Maui is a wonderful destination at any time of year. With stunning natural beauty and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere, you’ll never want to leave! One of the best parts of Maui, of course, is visiting its many beaches. Do you know which beaches in Maui you want to visit?
It can be overwhelming to choose from so many options, so we put together a post on our favorite beaches in Maui. Let’s take a look so you can hit the beach with confidence!
Kaanapali Beach
Kaanapali Beach offers the longest stretch of beach on Maui, with a whole three miles of sandy shores! There are several resorts along the coast here, as well as restaurants and shops. The beach itself is picture-perfect. It’s a great place to take a swim, as the waves aren’t too busy here.
Kaanapali Beach is one of our favorite spots to take a dip, people-watch, enjoy water sports, relax, and sunbathe. Those feeling adventurous can even go cliff jumping at Black Rock (located on the North end of the beach). It’s okay if you’re not in the mood to jump, though; plenty of people like to gather to watch the activity!
Black Rock is also an incredible spot for snorkeling. Weaker swimmers should be advised that strong currents can appear in some of the deeper areas here, though! If you stick around until sunset, you’ll not only be rewarded with an incredible view but with the daily conch-shell blowing, lighting of the torches, and cliff dive off of Black Rock by the Sheraton Maui.
Kapalua Bay
Kapalua Bay is definitely the place to go for those traveling with families! Two reefs keep the currents from the ocean calm, making the bay a peaceful area for swimming.
The reefs are filled with hundreds of fish, so it’s a great place to snorkel, as well. If you want to take your kiddos somewhere to try snorkeling for the first time, Kapalua Bay is a great option!
Makena Beach State Park
Makena Beach State Park is known as “Big Beach” to locals, as it’s—you guessed it—South Maui’s largest beach. The beach stretches an entire 1.5 miles of golden sand and is 100 feet wide in some places!
There’s plenty to do at Makena Beach State Park. Of course, you can take advantage of all the classic beach activities: swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, and people-watching. It is worth noting that the shore break here can be quite dangerous; make sure to consult lifeguards before swimming, and stick to the shore if you’re an inexperienced swimmer.
Makena is one of our favorite places to relax and read a book, as the wide expanse of sand makes it seem never-ending. There are restrooms and food trucks here, so you can make a whole day of it!
Wailea Beach
Wailea Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Hawaii! In fact, many celebrities frequent it—there’s a chance you may recognize it from paparazzi shots.
Wailea’s popularity is no fluke; it’s truly an outstanding beach! The waves are controlled here, just big enough to allow for splashing around and boogie boarding/body surfing. Lay out on the picture-perfect sand and take in paradise!
Wailea is well-maintained and has all the facilities you need for a long day of beach fun, including restrooms, showers, and free parking. There are picnic tables, too, if you’d like to pack a meal and have a scenic lunch by the water!
Kahekili Beach Park
Kahekili Beach Park is one of the nicest, quietest beaches on the West Side of Maui. It’s also known as Airport Beach, though it’s not near the airport—it sits on a road that used to house an airport building.
This is another great spot to take the family. The ocean here enters directly into a reef, so the surf is extremely mild. This makes swimming a fun experience for everybody! Plus, those looking to get into snorkeling will enjoy the calm waters, too. You don’t have to swim into deeper waters here to see marine life; dive in, and you’re already in a great spot to snorkel!
Besides the many fish that swim about here, there’s also a wide expanse of sea turtles. You’re sure to see some if you spend some time snorkeling!
During whale season, you can easily spot whales here. Kahekili Beach is also one of the locations in Hawaii where you can always hear whales during whale season—just stay underwater for a few seconds and stay absolutely silent, and you’re sure to hear them!
Does Maui Have Black Sand Beaches?
Yes, it does! Maui is home to several black-sand beaches. You’ll want to get a glimpse of one of these natural wonders while you’re here. If you’re curious about what makes the sand black, as opposed to the classic white Hawaiian sand, black sand beaches are made of eroded volcanic material, such as lava, basalt rocks, and other dark-colored minerals. The black color comes from the high iron content of the sand, which absorbs light well.
A classic black sand beach in Maui is Oneuli Beach. Oneuli is a part of Makena Beach State Park, which we discussed above. This beach is best for snorkelers and divers, as the coral reefs sit just past the water’s entry. It isn’t the best place for swimming, so we’d advise against it, especially if you’re traveling with kids. Seeing the magnificent black sand totally makes it worth the trip, though!
Book Your Trip to Maui Directly with Maui Condo!
At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong when deciding which beach to visit in Maui. They’re all picturesque, and you won’t forget your trip here any time soon!
After a long day at the beach, you’ll want to return to a vacation rental that suits all your needs. That’s where we come in! At Maui Condo, your satisfaction is our highest priority. Whether you want to stay in a gorgeous oceanfront condo so you can have a view of one of these incredible Maui beaches, or you have a preference for staying in Kihei or West Maui, we have you covered.
What are you waiting for? It’s time to book that trip. Browse our available Maui vacation rentals now and book your trip directly with Maui Condo!