Mokapu Beach
Last updated 30. Jun, 2010 by Mark in Beaches, Beaches | South Maui, South Maui Beaches
Mokapu Beach
Rating: 
In a nutshell: Quarter-mile long pocket of sandy beach.
Minuses: Parking fills up early.
Sound-bite: [Quiet]
QUICK SUMMARY:
Good swimming, boogie boarding and excellent snorkeling around the rocky outcrop to the south. In recent years this beach is usually very uncrowded.
Fronting the old Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort, the hotel was slated for demolition and redevelopment into luxury condos when the bottom fell out of the real-estate market and $2-10 million vacation condos started looking just a tad bit expensive. Rumors abound, but as of yet there are no confirmed plans for the property.
A couple enjoys Mokapu Beach all to themselves.
Bad news if you were in line with your spare millions, but great news for beach goers who don’t have to fight though the maze of hotel beach-chairs that once crowded this small beach.
The name is said to mean “sacred island” and refers to a small rock islet that used to be just offshore. But don’t strain too hard looking for it – all that remains to be seen of Mokapu Island today are bits of rock sticking out of the ocean – like Mokapu, many South Maui islets were blown to bits During WWII combat training exercises.
The parking lot is shared with Ulua Beach which is popular with dive instructors, so the lot sometimes fill up early in the day. If the lot is full, park at the south lot for Keawakapu Beach, and you can just walk over as these two beaches connect.
Key Info:
Location: End of Hale Ali’i Pl (access from Wailea Aluani Dr.) – See Google map below for exact location.
GPS Coordinates: 20.693337,-156.444089
Facilities: Bathrooms, showers, no lifeguards.
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