Beaches of Hawaii

Maui is voted the top island in the world year after year, and a major reason for this prestigious honor is our great beaches. If you are vacationing on the southern coastline in the towns of Kihei, Wailea, or Makena, we have arranged this list of beaches you should not miss! Pack the snorkel, beach towels, and beach chairs and forget about your cares at any of these great beaches.

Located on the boarder of Kihei and Wailea (and pictured above), this beach stretches for over a mile. Some of the most expensive houses on the entire island are found along Keawakapu Beach (think Park Place or Broadway on a Monopoly board). You can rent standup paddle boards right from the activity shop at the Mana Kai Resort, located at the start of Keawakapu Beach, and walk to boards down to the ocean with ease.

There are three Kamaole Beach Parks that run along South Kihei Road. These easily accessible beaches are very popular with tourists because each beach is lifeguarded every day of the year. The waves are usually pretty tame at these beaches, which make them more welcoming for young beach goers and novice swimmers. Shower and bathroom facilities at each beach are and added convenience. Kamaole Beach Park III is probably the most popular beach for local families and it is not uncommon to see big birthday parties with slip in slides, bounce castles, and other fun games at this beach.

Your best bet for surfing on the southern coastline is at Cove Park. Join one of the many surf classes that go out every morning or rent a board across the street and test your skills in the small waves at Cove Park. This beach is mostly made up of beginner surfers. Check out our other blog post about beginner surf beaches on Maui.

Head to Ulua Beach in Wailea (right next to the Andaz Resort), to experience one of the most popular snorkeling venues on the island. Scuba diving classes have been holding certification dives at this beach for decades. If it’s good enough for the scuba divers it’s good enough for snorkelers! For best snorkeling conditions, it is advised to get to the beach in the morning before winds start to pick up and disturb the clarity of the water.

With over five miles of unobstructed white sand coastline, Sugar Beach might be one of the longest sandy coastlines in the state of Hawaii. Visitors like to walk along Sugar Beach looking for shells in the morning or enjoy a nice sunset walk in the evening. Various canoe clubs launch from Sugar Beach and even offer visitor paddles on certain days of the week.