Maui beaches
The island of Maui has a coastline of about 120 miles (193 km). Maui beaches come in all forms and colors – there are gorgeous white sand beaches, black sand beaches and even red sand beaches offering great swimming, snorkeling, surfing, scuba diving, windsurfing and kayaking opportunities.
Kaanapali Beach, Napili Bay and Wailea Beach are some of the most popular among visitors, while Hookipa Beach is known as one of the world’s windsurfing meccas. Then there is Jaws (Peahi), one of the most popular big wave surfing spots, located on Maui’s north shore, where waves frequently reach monstrous heights up to 70 feet (21 m) in the winter months.
Maui beach list
| AHIHI
COVE |
| Ahihi Cove is one of the best snorkel spots
on Maui. The cove is home to an abundance of marine
life, which probably has to do with the area being
protected within the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve.
There is hardly any sand at Ahihi Cove because this
is the region where the last lava flowed on Maui
in 1790.
Read More |
| BIG
BEACH (MAKENA BEACH) |
| As its name implies, Big Beach, located on Maui’s
south shore, really has plenty of sand for everyone.
At almost two-thirds of a mile (1 km) long and more
than 100 yards (90 m) wide, it’s one of the most
popular beaches on the island. Its official name
is Makena Beach, but the name Big Beach describes
this beach better.
Read More |
| BLACK
ROCK BEACH |
| Black Rock Beach is located on Maui’s west shore
and divides Kaanapali Beach in half. It’s named
after the large black rock that sits in the nearshore
waters on the beach. The area around the black rock
is a popular snorkel spot. Many corals grow on and
around it and there are many colorful tropical fish.
Sometimes you can even spot turtles here.
Read More |
| CHANG'S
BEACH |
| Chang’s Beach is a popular bodyboarding beach,
especially among locals who come here during times
of high surf. When the ocean is calm, snorkeling
is good here as well. The small cove has a marvelous
offshore reef and you’ll be amazed how many fish
you can observe here.
Read More |
| CHARLEY
YOUNG BEACH |
 Located
on Maui’s southeastern shore in the center of Kihei,
Charley Young Beach is a great spot for family picnics.
The three-acre park is big enough for all kinds
of ball games. It’s also sheltered from the wind
so you can have a picnic without having everything
blown away.
Read More |
| COVE
PARK |
 This
romantic cove, located on Maui’s west coast, has
a rocky and sandy beach and is a beautiful spot
to just hang out, read a book and enjoy the surroundings.
Snorkeling is best in the early mornings because
that’s when the ocean is the clearest. Cove Park
is also a popular surfing beach and surf lessons
are given here.
Read More |
| D.T.
FLEMING BEACH PARK |
| This is a popular beach park, located in Honokahua
Bay on Maui’s northwestern coast. D.T. Fleming Beach
Park offers plenty of space among lush surroundings.
It is situated on low land dunes and has a long
and wide white sand beach. Swimming, snorkeling,
bodyboarding and surfing are all possible here.
Read More |
| H.A.
BALDWIN BEACH PARK |
| H.A. Baldwin Beach is a picturesque community
beach park with plenty of space. In fact, it is
one of the most popular beach parks on the windward
side of Maui. The beach and the picnic areas are
always crowded. H.A. Baldwin Beach Park's main attraction
is the surf that breaks along the entire length
of the park's long, sandy beach.
Read More |
| HAMOA
BEACH |
 Hamoa
Beach, located south of the quaint little town of
Hana, has already made an impression on popular
author James Michener, who called it the most beautiful
in the Pacific. And quite true. Thirty-foot-high
sea cliffs surround the 1,000-foot-long and 100-foot
wide white sand beach.
Read More |
| HANA
BAY |
| This impressive black sand beach was created
thanks to years of lava erosion and is now a safe
and fun swimming haven. The bay is protected by
a coral reef and harbored from the harsh swells
by its circular shape. It’s the safest swimming
beach on East Maui.
Read More |
| HONOLUA
BAY |
| The beach at Honolua Bay is quite small and
primarily made up of boulders with a few
scattered patches of sand, so surfing,
snorkeling and scuba diving are the main
activities here. The bay is a favorite spot
among experienced surfers. During the winter
months, the waves here are powerful.
Read More |
| HONOMANU
BAY AND DARK SAND BEACH |
 Honomanu
is a picturesque bay with black sand and rocks
that contrast sharply with the blue ocean and
the lush vegetation. The bay is mainly
frequented by experienced surfers and fishermen
because the beach itself is rocky and the surf
offshore dangerous, breaking over numerous
submerged boulders.
Read More |
| HOOKIPA
BEACH PARK |
| Hookipa Beach Park is one of the beach beaches
in the world for windsurfing. Two world-class competitions
take place here each year. At this popular cliff-lined
beach, surfers come from all corners of the earth
to ride the unique break. Spectators can watch surfers
and windsurfers from an elevated overlook point.
Read More |
| KAANAPALI
BEACH |
 Kaanapali
Beach is one of Maui’s most popular beaches. It
is three miles long and divided into two sections
by Black Rock, where the snorkeling conditions are
terrific. Once an ancient playground for Hawaii’s
kings, this beautiful white sand beach and the soothing
surf that accompanies it offer unparalleled views.
Read More |
| KAHANA BEACH |
| Protected by an offshore reef, Kahana is a small beach popular with sunbathers working on a golden tan. The bay is fronted by the Kahana Beach Resort. The swimming and snorkeling conditions are good, but watch out for some small rocks in the shorebreak. Read More |
| KALAMA
BEACH PARK |
 Kalama
Beach Park on Maui’s south shore doesn’t have a
large beach, but the 36-acre beach park has
everything else to keep the whole family active
and entertained. There's a basketball and tennis
court, an inline skating rink, a 20,000-foot
skateboard park, a baseball and soccer field and
a playground for children.
Read
More |
| KAMAOLE
BEACH PARK |
 Kamaole
Beach is divided into three sections, Kamaole I,
II and III. Kamaole I Beach has the largest beach
of the three. Kamaole II, located a little further
south, has a smaller white sand beach while Kamaole
III has a nice big grassy area, ideal for picnics.
All three beaches offer good swimming conditions.
Read
More |
| KAPALUA
BAY |
 Kapalua
Bay on Maui’s northwestern shore is one of the
most picturesque white-sand beaches on the
island. Swimming is good here because a coral
reef protects the beach from strong currents,
making it an ideal beach for novice swimmers and
children.
Read
More |
| KEAWAKAPU
BEACH |
 Keawakapu
Beach, located near Wailea on Maui’s south coast,
is a beautiful white sand beach. Some of the island’s
most expensive homes are located on this stretch
of sand. Divers frequent this beach for a reason
that may sound strange at first. There is an underwater
junkyard consisting of about 150 cars, forming a
man-made offshore reef.
Read
More |
| KOKI
BEACH |
 Located
south of Hana on Maui’s east coast, Koki Beach is
known for its unique red sand and rocky shoreline.
There is a large red cinder hill, named Ka Iwi o
Pele. Although the beach is not good for casual
swimming, Koki encourages and challenges good surfers
to test out its waves. The shorebreak that’s often
times present also provides good conditions for
bodyboarders.
Read More |
| LA
PEROUSE BAY |
| La Perouse Bay features several small coves
that lie between rocky points. Some of the coves
have small, white sand beaches, but most of them
have coral-rubble beaches. Bring your camera. The
stark, barren lava rocks, the bright blue ocean,
the coral beaches and the waves crashing against
the cliffs provide the perfect scenery for some
great shots.
Read
More |
| LITTLE
BEACH |
| Little Beach is the only clothing optional beach
on Maui. It’s located right next to Big Beach in
Makena. So if you ever thought about trying nude
sunbathing, this is the place to go. It is also
known as Puu Olai Beach, named after the lava outcropping
over which you’ll have to hike to get to the beach.
Read
More |
| MAKENA
LANDING BEACH PARK |
| Makena Landing Beach Park is located in Makena,
a small town of which many people say it is Maui
untamed. There are some really nice beaches in this
area. The shoreline at Makena Landing is mostly
rocky with little sand. South of the landing are
two small pockets of white sand, which are popular
picnicking spots.
Read
More |
| MALUAKA
BEACH |
| Maluaka Beach is located right in front of the Westin
Maui Prince Resort on the islands south shore. It’s a
small but wide crescent-shaped white-sand beach that
offers good swimming condition. The nearshore ocean
bottom is sandy and slopes gently to the deeper
and rockier offshore waters.
Read
More |
| NAMALU
BAY |
 Namalu Bay is located just north of Kapalua
Bay on Maui’s northwestern shore. There is no
sandy beach, only a rocky shoreline which is popular among young cliff jumpers who jump from
the cliffs into the crystal clear waters below.
There’s a ladder from where one can climb up
again.
Read
More |
| NAPILI
BAY BEACH |
 Napili
Bay Beach, located on the northwestern coast of
Maui, is known for its fine white sand. It lies
between two rocky points and is an excellent
beach for swimming and other water activities.
There are many hotels and vacation rentals on
Napili Bay, so it’s a rather busy beach with
lots of sunbathers.
Read More |
| NIHIKU
COVE |
| Truly off the beaten path! Nihiku Cove is a
remote and secluded bay off of Hana Highway. It
is surrounded by green vegetation. It’s not much
of a swimming beach, but a great place to get
away from the crowds and just enjoy a calm
moment in paradise.
Read More |
| ONELOA BEACH |
| A small, secluded spot which is never crowded, Oneloa (also known as Ironwood Beach) is popular among locals who come to this white-sand beach for sunbathing and bodyboarding. Located near the Kapalua Resort on the northwest side Maui, this quiet stretch of shoreline is surrounded by private villas and condos. Read More |
| PAAKO
BEACH (SECRET COVE) |
| Paako Beach is located on Maui’s southern coast, just
south of Makena “Big Beach.” Even though this beach is
also known as Secret Cove, it’s actually not so secret.
It’s a popular spot for weddings. The beach probably got
this name because it’s hidden between homes in Makena.
Read More |
| POLO
BEACH |
| Polo Beach on Maui is the first of five beaches in the Wailea area, a large resort complex that encompasses two miles of shoreline. The white-sand beach is long and wide and is backed by low sand dunes.When the water is calm, the snorkeling conditions are good around this area.
Read More |
| POOLENALENA
BEACH |
| Poolenalena Beach, located in South Maui just north of Makena, is a half-mile long sandy beach with great swimming conditions. The ocean bottom is mostly sandy and has a gentle slope. There are some large rocks exposed at a few places along the shoreline. Sand dunes and kiawe trees are located inland.
Read
More |
| RED
SAND BEACH (KAIHALULU BEACH) |
| Kaihalulu Beach, or better known as Red Sand
Beach, located just south of Maui’s Hana Bay, has
uniquely-colored red-black sand, a product of the
cinder cone hill that surrounds the cove. The blue
ocean, the red sand, the green trees and the black
lava sea wall make for a very unique sight. Bring
your camera!
Read More |
| SLAUGHTERHOUSE
BEACH (MOKULEIA BEACH) |
| This beach has a name that truly doesn’t
sound appealing, but don’t judge it by this
name, which it got from a slaughterhouse that
used to be near the beach. Slaughterhouse Beach
is a beautiful, secluded beach featuring a large
pocket of white sand backed by sea cliffs.
Read More |
| SUGAR BEACH |
| Said to be the longest beach on Maui, Sugar Beach - also known as Kealia Beach - is considered one of Maui’s most magnificent stretches of oceanfront. At 5 miles (8 km) long, it’s perfect for a long beach stroll. Read More |
| ULUA
BEACH |
 Ulua Beach is the third of five beaches in the Wailea resort complex development on Maui’s south shore. It’s the most popular of the five Wailea beaches.During calm days, the snorkeling here is excellent. The water is very clear and there are many colorful corals and fish.
Read
More |
| WAIANAPANAPA
BLACK SAND BEACH |
 Waianapanapa
State Park lives up to its Hawaiian name meaning
“glistening water.” Right off Hana Highway, Waianapanapa
is situated in the midst of the vast and beautiful
120-acre Waianapanapa State Park. This beautiful
black sand beach is a Maui must-see and the perfect
spot for an unparalleled photo opportunity.
Read More |
| WAILEA
BEACH |
 Wailea Beach on Maui’s south shore is a long and wide white-sand beach. Wailea is a good beach for swimming. The nearshore ocean bottom drops off gently to the deeper waters offshore. The small shorebreak attracts beginning bodyboarders.
Read
More |
| WAIPUILANI
PARK |
| Waipuilani Park is a nice, large beachfront
park with lawns and shady areas, ideal for a picnic.
The swimming conditions are only fair on this beach
because it has some rocks. But it’s a good area
to windsurf. Often times local community activities
take place at Waipuilani Park, such as the Croquet
Club.
Read
More |
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