The 15 Best Maui Beaches
Second largest of the Hawaiian Islands and with a coastline in excess of 120 miles you'll find no shortage of beautiful beaches on Maui. Of course this does mean you may well be spoilt for choice with over 80 public beaches to choose from.
Whilst we don't think there is any such thing as a bad beach on Maui there is a fair amount of variety. Even the sand is available in a range of colors; red, black or plain old golden. There are big beaches, tiny coves, surf beaches, family beaches and remote hidden gems tucked away among the rainforests and waterfalls.
Whether you're swimming, snorkeling, surfing or just relaxing in the sun Maui's tropical backdrop and crystal clear Pacific water are hard to beat. Read on for our collection of the best beaches on the island.
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1. Kāʻanapali Beach
© Rob Newton Great for:- Family
- Snorkeling
- Surfing
If you are a beach connoisseur, then Kāʻanapali Beach on Maui's west coast is definitely one for your bucket list. Dubbed "Black Rock" Beach locally, this stunning three mile stretch of golden-white sand and alluring, azure water is within walking distance of several large resorts, tempting restaurants and many other local attractions.
No surprise then that this beautiful Hawaiian beach has received many international accolades, including America's Best Beach… read more »
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2. Wailea Beach
dronepicr Great for:- Family
- Swimming
Stretching from Makena to the south and Kihei to the north, Wailea is an affluent area with first-class resorts and a sunny beach.
With a wide stretch of golden sand and gorgeous scenery in every direction, Wailea Beach is a picture-perfect destination. The sandy beach offers a view to the islets of Kahoolawe and Molokini while the surrounding landscape is draped in verdant foliage. The classy resorts with access to the… read more »
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3. Kama'ole Beach Park I
dronepicr Great for:- Snorkeling
- Swimming
Located in the town of Kihei, north of Wailea on Maalaea Bay, Kama'ole Beach Park incorporates three sandy beaches separated by rocky outcrops. All three beaches are worthy of a mention. For ease of reference, the locals have christened them Kam 1, Kam 2 and Kam 3.
Let's check out the northernmost Kamaole Beach 1 first, which is generally considered the nicest. Accessed from Kaiau St down a public… read more »
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4. Big Beach
dronepicr As the name suggests, Big Beach is in fact the largest beach on the south coast of Maui. There is nearly a mile of golden sand along this section of Makena Beach State Park which unlike neighboring beaches is largely undeveloped.
Backed by lush tropical forest this Big beach feels a lot more remote than it actually is; in fact it is right next door to the resort of
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5. Napili Beach
CJ Anderson Great for:- Family
- Swimming
The white sloping sands of Napili Bay Beach are often lined with beach blankets and umbrellas, providing tourists the ideal area for tanning and relaxation. It is also one of the top swimming destinations in Maui as the waters are often calm and the perfect temperature for diving right in.
As you look across the ocean, you may spot the area where the outer reefs protect the shore from the Pacific… read more »
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6. Little Beach
dronepicr 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… read more »
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7. Red Sand Beach
Laila Goubran As the name suggests Red Sand beach is adorned with sand that is more than just a little red in hue. In fact the little cove is something of a festival of colors; the red sand, deep blue of the ocean, black of the rocks and green of the ironwood trees.
The redness of the beach is provided by the iron rich lava-cinder cliffs behind which are constantly eroding.
The Hawaiian name… read more »
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8. Slaughterhouse Beach
dronepicr Great for:- Surfing
The charmingly named Slaughterhouse beach is located on the northwestern tip of Maui between DT Fleming Beach and Honolua Bay. Despite that rather unappealing name this is in fact one of the prettiest little beaches on the island.
The name "Slaughterhouse beach" comes from the fact that there used to be a slaughterhouse above the beach. The Honolua Ranch slaughterhouse along with a tanning/storage shed that were located on the cliffs above. However this… read more »
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9. DT Fleming Beach Park
KasugaHuang Great for:- Swimming
- Surfing
Set on the far northwest of Maui, D.T. Fleming Beach Park has a long sandy beach which is surrounded by trees, and is quieter than many of the island's other beaches. The white sand runs for 1,500 feet with a width of 150 feet between two lava healands. The surrounding trees are Ironwoods, and there are dunes leading up to them. There is a shallow sandbar in front of most… read more »
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10. Keawakapu Beach
Kirt Edblom Great for:- Snorkeling
- Swimming
- Surfing
Keawakapu Beach is situated on the west coast of Maui, south of Maalaea Bay. Over half a mile in length, the beach is made up of a rich orange sand which slips into shallow waters from banks of shrubs and palm trees. Its shallow entry into the waters of the Pacific Ocean make it a great choice for swimmers, bodyboarders and snorkelers, in addition to those looking to enjoy the… read more »
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11. Kamaole Beach Park III
dronepicr Great for:- Swimming
Kamaole Beach Park III is the southernmost of the trio of sandy beaches that make up Kamaole Beach in Kihei. It's the smallest of the three and has rocks at either end providing interest in contrast to the soft white sand.
Like its neighbours, Kam III is beautiful with a backdrop of lush greenery and a large grassy park area which is tailor-made for picnics and ball games. It's a popular… read more »
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12. Kamaole Beach Park II
dronepicr Great for:- Family
- Snorkeling
- Swimming
Kamaole Beach Park II is the mid-section of a trio of beautiful beaches in central Kihei. Kam 2, as it is often referred to, stretches for about 1/3rd mile along the edge of the relatively calm waves. There are rocky outcrops at either end that separates it from Kam I and Kam III at high tide.
The beach is popular with local families as it is not only beautiful, but also… read more »
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13. Kapalua Beach
Laila Goubran Great for:- Family
- Snorkeling
- Swimming
Kapalua Bay definitely lives up to its reputation as one of America's Best Beaches. The crystalline green-blue waters lap the golden sands which line this horseshoe shaped bay. With fairly calm sea and gently breaking waves Kapalua Bay is ideal for swimming, although there is no lifeguard on duty. You can also snorkel and scuba dive; you will see corals, tropical fish, and turtles under the water.
This is… read more »
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14. Hāmoa Beach
Navin75 Great for:- Surfing
Hamoa Beach is a beautiful crescent of silky smooth sand not far from the eastern tip of Maui. It is backed by tropical greenery, low cliffs and Hala trees which provide some welcome shade. The beach is about 1,000 feet long and 100 feet wide when the tide is low. This is plenty big enough as the beach never really gets busy.
Located about 2.5 miles outside of Hana, there are… read more »
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15. Honokalani Beach
Nick Doty A black sand beach on Keawaiki Bay, Honokalani Beach is located within Waianapanapa State Park and has views towards a sea arch. Considered sacred to the people of Hawaii, Waianapanapa means 'glistening water' and its waters certainly create a powerful contrast of colours between the black rocks and foliage which surround Honokalani Beach on all sides.
Rip currents and a steep drop off close to shore make it dangerous to swim… read more »
