Maui Beaches: Which One Is To Your Liking?

The island of Maui is home to a 120 miles of beautiful coastline with over 30 of those miles dedicated to some of the best beaches anywhere, especially on the South and West Sides. Maui’s beaches are home to many water sports such as surfing, snorkeling, swimming and windsurfing. In addition, Maui’s beaches offers the best of both worlds with beaches manned with the public amenities such as restrooms and lifeguards, while many of the locals head towards underdeveloped locations. In either case, you cannot go wrong with any of Maui’s beaches.
In addition to the fun that takes place at the beach, have you ever consider getting married on the sands of Maui? It happens all the time for the beauty it brings and the incredible scenery that you can have captured by hiring a Maui wedding photographer.
South Side Maui

Makena Beach State Park (aka Big Beach): One of Maui’s top, and largest, beaches is Makena. It’s nearly two-thirds of a mile of very soft white sands. Although Makena is great for swimming, be aware as the shore has a steep drop off point and its swells are larger than they seem to appear. If you love great views then climb up the rock to Puu Olai located near the entrance. Puu Olai is steep but the view is awesome. Once up there you will have access to Makena’s smaller side known as “Little Beach.” However If you have little ones, be aware as Little Beach is still treated as clothing optional.

Wailea Beach: In 1999, Wailea Beach was named as “America’s Best Beach.” With that honor, Wailea can offer visitors public restrooms and equipment rentals for almost any water sport you prefer. In addition, there are shops, restaurants and hotels within walking distance. Not only does Wailea have some of the softest sands around, it also has for the kids a giant trampoline on which to enhance their entire experience. Wailea Beach is about the length of four and a half football fields (450 yards).

Kihei Beach: Kihei isn’t just one beach, but several beaches, as well as some tide pools, rocky areas and coves. This beach is also the sunniest and driest beach area on Maui, which makes for more consistently good times. These beaches allow for swimming, kayaking, snorkeling and of course, surfing.
Kamaole Beach Parks 1, 2, & 3: These beaches are considered some of the favorites for the locals in Kihei with their great conditions for swimming, courts for sand volleyball and good amount of parking. Kamaole 1 is probably Kihei’s best as it allows for a decent snorkeling location near the rocks and small dunes. Kamaole 2 isn’t quite as big but does have good waters for snorkeling and swimming. Kamaole 3 has more to offer than the sands as it also has ample grass area for picnics and land activities that you have planned.
West Side Maui

Kaanapali Beach: Probably the most known beach on the island of Maui, Kaanapali lies three miles long and is near all the resort hotels just up from Lahaina. A 2003 “America’s Best Beach” award winner, its waters are crystal clear with soft, white sands and is great for snorkeling at Puu Kekaa, which is also known as Black Rock. This is the same location where the daily cliff diving ceremony takes place.
Kapalua Beach: Voted in 1991 as “America’s Best Beach,” Kapalua is covered with white, soft sands and has two reefs that form a C-shaped cove to protect it. Snorkeling is ideal thanks to this cove. The bay’s waters are calmer than some of the other beaches, thus allowing for beginners to learn water sports or for smaller children. For those old Maui veterans, Kapalua is known as the Old Fleming Beach.

Puamana Beach County Park: Puamana is part of the Lahaina beach area and is great for those learning to surf and snorkel. Unfortunately it’s more rocks than sand, so lying out can be “rough.” However, this park is ideal for picnics and for grilling. This Lahaina beach provides swimming, picnic tables, restrooms, grills and a grassy park with waves that are excellent for beginning and intermediate surfers.
D.T. Fleming Beach Park: Selected in 2006 as “America’s Best Beach,” this beach is a great place for swimmers, especially in the mornings prior to the winds picking up. Because of the cloudy waters, there is no snorkeling. Although this beach is about 500 yards long, get there early because it gets crowded quickly, especially on weekends.