Maui Guidebook

Keawakapu Beach

Last updated 08. May, 2011 by Mark.

Keawakapu Beach

Rating:

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

Summary:
Half-mile 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.

Details:
The shoreline is fully developed here, including impressive beach houses, hotels, condos and restaurants. Much of the development has been kept a tasteful distance from …

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Chang’s Beach & Five Graves (aka Ulupikanui Beach & Pamolepo)

Last updated 03. Oct, 2010 by Mark.

Chang’s Beach

Rating:

In a nutshell: A small uncrowded beach with great snorkeling and diving.
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.

The star rating strikes a balance between those coming here to snorkel or dive, and those coming for just the beach. If I were rating just on snorkel/dive it would be top-rated. The beach is nice, but not worthy of the …

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Mokapu Beach

Last updated 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 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 …

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Ulua Beach

Last updated 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 beginner to intermediate snorkeling around the rocky outcrop on the north end of the beach. 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 marketing. Ulua is the name of perhaps the most popular Hawaiian game fish, so it was …

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One’uli Black Sand Beach (aka Naupaka Beach)

Last updated 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, diving 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 Pu’u Ola’i cinder cone, a prominent geological landmark feature which can be seen from points up and down the coast. Appropriately, oneuli means “dark sands” …

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Kalepolepo Beach Park

Last updated 10. Oct, 2010 by Mark.

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 …

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Beaches: Ma’alaea to Central Kihei

Last updated 18. Oct, 2011 by Mark.

A typical stretch of Sugar Beach along South Kihei Rd.

Rating:

In a nutshell: South Kihei Road passes along scenic shoreline with long beaches.
Minuses: It’s all relative!
Sound-bite: [wind]

Summary:
North & South Kihei Road hugs the coastline from Ma’alaea through Kihei. The northern end of these beaches seem to have been heaven-made for launching canoes, walking, running and beachcombing.

Wind here is often stronger in the afternoon, so it is great for kite and windsurfing, but laying in the sand during this time can often become a sandblasting …

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TSUNAMI WARNING OVER

Last updated 12. Mar, 2011 by Mark.

A tsunami has passed through the state, generated by a massive 8.9 Earthquake in Japan.

State Civil Defense has now canceled the tsunami warning.

Crews have cleared Honoapiilani Highway in both directions, for Kihei and Lahaina bound motorists. Crews have also cleared Keolani Place, the only road to Kahului International Airport.

Department of Water Supply workers have also restored water service to all areas.

Lower Honoapiilani Hwy, North Kihei Road, South Kihei Road, Lower Waiehu Beach Road, Kahului Beach Road, Hobron Avenue and Amala Street remain closed.

Shelter officials have …

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