Kalepolepo Beach Park
Last updated 10. Oct, 2010 by Mark in Beaches, Beaches | South Maui, South Maui Beaches
Kalepolepo Beach Park
Rating: 
In a nutshell: Kalepolepo Beach Park is a historically significant Hawaiian fishpond and a quiet beach for those staying in the area.
Minuses: Out of the way for the bulk of visitors staying further South.
Sound-bite: “It’s nice to have what feels like your own private beach.”
DETAILS:
Note: Our star ratings are a generalized ratings based on how attractive a location is to visitors as a whole. For those more interested in Hawaiian culture or who are staying nearby, this particular beach and cultural site will be of greater interest.
A small but lovely beach in North Kihei. This was the historical site of a thriving Hawaiian village, and is an important cultural archeological site for native Hawaiians. In fact, this is among the most accessible fishponds open to the public today.
The ancient Hawaiian fish pond (Ko’ie’ie fishpond, one of three in the area) fronts the beach and walls the water off creating a calm shallow pool that is also perfect for keiki.
The beach here is small, and usually empty. With a dozen beaches that are the definition of perfection just minutes away, few visitors from the resorts further south will wind up coming here. From that perspective, this is more in the class of of a “convenience beach” left for residents and visitors staying in the area (yeah, we’re that spoiled here!) For those looking to get away from crowds, Kalepolepo is also a nice escape for a BBQ (there are several in the park) or to simply enjoy the sunset in peace.
An interesting fact is that the water in the fishpond is fed by natural springs just under the surface – ancient Hawaiians understood this, and it is one of the reasons this fishpond was among the highest class reserved only for the use of Hawaiian royalty.
Many readers will wind up purchasing a print guidebook for Maui, and chances are it will be the most popular book (ironically marketed as revealing secrets.) I mention this here because so many will rely on the information as fact, and the author appears to have skipped doing any fact-finding on the entire shoreline of North Kihei. He has carelessly discarded many miles of beaches with one inaccurate (and self-serving) paragraph. In reality these beaches have much to offer visitors seeking off-the-beaten-path experiences, and this site in particular has had many volunteers pour heart, soul, and sweat over many years and countless hours. (If you’re interested in learning more facts about this fishpond, NOAA has a very informative article here.)
Here is a really unique opportunity to connect with the culture and give back: you can give them a hand restoring the fishpond!
This video was put together by those who have dedicated themselves to preserving this site:
Key Info:
Location: South Kihei Rd, (Turn off after mi 5 from Hwy 31 aka Piilani Hwy)
GPS Coordinates: 20.763696,-156.459147
Facilities: BBQs & Picnic Tables, Port-a-potty. No lifeguards.
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One Response to “Kalepolepo Beach Park”
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Lorraine Arbuckle
29. Jan, 2011
We’re leaving Canada in 6 days to spend 2 weeks at the Menehune Shores Condos. I really enjoyed your video presentation on the fish pond in front of our condo. I look forward to seeing it in person and learning more about the history and restoration plans.