Scenic and Safe Beaches on the Valley Isle
Wailea Beach
This is actually many small beaches which are located along the Wailea Resort area where the lava rock outcroppings create many separate crescents of beautiful white sand. There are great snorkeling opportunities in these protected areas that also provide nice places for swimming or just relaxing, and enjoying the peace and serenity of Maui days!
Kapalua Bay
This is a wonderful beach for relaxing all year around and also a great beach for winter humpack whale watching. Snorkeling gear is available for rent, and catamaran rides are also offered. This tranquil crescent of white sand is often rated among the best beaches in Hawaii.
Kaanapali Beach
This lovely stretch of white sand about two miles up the coast from Lahaina fronts the elegant Sheraton Maui at one end, and the Hyatt Regency Maui at the other end.
People watching is renown at the pristine, white-sand Kaanapali Beach where the fashions often match the water quality – great! In fact the part of the beach in front of Whaler’s Village is known as Dig Me Beach! Kaanapali is generally very safe beach, and has also been named as America’s Best Beach (in 2003).
Nearby are swimming pools, 40 tennis courts, and an 18-hole championship golf course. Shoppers will also like the Whalers Villlage where there are lots of nice stores and restaurants as well as the interesting Whalers Village Museum featuring many whaling-era artifacts. A 40-foot whale skeleton hangs above the entrance.
Keep an eye out offshore of Kaanapali Beach for the real thing because this is a prime whale-watching beach.
Keawakapu Beach
Located between Wailea and Kihei, Keawakapu Beach has some nice shallow areas that are fun and safe for kids. Body boarders also like parts of this beach where gentle curling waves provide great wave rides. Keawakapu Beach has a nice view of the island of Kahoolawe in the distance.
Baldwin Beach
This is a wonderful early morning beach located between Paia and Kahului just off the Hana Highway. Later in the day this beach can get a bit windy, so brew a pot of Hawaii’s own Kona coffee and get there bright and early to enjoy this beautiful Maui beach.
Maluaka
This gorgeous white sand beach in south Maui fronts the Maui Prince Hotel. The wide beach is nice for children, particularly on the Makena end of the beach where the water is usually very calm.
A grassy picnic area above the Makena end of the beach provides a great spot for relaxing, eating lunch, and enjoying the scenery.
Located nearby to Makena Beach is Keawala Church, which was built in 1832 amidst a grove of palm trees along the coast. Keawala Chruch is a very popular wedding location, and a Hawaiian language mass is held at Keawala Church every Sunday morning.
Kamaole I, II, III Beaches
These three white-sand beaches provide everything you would expect from a full-service beach park including bathrooms, showers, lifeguards and shady areas.
Picnic tables are provided if you would like to enjoy a barbecue and a nice picnic afternoon. There are also volleyball nets where you can try out your skills.
Hamoa Beach
Located along Maui’s windward coast, Hamoa is a beautiful and scenic white sand beach in the enchanting town of Hana. Locals ride the waves on their surfboards and bodyboards while visitors frolic in the shoreline surf.
The winds can pick up by midday at Hamoa Beach so it is best to enjoy the area in the morning or in the late afternoon, when things usually calm down again. Mark Twain called Hamoa Beach Earth’s most beautiful beach.
Hamoa Beach is utilized by guests of the Hotel Hana Maui and is located about 2 miles past Hana town.
Kealia Beach
This lovely south shore beach is nice for learning to surf or just for relaxing on the soft sand. Various shops front the beach area, so when you are sufficiently bronzed then you can enjoy some shopping and a nice meal, and perhaps some margaritas.
Napili Bay
Located near the Napili Kai Beach Resort (where cocktails are served), Napili Bay is a gentle protected bay that is great for children.