Maui Guidebook

South Maui – Quick Summary

Posted on 28. Sep, 2009 by Mark.

General Geographic Area: South Maui

In a nutshell: South Maui is home to the spectacular world-class beaches of Kihei, Wailea and Makena. Wailea, to the south of this region, boasts exclusive word-class resorts and golf, while Kihei to the north is where you’ll find more down-to-earth hotels & condos.
Minuses: Once off the beach, the Kihei part of South…

Makena Big Beach (aka Oneloa)

Posted on 18. Jun, 2009 by lilikoi.

Big Beach is long, wide, beautiful, and extreme.

Rating:

In a nutshell: Big Beach is a beautiful, long, wide, undeveloped sandy beach. Impressive, with huge views and a large shore-break. Big Beach is a must-see.
Minuses: A wicked shore-break exists here when the surf is up that can be dangerous for the inexperienced.
Sound-bite: [monster crashing wave]

DETAILS:
One of the most outstanding beaches…

Wailea Beach

Posted on 17. May, 2009 by Walker.

Wailea Beach

Rating:

In a nutshell: Consistently rated one of the world’s best beaches. An absolutely outstanding beach.
Minuses: Crowded with resort guests and their accouterments.
Sound-bite: “Hey, is that Paris Hilton?”

DETAILS:
If you don’t mind a resort vibe and a crowd to go with it, Wailea Beach is truly an outstanding beach. The sand is perfect, the water calm…

Palauea Beach (aka White Rock)

Posted on 07. Jul, 2010 by Mark.

Palauea Beach

Rating:

In a nutshell: A long, beautiful sandy crescent set back from the wind.
Minuses: Development.
Sound-bite: “Is that Paul Blart?”

Details:
This is a nice, wide, uncrowded and lesser-known beach. You won’t see very many tourists here – mostly populated by a few local folks and fishermen, on weekends family and friends join in on the fun. What’s…

Po’olenalena Beach

Posted on 08. Jul, 2010 by Mark.

Po’olenalena Beach

Rating:

In a nutshell: A long, often uncrowded sandy beach.
Minuses: Has become more popular in recent years.
Sound-bite: “You may now kiss the bride!”

Details:
Po’olenalena is a nice, long sandy beach, that until recent years was mostly known only by locals. Because it has spectacular sunset views, and often becomes uncrowded late in the day, it is…

‘Ahihi Bay & Waiala Cove

Posted on 20. Jul, 2010 by Mark.

‘Ahihi Bay meets the road

Rating:

In a nutshell: ‘Ahihi Bay’s Waiala Cove is an excellent place for beginner to intermediate snorkelers, SCUBA and kayaking.
Minuses: Rocky & no sand.
Sound-bite: “Eh, Brah – don’t stand up!”

DETAILS:
Typically called ‘Ahihi Bay (or even Ahi Bay by mistaken visitors), Waiala Cove is a small semi-protected cove of the overall much larger ‘Ahihi Bay.…

Makena Little Beach

Posted on 20. Jun, 2009 by lilikoi.

Little Beach

Rating:

In a nutshell: Little Beach is where you go if you want to get nude with a bunch of other people. A beautiful beach, but gets crowded.
Minuses: Gawkers and creepy perverts are also attracted to this beach.
Sound-bite: “oowwwww…I forgot to apply sunscreen there!”

DETAILS:
The draw for most visitors here is nudity. While public nudity is technically illegal in…

Kama'ole Beach Park (I, II, III & Charley Young)

Posted on 11. Jun, 2009 by lilikoi.

Kama'ole Beach views are outstanding

Rating:

In a nutshell: Kama’ole is a very popular set of beaches for locals and visitors. Beautiful, long, 1.5 mile sandy beaches with incredible views of Molokini, Kaho’olawe and Lana’i islands. Kam III has one of the most regular South Maui shorebreaks for boogie-boarding. Snorkeling opportunities are plentiful. Full facilities and family friendly.…

Polo Beach

Posted on 07. Jul, 2010 by Mark.

Polo Beach

Rating:

In a nutshell: A pair of beautiful sandy crescents fronting the Polo Beach Club and the Fairmont Kea Lani.
Minuses: Can get crowded with resort guests & cabanas.
Sound-bite: “Where are the horses?”

Details:
A pair of beautiful sandy crescents join to form this beach. The south end fronts the Polo Beach Club and the north side the…

Keawakapu Beach

Posted on 30. Jun, 2010 by Mark.

Keawakapu Beach

Rating:

In a nutshell: Long sandy beach at the end of S. Kihei Rd.
Minuses: Can get sandblasting windy in the afternoons.
Sound-bite: “Beware the forbidden cove!”

Summary:
Half-mine long sandy beach, runs to the end of Kihei, where the road departs from the shoreline. Good for swimming, laying out, boogie boarding, snorkeling or just lazing in the sun.…

Mokapu Beach

Posted on 30. Jun, 2010 by Mark.

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 rocky outcrops. 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…

Ulua Beach

Posted on 30. Jun, 2010 by Mark.

Ulua Beach

Rating:

In a nutshell: Quarter-mile long pocket of sandy beach.
Minuses: Parking sometimes fills up early.
Sound-bite: [Children playing]

QUICK SUMMARY:
Good swimming, boogie boarding and excellent snorkeling around rocky outcrops. More crowded that its neighbor to the north, Mokapu Beach – here you know you’re in the Wailea Resort.

Like Polo Beach, the name was changed when Wailea Resort began…

One'uli Black Sand Beach (aka Naupaka Beach)

Posted on 22. Jun, 2009 by lilikoi.

Oneuli Black Sand Beach in Makena

Rating:

In a nutshell: Oneuli Black Sand Beach is an excellent beach for snorkeling and launching a kayak. It is also packed full of educational value for naturalists & geology buffs.
Minuses: Not a good “basking-and-bathing” beach.
Sound-bite: “hey, what’s that rumbling sound?”

DETAILS:
Part of Makena State Park, One’uli is found on the Wailea side of the…

Ulupikanui Beach (aka Chang’s Beach)

Posted on 15. Jul, 2010 by Mark.

Chang’s Beach

Rating:

In a nutshell: A small uncrowded beach with great snorkeling.
Minuses: Small beach, smaller parking.
Sound-bite: “The snorkel boats pull right up over there “

Details:
Ulupikanui Beach is a pleasant small beach in Makena fronting luxury vacation homes and the Makena Surf condos.

Ulupikanui means “large fig tree” and refers to a tree that used to exist on…

Beaches: North Kihei

Posted on 29. Jun, 2010 by Mark.

A typical stretch of beach along South Kihei Rd.

Rating:

In a nutshell: South Kihei Road passes along scenic shoreline with long beaches.
Minuses: Treated sewage and runoff.
Sound-bite: [cars]

Note:
All beaches are on S. Kihei Rd.; mile markers listed are on Pi’ilani Hwy. Unless cruising, best to take Pi’ilani and turn off at the appropriate point.

Summary:
South Kihei Road hugs…