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South
Maui Beaches
A Paradise of White Sand
Have
you ever noticed how Mother Nature makes such
a perfect playmate? Just take the kids to one
of Hawaii’s many beaches and you’ll
see them playing in the sand, chasing waves to
the point of exhaustion.
Maalaea Beach |
| If
you are looking for a beach on which to walk
or run for long distances, this is a beach
for you, as you will find hard-packed sand
all the way to Kihei. If you have a surfboard
under your arm, this area should be attractive
as well. Otherwise, you may want to head south
to Kihei or Wailea for a beach excursion.
The water here is not too clear (by Hawaii
standards) making it unattractive for both
swimming and snorkeling. The omnipresent wind
can also be an annoyance for sunbathers and
sand players. In short, if you are here during
the winter this is a great place to catch
glimpses of whales just offshore as you take
a long stroll along the coastline. For anything
else, jump in the car and head south. |
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Ma Poina 'Oe Ia'u Beach Park |
| This
beach is part of the white sand shoreline
that extends from Maalaea through Kihei. The
name means "Forget Me Not", and
this park which is dedicated to veterans won’t
be forgotten if you are looking for a vantage
point for incredible winter whale watching.
The gentle slope of the beach and an inshore
bottom that consists mostly of sand makes
this a great spot for both swimming and wading.
The park includes many amenities such as restrooms,
showers, and picnic tables. This is the beginning
of the many nice, narrow beaches of Kihei
which are great for a casual day at the beach. |
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Kamaole Beach Park I (Kam 1) |
Kamaole Beach Park II (Kam 2) |
Kamaole Beach Park III (Kam 3) |
The
three "Kam" beaches all offer
just about everything you could want in
a day at the beach. They all offer full
facilities, with lifeguards at One and Two,
and each beach has spectacular views of
Molokini, Kaho’olawe, Lanai, and northwest
Maui. However, while they are all similar,
each one has its own unique charms.
At Kam I the sand is soft and pure with
plenty of room for laying out your beach
towels and blankets. The beach slopes gently
into the ocean where the calm waters and
gradual grade are perfect for wading and
swimming. For those itching to test out
their new boards, Cove Park on the extreme
north end of the beach is a popular sight
for surf instruction. A sand volleyball
court also adds to the fun here. The only
detractor at Kam I is the proximity of the
road which could divert attention from its
otherwise pristine beauty.
Kam II is nearly identical to its sister
to the north, lacking only the volleyball
court but making up for it with more of
a border from the road. A small sand knoll
covered in plants cuts down on the presence
of the road.
Kam III offers the most seclusion, with
a small beach area being found on the other
side of a large grass field. The beach has
a little more of a shorebreak than Kam I
or Kam II and is perfect for little kids
who are eager to play in the surf. The real
draw to Kam III, however, is the field which
offers a playground, shade, and plenty of
room for other activities.
The proximity of all three Kamaole beaches
makes it easy to visit each one (in Kihei)
before deciding on the spot that suits you
best. Wherever you decide to lay down your
beach towels, you can’t go wrong with
any of the Kamaoles.
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Keawakapu Beach |
| If
you visit in the summertime, Keawakapu is
the picture of tranquility- a peaceful white
sand beach with a gently sloping shoreline
and calm waters. In winter months, however,
the unprotected shoreline is pounded by high
surf. Keawakapu is best known for the man-made
reef of old car bodies just offshore which
makes this a natural gathering spot for a
variety of tropical fish, and therefore snorkelers.
Facilities here include a shower and paved
parking, with other amenities found "next
door" at Ulua and Mokapu beaches. Keawakapu
is the most peaceful, if least distinct, of
this triumverate of beaches.
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Mokapu Beach |
| Found
just below the former Renaissance Wailea Beach
Resort, Mokapu is more chic than its sister
beaches Keawakapu and Ulua. Blue umbrellas
shade patrons on white lounge chairs provided
by the hotel, and the wood plank walkway behind
the beach takes visitors to a resort sponsored
activity center. The beach is pure white sand
with calm tides (at least in summer) rounding
out the tranquil setting. |
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Ulua Beach |
One
of the most popular of the Wailea beaches,
Ulua offers something for everyone. When conditions
are calm, this is one of the best snorkeling
sites in the area and beginning scuba classes
are often conducted here. When the surf is
up, however, Ulua has some of the better swells
around and attracts both body and board surfers.
For sunbathers, Ulua offers a large crescent
of white sand extending south, with most activities
originating on the northern end. For those
who enjoy shade, a large grassy knoll provides
a perfect place to picnic and enjoy the sights.
Public restrooms and showers round out this
beach which caters to everyones wishes. |
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Wailea Beach |
Wailea
Beach appears to have been taken directly
out of a travel brochure, and it is the quintessential
upscale resort beach of Maui. Located below
the Grand Wailea Resort, the beach is dotted
with blue covered lounges, and a volleyball
court occupies a piece of the soft white sand.
The gentle slope of the shoreline makes this
a perfect place for children to play, swimmers
to swim, and beginning snorkelers to try out
their new masks. If you are lucky, the ocean
trampoline may be just offshore for your pleasure.
The beach is open to the public, so even if
you can’t afford the Grad Wailea, a
trip to this beach makes you feel like you
have splurged. |
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Polo Beach |
Polo
Beach is a conglomerate of all the beaches
of Wailea. Backed by resorts and private homes,
with covered lounge chairs scattered over
the sand, Polo is the less glamourous sister
of the resort beach Wailea. On calm days,
the snorkeling here can rival that of Ulua
and Keawakapu, and when the surf is up the
offshore bodyboarding can be as good as anywhere
in the area. Facilities here are top notch,
with shaded parking and paved walkways. So
if you want a little of everything found in
Wailea, Polo Beach offers it all. |
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Oneloa (Big) Beach |
Also
referred to as Makena Beach, this is one of
the true gems of the Maui coastline. One of
the single largest white sand beaches, "Big
Beach" looks like it is taken straight
out of a tourist publication. The water is
an unparalleled crystal blue, the shore bottom
is pure sand, and the shorebreak often attracts
bodyboarders. Surrounded by undeveloped land,
Oneloa has a pristine look that you won’t
find at any of the other major beaches. The
only drawbacks here are the possibility of
cloud-cover coming off of Haleakala and a
lack of facilities. There are port-a-potties,
however, and everything else is not truly
necessary to enjoy this incredibly beautiful
spot. For the truly adventurous, try a visit
to "Little Beach" just on the other
side of the cliff on the right… |
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Pu'u Olai Beach |
| Surrounded
by the beauty of nature, this beach is usually
packed by people getting into the spirit by
going "au naturel". While public
nudity is illegal, it is almost uniformally
overlooked at this popular spot. "Little
Beach" is also an excellent swimming
beach, and the offshore surf break commonly
attracts body boarders and surfers. The pure
white sand is perfect for laying out, but
you may find it difficult to find room for
your beach blanket. If nudity does not bother
you, Little Beach is one of the best beaches
on Maui. |
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Sugar Beach |
| North
Kihei's Sugar Beach is one of the area's best
walking beaches. You're likely to find long
stretches of deserted beach, some of which
shows off the wilder, more local side of the
south Maui shoreline. It speaks volumes that
this area is also home to one of the area's
best windsurfing spots: north Kihei's beaches
are notoriously windy in the afternoons, which
is why they're most popular among morning
walkers. |
Select
an island below and Follow our Guide to the perfect
beaches...
Maui
- Molokai - Lanai
- Oahu - Kauai
- Big Island
Call us soon at 877-256-4248 / 808-879-6263 7 days
a week or click here
to fill out an Activity Request form.
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