Best Maui Beaches

All Maui winners on Stephen Leatherman's (Dr. Beach) America's Best Beaches list are included on this page.

I also list a group of favorite Maui beaches for activities like snorkeling, whale watching, and surfing. And popular unusual beaches such as black sand beaches are included.

Since you will usually visit a beach close to where you are staying, they are organized by Maui location.

Best West Maui Beaches

Best South Maui Beaches

Wailea Beach serves a large resort community on the south side of Maui. Wailea Beach offers good swimming, snorkeling in calm waters, and bodysurfing on a shore break that is not as punishing as Wailea’s other beaches. Like all Maui beaches there is public access, but two large resorts front almost all of Wailea Beach and public parking is scarce. 1999 #1 Beach in America

Best Road to Hana Beaches

The unique black sand beach (Honokalani beach) at Waianapanapa State Park on the road to Hana is more of a photo beach than a sunning or swimming beach because of the rocks, high surf, and hot black sand.

Photo by xoque

Hamoa Beach is a family friendly isolated beach on the road to Hana. This beach was a favorite of James Michener, the famous author of books such as Hawaii and Tales of the South Pacific. 2007 #6 Beach in America

Best Maui Activity Beaches

Beach snorkeling in Maui - best beaches for snorkeling

Beaches and observation areas for watching whales

Maui surfing beaches

Maui Beach Access

How close a beach is to where you are staying is important. Most Maui vacationers select a beach that is close to their hotel, even though it may not be the best beach for a particular activity. But even if you are close to a beach, beach access may still be difficult - how easy is it to get on the beach?

Some Maui beaches are just a few steps from parking, while others require a hike and detailed instructions just to locate the beach.

An example of easy access - we like to park at the shops at Kaanapali Beach, enjoy the white sands in front of the hotels for a few hours, then get our parking ticket validated by purchasing $10 worth of food or gifts at a shop.

Maui Beach Safety

WARNING! At any particular time for any beach, there may be safety warnings caused by extremes such as high wind or surf conditions. View today's Maui beach surf and wind forecasts.

Maui Beach Weather

Weather - The north and east sides of the islands get a lot more rain than the west and south sides. High winds can blow sand on the beach.

Waves - Hawaii beaches on the 'leeward' (west) side of the islands tend to have less waves - better for swimmers, but not so good for surfers. For example, the girls enjoy exloring the beach at Keanae Peninsula on the northeast side of Maui, but they don't swim in the rough surf or sunbathe on the black lava boulder beach.

Match Maui Beaches to Your Activities

There are so many types of Maui beaches that you don't just 'go to the beach'. Beaches make up thiry miles of coastline on Maui.

So be sure to select Maui beaches that fit what you want to do ...

Sunbathe? Play in the sand? People watch? Wade in shallow water? Swim? Snorkel?

Take pictures? Scuba dive? Surf? Boogie board? Fish? Watch whales? Hunt for shells?

Picking the right beach for what you want to do makes the difference between an memorable day and a forgettable one on your Maui family vacation. For example, the large breaking waves that make for good surfing are a problem for a snorkeler.

An ideal snorkeling area may not have a beautiful white sand sunbathing beach. And a perfect sunbathing beach may have strong currents if you go too far out when swimming.

Teenagers often like sunning in the sand, while kids like to explore through rocks and surf - different family members have different 'Best Maui Beaches'!

You will find plenty of listings and maps for Maui beaches. Determine what is important to your group and then select your beach:

• Swimming - Is the water shallow or deep? Are there strong currents of sudden drop offs? At one public beach, we drifted too far out with the current, and we had the assistance of a lifeguard to get back to shore. Note: teenage boy lifeguard helps teenage girl; Dad is left to fend for himself!

• Snorkeling - Are there fish in the water at this beach? Is the water clear enough to see the fish? Are the fish in water that is shallow enough for novice snorkelers? Read about the best snorkeling beaches on Maui.

• Sun bathing - how often does the sun shine on this beach, without being blocked by clouds or fog? Do you want an isolated beach, or a location where you can 'see and be seen'?



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