Out Take: Maui Beaches

One of the reasons Maui has my heart—and why it’s my favorite Hawaiian island—is because it offers a little bit of everything. But let’s be clear: Maui’s beaches are Nō KA ‘oi: the best. Whether you’re into lounging on soft white sand, swimming in clear turquoise water, or hunting for the perfect snorkeling spot, Maui beaches check every box. It’s not just about the iconic Kaanapali Beach or the luxury of Wailea (or the sunsets at either)—it’s also the hidden gems like Kapalua Beach or Turtle Cove, aka: Makena Landing, that make Maui feel magical.

If you haven’t already read my comprehensive round up of Maui travel tips and what to see and do for a week in Maui (or really, any amount of time), be sure to check that out. Or for something different, read up about camping on Hawaii or a weekend in Honolulu. But for more about Maui’s beaches, read on…

Know Before You Go

I made mention of this in my comprehensive Maui post as well, but it’s especially true if you’re headed to the beach: as of 2021, Hawaii banned the sale of several types of sunscreen that can be toxic to its coral reefs. You can learn more HERE and HERE, but some big take-aways I’ll leave you with are:

• You’ll be a jerk if you bring products from home containing oxybenzone or octinoxate—and even more so if you use them at the beach. These are especially harmful to the coral reef.
• On-island, you’re not likely to find much that’s not zinc-based (you know, the stuff that goes on white, doesn’t rub in, and coats everything you touch). While those products are getting better all the time, if that’s an issue for you, find some reef-friendly stuff to bring with.
• Many of the larger public beaches (at least in the more tourist-heavy areas) now have reef-safe sunscreen in dispensers as you walk toward the beach. The dispensers are like those for hand sanitizer, so you get a squirt at a time, but could be useful if you make an unplanned stop at the beach and need a little bit.
• #ProTip: broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB) sunscreen over 15 SPF is FSA-eligible, so if you’ve got an FSA account, it’s basically free, right?

Maui’s Beaches

First of all, if you’re headed to Maui, hopefully the beach is on your agenda. Maui arguably has the best beaches in Hawaii, as well as some of the best beaches in the world. Whether you’re looking for white, black, or red sand … or most anything else, Maui’s got it. Well, not green sand—you’ll have to go to the Big Island for that. But the water is lovely and you can find pretty much whatever vibe you’re looking for here.

• Papalaua Wayside Park is a unique spot along the road toward (but before you get to) Lahaina. It’s a great spot to sit on the sand and eat the lunch you got from Leoda’s (see below), but if anyone tells you it’s a great place to snorkel, I swear they’re trying to kill—or at least injure—you. Yes, there’s amazing coral and typically calm surf. But the water is shallow and even the slightest undulations put you precariously close to shredding every part of yourself on the coral (and technically, it’s not good for the coral either).
• Kapalua Beach near Kaanapali and Napiili is a stunning, mostly protected cove that’s picture perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
• Kaanapali, Wailea, and Makena (more on Makena below) offer a perfect setting for relaxation and sunset watching.
• Windsurfers and kite boarders frequent Ho’okipa (more advanced) and Kanaha (calmer waters).
• Honokeana Bay (and others) is a great place to spot turtles. The list goes on.
• Makena Landing Park (not to be confused with Makena State Park, below, doesn’t have much of a beach, but is a great spot for snorkeling on the south side of the island. Several kayak tour companies also depart from this location.

Not all of the lure of Maui’s beaches is about the water, though. There’s a lot going on at many of the beaches that’s much more than sand and surf:

• The beach walkway in Wailea (start at pretty much any resort there) has striking views, especially at sunset. And if you need to rest your feet or just make a day of it, each of the resorts have lovely restaurants and bars, although note that some of them will be fussy about where guests with reservations at the resort can hang out versus visitors.
• Kamaole Beach Parks I, II, and III do have lovely beaches—it’s often my morning walk when I’m on Maui—but it’s also a spot with grassy park areas and picnic tables. You might find me here having a breakfast sandwich of cinnamon roll from Kihei’s Cinnamon Roll Place, and you’ll also likely find families set up for barbecues, birthdays, and other celebrations.
• Po’Olenalena Beach Park seems to now be the home of the Sunday evening drum circle that used to happen at Little Beach. Besides the drums, dancing, and general merriment, you’ll probably also see various stages of undress, though not as prevalent as Little Beach. The event doesn’t necessarily start at 4:20, but you might think the clock stopped there, if you know what I mean.

But my favorite is Makena State Park in South Maui. The park includes the beaches commonly known as Big Beach and Little Beach. While lovely white sand beaches abound in Maui, these are a couple of the best, in my opinion. Little Beach is Maui’s one unofficial nude beach (technically nudity is illegal, but it’s generally not enforced here). A few tips:

• There’s a big parking lot at the entrance to the park and beach. Parking plus per-person visitor fees are charged and enforced—including the number of visitors in your vehicle—but I think it’s a small price to pay to keep the parks funded and maintained. Download the ParkMobile app to pay your parking before you arrive to save a little time when you get there (cell signals are spotty at the park).
• The surf and shore break at both beaches can be intense. Don’t turn your back on the ocean, be mindful of currents and your swimming ability, and never underestimate the ocean. The waves can be fun, but Mother Nature doesn’t mess around. People do get hurt here.
• The beach and the park “close” at 7pm every day. From 2020 to early 2023, an earlier closing time at Little Beach was pretty strictly enforced. As of late 2025, enforcement seems to have gone away, but remember, nudity is technically illegal, so if as bare as you dare is your motto, it’s still a good idea to keep your suit close: forewarned is fair warned.
• Related to the note above: Little Beach used to have a drum circle on Sunday afternoons/evenings, but that seems to have more permanently moved up the road. Don’t expect much in this regard, but if you wanna do the drum circle, check out Secret Beach.

Beach Gear

Besides sunscreen, you’ll see beachgoers bringing as little as possible while others seemingly bring everything but (or maybe including) the kitchen sink. Never fear, that doesn’t mean you need to fit everything in your luggage you may need on the beach, there plenty of places to get things on-island.

• If you’re on island for a week or more and want chairs, umbrellas, beach towels, and other gear, Costco in Kahului is the way to go (also probably the cheapest place to buy gas on the island). Get the Tommy Bahama chairs and umbrellas—they are much better quality than the others and the umbrellas in particular will stand up to breezes/winds better than the cheaper stuff.
• Most condos and vacation rentals will have some gear, so it’s best to see what’s at your place before spending money on new stuff.
• If you’re not there for long, want snorkel or stand-up paddle (SUP) gear, or are not sure you’ll be at the beach for more than a day or two, there are lots of places to rent. For chairs and umbrellas, I often rent from the storefront next to Fred’s Mexican in Kihei, but there are lots of other places.
• For SUP and snorkel gear, Snorkel Bob’s has always served me well, but there are lots of other options.

Maui’s diverse shoreline caters to all sorts of beachgoers—from families to adventure seekers to sunbathers and others. Whether you’re chasing waves or a peaceful escape, Maui’s beaches are where it’s at, I think.