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. Generally speaking, the beaches on Maui's south and west shore are best for swimming and snorkeling.
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.
Beach sand in Hawaii comes in all kinds of shapes and colors. Read more about Hawaiian beach sand composition.
Ahihi Cove
Ahihi Cove is one of the best snorkeling spots on Maui. It 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. Read More
Big Beach (Makena Beach)
As its name implies, Big Beach 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 Maui. Read More
Black Rock Beach
Black Rock divides Kaanapali Beach in half. The large black rock sits in the nearshore waters on the beach. The area around the rock is a popular snorkeling spot. Many corals grow on and around it. Read More
Chang's Beach
Chang's Beach is a popular bodyboarding location when the surf is up. When the ocean is calm, snorkeling is good here as well. The small cove has a marvelous offshore reef. Read More
Charley Young Beach
This is a great spot for family picnics. The three-acre park is big enough for all kinds of ball games. It is also sheltered from the wind so you can have a picnic without having everything blown away. Read More
Cove Park
Cove Park has a small sandy beach and is a nice 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. Read More
D.T. Fleming Beach Park
This is a popular beach park that offers plenty of space. It is situated on low land dunes and has a long white-sand beach with good swimming, snorkeling, surfing and bodyboarding conditions. Read More
H.A. Baldwin Beach Park
H.A. Baldwin Beach is a picturesque community beach park. The main attraction here is the surf that breaks along the entire length of the park's long, sandy beach. Read More
Hamoa Beach
Hamoa Beach has already made an impression on popular author James Michener, who called it the most beautiful in the Pacific. Thirty-foot-high sea cliffs surround the picturesque beach. Read More
Hana Bay
This impressive black-sand beach was created thanks to years of lava erosion. It is protected by a coral reef, which buffers harsh swells. Outrigger canoe races frequently take place here. 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. Read More
Honomanu Bay and Dark Sand Beach
This picturesque bay has black sand and rocks that contrast sharply with the blue ocean and lush vegetation. It is mainly visited by surfers and fishermen because the beach itself is rocky. Read More
Hookipa Beach Park
Hookipa is one of the best beaches in the world for windsurfing. Two world-class competitions take place here each year. Surfers come from all corners of the earth to ride the unique break. Read More
Kaanapali Beach
Kaanapali Beach is one of Maui’s most popular beaches. It is three miles (4.8 km) long and divided into two sections by Black Rock, where the snorkeling conditions are terrific.Read More
Kahana Beach
Protected by an offshore reef, Kahana Beach is located in front of the Kahana Beach Resort. The swimming and snorkeling conditions are good, but watch out for small rocks in the shorebreak. Read More
Kaihalulu (Red Sand) Beach
Kaihalulu Beach has 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 unique sight. Read More
Kalama Beach Park
There is no sandy beach here, but everything else to keep the whole family entertained, including a basketball and tennis court, an inline skating rink, a skateboard park, a baseball field and a playground for children. Read More
Kamaole Beach Park
Kamaole Beach is divided into three sections. 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. Read More
Kanaha Beach Park
Kanaha Beach Park is one of the best locations on Maui for windsurfers or kiteboarders. The conditions are almost always perfect. Most wind- and kitesufers stick to the western end of the beach. Read More
Kapalua Bay
Kapalua Bay is one of the most picturesque white-sand beaches on Maui. A coral reef protects the beach from strong currents, making it an ideal beach for novice swimmers and children. Read More
Keawakapu Beach
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
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 suitable for swimming, it is a scenic place for a picnic. Read More
La Perouse Bay
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 unofficial clothing optional beach on Maui. It is also known as Puu Olai Beach, named after the lava outcropping over which you’ll have to hike to get to it. 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. The shoreline at Makena Landing is mostly rocky with little sand.Read More
Maluaka Beach
This is a small but wide crescent-shaped white-sand beach that offers good swimming conditions. The nearshore ocean bottom is sandy and slopes gently to the deeper and rockier offshore waters. Read More
Mokapu Beach
The word mokapu is short for moku kapu, meaning "sacred island" in the Hawaiian language. It takes its name from a small rock island that used to be visible offshore before it was bombed out during World War II as a practice target. Read More
Nahiku Cove
Truly off the beaten path! Nahiku Cove is a remote and secluded bay off of Hana Highway. It's not much of a swimming beach, but a great place to get away from the crowds. Read More
Namalu Bay
There is no sandy beach here, 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
Napili Bay 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. Read More
Oneloa Beach
A small, secluded spot which is never crowded, Oneloa is popular among locals who come to this white-sand beach for sunbathing and bodyboarding. This quiet stretch of shoreline is surrounded by private villas and condos. Read More
Oneuli Beach
Oneuli Beach on Maui lies just to the north of Pu'u Ola'i, a large green hill with gorgeous red cliffs. If you look closely, the sand of this beach actually has three colors – black, white and red. Read More
Paako Beach (Secret Cove)
Even though this beach is also known as Secret Cove, it's actually not so secret, but rather a popular spot for weddings. The beach probably got this name because it is hidden between homes in Makena. Read More
Papalaua Beach Park
This is a narrow roadside park with a long, but narrow sandy beach. It is located on a busy highway. When the surf is up, the beach attracts beginning surfers and bodyboarders. Read More
Polo Beach
Polo Beach is the first of five beaches in the Wailea area, a large resort complex that encompasses two miles (3.2 km) of shoreline. This white-sand beach is long and wide and is backed by low sand dunes. Read More
Poolenalena Beach
This sandy beach has good swimming conditions. There are some large rocks exposed at a few places along the shoreline. Sand dunes and kiawe trees are located inland. Read More
Puamana Beach Park
Puamana is a narrow detrital sand beach, located just south of downtown Lahaina. The beach has a shallow nearshore ocean bottom that extends all the way out to the edge of the reef. 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 in this area. It is a nice beach with a large pocket of white sand. Read More
Sugar Beach
Said to be the longest beach on Maui, Sugar Beach is considered one of Maui's most magnificent stretches of oceanfront. At 5 miles (8 km) long, it is perfect for a long beach stroll. Read More
Ukumehame Beach Park
This is a narrow roadside park. The narrow beach is made up of detrital sand. Because the nearshore ocean bottom is shallow and rocky, the swimming conditions are poor. Read More
Ulua Beach
Ulua Beach is the third of five beaches in the Wailea resort complex development on Maui's south shore. During calm days, the snorkeling here is excellent. There are many colorful corals. Read More
Waianapanapa Black Sand Beach
Waianapanapa State Park lives up to its Hawaiian name meaning "glistening water." Right off Hana Highway, this beautiful black-sand beach is a must-see and the perfect spot for an unparalleled photo opportunity. Read More
Wailea Beach
Wailea Beach fronts the Grand Wailea Resort and has good swimming conditions. The nearshore ocean bottom drops off gently, and the usually 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 rather poor on this beach because it has some rocks. But it's a good area to windsurf. Read More
| Back to Top |
