West Maui Summer Beach Crawl
5 Beaches, 5 Ways to Play
What’s better than one perfect beach day on Maui? Five. We’ve already taken you on a South Maui Summer Beach Crawl. Now, we’re inviting you on a West Maui Summer Beach Crawl—a self-guided adventure through some of the most stunning beaches on the island. Each one has its own personality, and we’ve matched it with the ideal Auntie Snorkel gear rental to level up your experience. From mellow snorkeling coves to beginner surf breaks, it’s a choose-your-own-salty-adventure kind of day.
So start your morning with some reef time, cruise down the coast, and end with salty hair, sandy feet, and a grin that won’t quit. You bring the sunscreen—we’ll supply the gear.
Big bay for adventurous, but often epic snorkeling. Short jungle walk in, and no sandy beach.
🐠 Stop 1: Honolua Bay – Snorkel Maui’s Wild Side
📍 Get Google Maps Directions
🤿 Gear Match: Premium Snorkel Set + Float Belt + GoPro
Kick off your crawl with one of the best snorkeling spots in all of Maui: Honolua Bay. It’s not your average beach—there’s no sand to sprawl out on here—but what it lacks in lounging space, it more than makes up for under the surface. As a protected marine conservation area, Honolua is home to vibrant coral reefs, schools of reef fish, and if you’re lucky, a curious honu (Hawaiian green sea turtle) or two.
You’ll access the bay via a shady forest trail that feels like a mini jungle expedition. The walk isn’t long, but it’s a bit rocky—so wear sturdy sandals and consider bringing a dry bag to keep your stuff safe.
👉 Auntie’s Tip: Grab your snorkel gear from our Lahaina shop before heading out. We recommend a float belt for extra comfort and safety—you’ll be snorkeling over deep reef, and you’ll want to relax and take it all in. Early morning hours are typically best for snorkeling here.
**As of publication, there are currently NO porta-potties here. Stop at DT Fleming for facilities. **
Popular bay that offers some shelter from wind/waves for snorkeling, paddle boarding, and family beach days.
🌴 Stop 2: Kapalua Bay – Lounge in Luxury
📍 Get Google Maps Directions
🏖 Gear Match: Beach Chair + Umbrella Set
After your ocean adventure at Honolua, it’s time to take a breather in one of the most picture-perfect spots on the island. Kapalua Bay is a calm, crescent-shaped beach with soft sand and typically gentle waves—ideal for relaxing, floating, and flipping through that book you’ve been pretending to read.
Set up your Auntie Snorkel beach chair and umbrella, settle into the shade, and soak in the views. It’s easy to spend an entire afternoon here—but don’t get too comfy. You’ve still got beaches to crawl!
👉 Auntie Tip: Bring snacks and plenty of water. Kapalua can fill up fast—early birds get the best parking.
Family-friendly sandy beach in a bay offering excellent snorkeling, paddle boarding, and other recreation.
🕺 Stop 3: Napili Bay – Boogie Time
📍 Get Google Maps Directions
🏄♀️ Gear Match: Boogie Board Rental
Just a short skip south is Napili Bay, one of West Maui’s most beloved beach gems. With its soft sand, turquoise water, and a fun shore break on the right days, it’s a boogie boarder’s paradise—especially for beginners and fun-seekers.
Rent a boogie board from Auntie and get ready to ride some waves. Whether you catch a ride up the beach or just wipe out laughing, it’s all part of the fun.
👉 Auntie Tip: Watch the tide and wave conditions before jumping in—Napili’s waves can change throughout the day. And don’t forget reef-safe sunscreen; there’s little shade here.
Family-friendly, easy access beach for all ocean recreation. Free parking and good facilities.
🌞 Stop 4: Kahekili Beach Park (Airport Beach) – Glide into Paddle Paradise
📍 Get Google Maps Directions
🧹 Gear Match: Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP)
Looking to switch gears and get a little upper body workout with your ocean view? Kahekili Beach Park, known locally as “Airport Beach,” is the perfect spot to try stand-up paddleboarding. With a spacious beach park, easy water access, and calm morning conditions, it’s one of the top SUP spots on the West Side.
From your board, you’ll spot reef life below and take in views of Molokaʻi and Lana‘i on the horizon. Even better? You can paddle north or south along the Kā‘anapali coastline for a full day’s workout.
👉 Auntie Tip: Morning is best for paddleboarding—winds tend to pick up in the afternoon. This spot has nice, spacious beach showers to rinse yourself and your gear before returning it.
Family-friendly park known for all-levels surfing and spacious picnic areas.
🌺 Stop 5: Launiupoko Beach Park – Surf’s Up (and Chill Too)
📍 Get Google Maps Directions
🏄 Gear Match: Soft-Top Surfboard
End your crawl on a high (and slightly wobbly) note at Launiupoko, a local favorite for beginner surfing and all-around good beach vibes. The waves here are frequently mellow and roll in gently, making it an ideal place to practice your pop-up or catch your first ride.
Rent a soft-top surfboard from Auntie and give it a go! And if surfing’s not your thing, Launiupoko also has tide pools for keiki, shaded picnic tables, and some of the best sunset views on the island.
👉 Auntie Tip: Bring a cooler and stick around for golden hour. Watching the sun dip behind Lana‘i after a full day of beach-hopping is the ultimate Maui mood.
Popular, family-friendly beach for all ocean recreation. Can be extremely popular.
🏖️ BONUS STOP: Kāʻanapali Beach & Black Rock – The Classic Crowd-Pleaser
📍 Get Google Maps Directions
🏄♂️ Gear Match: Boogie Board, Snorkel Set, Skimboard, or Full Cabana Setup
Feeling ambitious? Got a little energy (and patience) left in the tank? Then add an extra beach crawl stop with a detour to the iconic Kāʻanapali Beach and Black Rock (Puʻu Kekaʻa).
Yes, it can get crowded—especially in summer—and parking requires the precision of a ninja, but if you can brave the logistics, the payoff is worth it. The long stretch of golden sand and the towering lava rock at the north end offer multiple ways to play:
- 🤿 Snorkel along the base of Black Rock and spot colorful fish and maybe even a honu or two
- 🏄 Boogie board the shore break when it’s rolling in just right
- 🌀 Skimboard the sandy point for some fast-paced fun
- 🏖 Or go full “resort mode” with a beach chair + umbrella or cabana setup and just people-watch with a cold drink in hand
👉 Auntie Tip: Public beach access parking spots exist (with varying degrees of luck), especially near Whalers Village and behind certain resorts—get there early or go late afternoon when some of the day traffic has cleared out. Check the full beach guide for all of our parking tips.
🌅 Want a grand finale? Stay for sunset cliff dives off Black Rock followed by a walk along the beach path for epic people-watching and beachfront dining vibes.
🗺 How to Beach Crawl Like a Pro
- Start early. The West Side gets busy, and parking can be tight.
- Check conditions. Use our Maui Beach Guides for live cams, weather updates, and snorkel safety tips.
- Stay flexible. Some beaches might be calmer than others depending on the day—our Fun Specialists are always happy to point you in the right direction.
- Return anywhere. Auntie Snorkel allows multi-location returns (*excluding SUPs and surfboards), so feel free to drop off your gear in Kihei if you’re wrapping up on the South Side.
🌈 Let Auntie Gear You Up
Whether you hit all five (or six!) stops in one epic day or spread the fun across your Maui stay, this West Maui Summer Beach Crawl is the perfect way to experience the island’s incredible variety—from serene snorkel spots to wave-riding playgrounds to sunset chill zones.
At Auntie Snorkel Lahaina, we’ve got all the gear you need for your West Maui Summer Beach Crawl—and the local knowledge to make it epic. Whether you’re paddling, surfing, snorkeling, or napping in a beach chair, we’ll get you set up and ready to roll.
So grab your rentals, load up the car, and get ready for a beach day (or three) you’ll never forget.
West Maui is calling—and Auntie’s got your back.
