MauiGuidebook.com In Hawaii full public nudity is technically illegal, however there are several beaches where that technicality is overlooked by patrons of the beaches and enforcement.
There have been enforcement efforts in the past, and it has been ruled that exposing breasts is not considered nudity. However, there is a significant portion of the local population who are offended by nudity, including bare breasts, so if you plan on popping the top it would be best to do it where it is expected.
Little Beach – No inhibitions here! By far the most well known (and populated) clothing optional beach – in Makena (South Maui). Little Beach Page
Red Sand Beach – Once a place where most got nude, now that visitors have found out about it you’ll probably have plenty of clothed company. In Hana. Red Sand Beach Page
(Paia) Secret Beach – A lesser-known secluded clothing optional beach on the North Shore known by locals simply by this catchall name (there are many beaches called “secret”.) Paia Secret Beach Page
Others – There are a few other secluded beaches and coves scattered about, and some, like Baldwin Beach Cove where topless sunbathing is common, but full nudity is not. You may also discover nude bathers in the jungle if you hike to more remote pools and waterfalls. The upper pools at Twin Falls also periodically has folks swimming in their birthday suits; the owners of the land are said not to take issue with this.
Heta says:
Is little beach still a good place for the gay person to go sunbathing in the nude – I’ve just arrived in Maui 3rd May 2023
Gary says:
Yes, there are usually several gay and hertosexual couples on the beach. No judgement here.
Jay says:
I went to a nude beach in Maui in 2002 when I was in the navy I just can’t remember the name of it I do know we had to hike to it and the is a rock that looks like a wolf howling anyone know where this is
Coffee Roaster says:
My girlfriend went to Little Beach with her friend this week and had an ok time hanging out. Lots of people were there and because it’s not huge it feels pretty crowded. Seems like it’s the best beach for gay men right now, but still fun to visit. Big Makena beach is right next to it so it’s still a great place to go because of the giant beach next to it which is a locals favorite. The metal gate was open. I think they lock it during covid lockdowns and at night only.
Ronnie says:
I’m fixin to go to Hawaii for the first time I want to go to a nude beach and meet some cute gay guys is there a lot of guys there to choose from
Mike says:
Visiting this September, where are the best nude beaches to visit. Wife and I are looking for a well accepted area, without camera goofs etc. Thanks
Jami Ouellette says:
Did you find any open?
Anthony says:
We are planning to go to Hawaii for our first time. We would like to go to nude beaches. We are trying to figure out what hotels are near or close by.
Any advice on the locations?
joe says:
We were just in Maui. Little Beach is not only closed, but there is an iron fence blocking access, so forget about it. We went to secret beach in Pa’ia, which the locals seemed to call baby beach. There were very few people there, but I enjoyed it and no one bothered me while I was naked. The water is a bit rough, but so is the surf at Little Beach. The only downside to me was that there were so few people there at the beach.
Dennis says:
I was there today, the gate is open!
Cliff says:
Yes but can people still go nude there?
Matt says:
Yes, we went yesterday.
Shane says:
Do we know if LB is still open at this point? We would like to stop by in a couple of weeks.
Ben says:
I was on Little Beach in March 2021. Small hike over lava rocks. No big deal. No closed gates either. Lots of nude sunbathing.
Sam says:
My wife and I have visited most of the semi-official nude beaches in Maui, Kauai and the Big Island, along with several that were not so designated but were private enough to not be seen. Little Beach was our first, but least enjoyable for us because it was almost exclusively guys who were nude (me because of visual preference, her for company). Worse is the crowds of fully people in chairs under umbrellas just sitting there. Pretty blatant.
That didn’t stop me from shooting over 1000 shots. On the side closest to the entrance trail, we were quite separated from everyone and as far as I could tell, nobody was paying the slightest attention. Quite a few kids too.
We liked Paia Secret Beach much more as it and the adjacent south end of Baldwin were almost empty. I like to shoot my beloved nude and we were completely out of sight – though it didn’t matter of course.
This beach was at least 50% nude and very uninhibited.
Will check out Dragon’s Teeth at some point.
Kamaaina says:
I second Dragon’s Teeth!
PAPPY says:
There are no laws prohibiting nudity on Hawaiian beaches unless they are state parks. It is not “technically illegal” if you are on the (non state park) beach.
Mark says:
I don’t know the validity of the State Park claim, but if true, that would make the most popular nude beach (Little Beach) technically illegal being that it is part of Makena State Park.
Lars Mead Johnson says:
Simple, non-lewd, non-sexual nudity on the beach in Hawaii is not illegal, contrary to what 95% of people believe. It is only illegal at state park beaches. … There is a Hawaii State Obscenity Code that deals with public nudity, but two unanimous State Supreme Court decisions in September 2000 settled the issue.Dec 4, 2014
Is It Legal to be Nude on Little Beach? – Maui Bloggers Zone
No name says:
Pappy’s right. Per the cult of sunbathing, nudity in Hawaii is legal at any place other than state and federal grounds. However being lewd is illegal.
Steve says:
I recently (June 2016) was on Maui for 10 days. On 3 occasions I witnessed nude female sunbathers on beaches or green space with public access and in one case near a walk way. Seemed to be no issues.
Sara-Claire says:
For secluded west side tan line removal the most well known ‘secret’ spot is Makaluapuna Point, also knows as Dragon’s Teeth. The cliff face overlooking Oneloa Bay has many private spots. Best option for west side visitors as all these other spots are over an hour away.
Richard says:
Thanks for the tip. It does not, however look like it is used by nude people very often. A quick look at tripadvisor’s reviews for the place shows no mention of nude, nudity, or optional, out of over 300 reviews. You might get away with it, but that does not necessarily mean it is accepted.