Little Beach (Pu'u Ola'i)

Little Beach is so called, not only because it is fairly small, but because it is next door to the longest beach on Maui’s south coast - Big Beach. Both are beautiful stretches of golden sand backed by the near-pristine tropical greenery of Makena State Park, it’s just the scale is different… well mostly that.

Perhaps what Little Beach is most famous for is the fact it is Maui’s best-known clothes optional beach. But, I hear you say, public nudity is still illegal in Hawaii. This is true, but no one can remember the last time the rules were enforced here. And if you aren’t of the naturist persuasion then it’s fine to keep your swimsuit on. The beach is also often described as being gay-friendly.

As well as being a nudist beach, Little Beach has another quirk - the Sunday evening drum and fire circle. Basically this involves a bunch of people playing the drums while others dance in a circle performing various feats of fire juggling, fire breathing or anything else you can do with flames.

Access to the beach involves a short hike to the northern end of Big Beach where a path leads over the bluff.