete with blowholes, amazing waves and incredible sand.
For a postcard perfect beach try Hamoa Beach which is often ranked one of the best beaches in the USA and a favorite of Ernest Hemmingway. Hamoa, with its salt and pepper sand is unlike anything you will ever see.
If you are up for some adventure, along this highway you can also find a hidden Red Sand Beach called Kaihalulu. This secluded cove is situated on the makai (ocean) side of Ka’uiki Head, a large cinder cone bordering the town of Hana.
South Maui includes Kihei and Wailea.
On the southwest side of the island look for Makena State Park. Here you can relax at Big Beach on the spacious white sand, or if tan lines aren’t your thing check out Little Beach. There is even a black sand beach here and a gorgeous reef to snorkel with Hawaiian turtles.
Wailea includes five main beaches of soft sand bordered with outcroppings of volcanic rock. These include Keawakapu which is a fine place to swim and snorkel. Mokapu and Ulua have a rocky point between them with good snorkeling too. Wailea beach is the widest and a boardwalk leads from Wailea to Polo Beach.
Kihei has the famous Kamaloe Beach Parks (I, II and III) with their beautiful golden sand. Charley Young Beach is above Kam I and is perfect for evening sunsets. Kalama Park has a popular location for skaters and features tennis courts and sports fields.
North Shore Maui around Pa’ia.
H.A. Baldwin is the most popular beach on the windward side of the island. Its major attraction is the surf that breaks along the entire length of the park’s long, wide white sand beach. On the opposite side of Paia is Ho’okipa Beach with its world famous windsurfing. In winter the entire bay is rocked with swells. Beginners flock here in summer when the waves are relatively small.
To learn about all that Maui has to offer and find a great place to book your vacation, call 800-367-5635 or complete the contact form.
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