General Geographic Area: Central Maui

In a nutshell: Central Maui is the isthmus between West Maui and Haleakala. It is also where most business gets done on Maui. Visitors will pass through here several times, usually on the way to somewhere else.
Minuses: The Pu’unene Sugar Mill spewing smoke from its stacks into the blue sky sure is a buzzkill.
Sound-bite: “OMG, OGG!”

Central Maui is where Maui’s business gets done. The Kahului Airport and Harbor are where all our “stuff” (and people) come in. The Maui County government, Costco, WalMart, two protected wetlands and ‘Iao Valley…just to name a few of the many reasons you might end up in Central Maui on purpose. Like most of the island, there are also several absolutely spectacular beaches here – including the beach where kitesurfing was born.

Central Maui is comprised largely of the isthmus between West Maui and Haleakala. Kahului and Wailuku are the largest towns in this area. Most visitors will fly in to the Kahului airport.

While it is largely not a tourist destination in and of itself, Central Maui is a hub virtually every visitor will (and must) pass through several times. Traveling from either of the resort areas (West and South Maui) to any other region of Maui requires passing through Central Maui.

Central Maui has several main highways crossing through it, many of which you’re bound to find yourself on. Practically every visitor will take Airport Road, which turns into Dairy Road (Hwy 380) to the junction of 380 & 311. If you are staying in West Maui, you’ll continue on 380 (which becomes the Kuihelani Highway here) to the other side of the central valley. South Maui visitors will take the Mokulele Highway (Hwy 311) from the junction. If you happen to be one of the few lucky folks staying in on the North Shore, Upcountry or Road to Hana regions, you’ll be exiting Central Maui sooner, and by hanging a left onto Hana Highway (Hwy 36) at the K-Mart on Dairy Road.

Ma’alaia Harbor, the Maui Ocean Center and ‘Iao Valley are among the main tourist attractions in Central Maui – but many visitors will find themselves shopping at one of the big box stores, supermarkets or Central Maui’s only two-story shopping mall, the Ka’ahumanu Center. (Don’t be tempted to avoid trying to pronounce Ka’ahumanu by calling it the “Maui Mall” – especially if you’re asking for directions – there is a shopping center/strip mall just a bit down the same road with that very name.)

For more specific information on Central Maui, browse the Central Maui category.

You may also be interested in:

• Maui Coffee Roasters
• Amigo’s Kahului
• Ba-Le Sandwiches (Kahului)

Windsurfer launching at Sprecks Beach with a view down the Spreckelsville Beaches

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

In a nutshell: Spreckelsville Beach is a long string of rarely-used beaches and tidepools, largely in a raw, natural state. Frequently used by fishermen and windsurfers. Regular-old-tourists probably don’t want to bother.
Minuses: Directly in flight path of Kahului Airport. Camp One end of beaches has tendency to attract some “iffy-characters.”
Sound-bite: “Raw beauty that will be appreciated by those with an adventuresome spirit.”

DETAILS:
Actually more than one beach, this long stretch of beach is most popular with windsurfers, fishermen, and Maui’s well-hidden homeless population (Camp One specifically.) Like much of Maui, these beaches are very pretty, and are easily enjoyed. That said, my rating is low mainly because of the two main problems here (both on the Camp One end): 1) The chances of running into a not-so-friendly vagrant is higher than in most places, and, 2) Camp One is directly under the flight-path of the Kahului airport. Since the airport is right next to the beach, we’re talking low altitude fly-by’s. The flight path thing isn’t much of a deal early in the day, or the further away from Camp One you go. But later on (when flights increase in frequency and the novelty of counting rivets on the belly of the planes wears off) it can be an ambiance killer. In fact, this beach is so close that airspace here is under the control of the FAA, and kitesurfing is prohibited due to the danger it could pose to an abnormally low flying plane.

The names of the beaches in order from west to east (see map below) are: Camp One, Sprecks Beach, Lobster Cove and Sugar Cove. Sprecks Beach actually has a decent sized parking lot, and is a favorite for European Windsurfers (hence the nickname Euro Beach.) There are even a couple of rental houses on this beach for the privileged-class of the windsurfing set.

Sugar Cove access is from a few roads down, Nonohe Pl – frequently good for boogie boarding in the winter, Baby Beach is very close and much better for everything else.

Somewhere along Camp One Beach

If you would like to explore these beaches, drive in on Stable Road to the Specks Beach parking, and walk up – or park on the side of the area marked on the Google map below, and follow one of the web of dune-paths to the beach.

Be aware, the Camp One area is populated by a small amount of homeless people living in tents. Maui is not a violent crime prone place, and most homeless are not to be feared. But I do know someone just days before writing this, whose less valuable pocketbook contents ended up found strewn across the dunes here.

Some good information for Kiteboarders considering launching in these areas are available at the Maui Kiteboarding Association website.

Key Info:
Location: Stable Rd. (Off of Hana Hwy 36 between mile 4 & 5)
GPS Coordinates: 20.907729,-156.416345
Facilities: None
Get directions

View Sprecelsville Beach in a larger map

You may also be interested in:

• Ho’okipa Beach Park
• Keawakapu Beach
• Central Maui – Quick Summary