Kanaha Beach Park
Kanaha Beach Park is a beach on Maui that is one of the rare spots with few crowds. Located in Kahului behind the airport, the beach is a world class windsurfing destination. Watching or participating is a thrill. Swimming is good here, year-round, and the beach park has full facilities including lifeguards, restroom and shower facilities and picnic areas. An extra bonus is the Kanaha Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary where you’ll find the endangered Hawaiian coot and silt at these wetlands (free admission, parking available).
Planning a trip to Maui? Stay in one of our Lahaina vacation rentals.
West Maui’s D.T. Fleming Beach Park
Swim, snorkel, dive, surf and simply hang out at D.T. Fleming Beach Park on your Maui vacation. The beach is named for David Thomas Fleming who introduced pineapple to West Maui as a commercial crop. Soak up the sun as you gaze at Honokahua Bay, one of West Maui’s six bays. Lifeguards are on duty, but even so, surf with caution as a high surf breaks on the sandbar. Explore Honokahua Beach too, with large ironwood trees and dunes near Makaluapuna Point.
Makena Beach
Makena Beach, also known as Big Beach, is a beach and more, with Little Beach that was created from lava flow and an earthquake in 1790. Lifeguards are on duty but as with all beaches, act with caution because there is high surf at Big Beach, seasonally. Body surfing, hiking, swimming and snorkeling are multiple water sports taking place so it’s an active scene. Pu’u Ola’i, or Earthquake Hill, is a volcanic cinder cone dividing Big and Little Beaches. Little Beach has less forceful waves breaking on a wide, shallow sandbar. Big Beach is also known as Oneloa, long sand and Makena means abundance. The long stretch of sand at Big Beach makes it one of Maui’s biggest and it will not disappoint.
Stay nearby Makena Beach in one of our Makena vacation rentals.
H.A. Baldwin Beach Park
Frolic among the local community and see what they love so much about Maui’s North Shore. Swimming, body boarding and picnics are all great but beware the waves and currents. Lifeguards stands are on site so you’ll have security if you’re swimming in strong winds but obey all warnings and notices. Full facilities you expect of a beach where you want to spend the day, this beach is in picturesque Paia, complete with a small beach and lagoon, ideal for children.
While digging your toes in the sand is grand, if you are a water lubber, you should get out on one of the many Maui snorkeling or whale watching tours. You can see a lot of marine life that you don’t see from the beach, and also avoid some of the crowds on the more popular beaches.