Airport Beach on Maui: Your Full Guide

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Airport Beach is one of Maui’s most popular snorkeling and swimming spots. While conveniently located in West Maui in Kaanapali, you can miss the crowds with a visit to Airport Beach (Kahekili Beach Park). 

With calm waters nearly year-round, we enjoy visiting Airport Beach for the large parking lot, grassy area, watching whales from shore from December through March, and the excellent snorkeling.

See why you should put Airport Beach on your Maui itinerary.

Where is Airport Beach?

Airport Beach is officially known as Ali’i Kahekili Nui Ahumanu Beach Park. The beach park is named after Kahekili II (c. 1737 – 1794), the chief or Ali’i of Maui. 

Locals refer to Kahekili Beach as Airport Beach because a runway used to end where the beach park is now located. There is a plaque telling the history of the airport and runway at the beach.

Located in West Maui, just north of Kaanapali Beach and Black Rock Beach. The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas is located just north of the park. See the Google Maps below to get your bearings on Maui.

Airport Beach is a prime location on Maui as it is 10 minutes (4.3 miles) north of Lahaina off the Honoapiilani Highway (Route 30) and 11 minutes (5.4 miles) south of Kapalua. 

Directions to Airport Beach: 65 Kai Ala Dr, Lahaina, HI 96761

If you’re planning to visit the historic town of Lahaina or explore West Maui for the day, then Airport Beach is one of the best beaches near Lahaina.

We have a full day dedicated to West Maui in our Maui itineraries. If you’re tired of planning your Hawaii vacation, let us do the job for you! Learn more below.

What to Expect at Airport Beach

Airport Beach is one of the nicest beach parks on Maui. It boasts a large beach, amenities, free parking, and more. But it doesn’t have a lifeguard on duty!

The views from Airport Beach are spectacular. You will be able to see the islands of Lanai and Molokai. On a clear day, Molokai is gorgeous, with lush rainforest covering the ancient volcano. 

Making our 17 Best Beaches on Maui list, Airport Beach is a fan favorite and underrated by many. The beach made our 33 Best Things to Do on Maui, too!

Great for a Beach Walk

Flanked by some of the nicest Kaanapali Resorts, the beach is located on the Kaanapali Beach Boardwalk, so the beach is walkable from the resorts. 

Airport Beach is part of the larger North Kaanapali Beach stretch. From the back of Black Rock, starting at May’s Beach, all the way to Honua Kai Resort and Spa, you can walk the full 1.5-mile stretch of golden sand.

Located on West Maui, you can enjoy beautiful sunsets, especially during the summer, from the Airport Beach boardwalk.

Parking at Airport Beach

Airport Beach boasts a large parking lot just off the highway. Parking is free in the public parking lot. The parking lot is directly connected to the beach park so you don’t have to haul your beach stuff very far.

We haven’t had an issue finding a spot at various times of the day. But during the summer and holidays on Maui, the parking lot may fill up. If you’re worried about getting a spot, then we recommend getting there by 10:00 AM. 

One drawback is if the parking lot is full, there is no street parking or alternative parking lots. The resorts on either side of the beach park do not have public parking. 

A nice bonus is the parking lot is shaded by monkeypod trees. The second bonus is there is an electric car charging station in the parking lot (level 2, Clipper Creek charger).

Airport Beach Amenities

Airport Beach has some of the nicest amenities compared to other Maui Beach Parks. You can find picnic tables, BBQ grills, garbage cans, and a large gazebo located on a large grass lawn. 

You will not find a restaurant or fruit stand at the beach park so it is best to pack some snacks.

Bathroom facilities are kept relatively clean at the gazebo. There is also a shower station near the beach. The boardwalk is between the gazebo and the beach. 

Palm trees line the beach but they provide little shade. For shade, come early to be under the palm fronds and plan to move with the sun!

Whale Watching from the Shore

Over 10,000 humpback whales visit the Hawaiian Islands between December and March every year. Most of them visit the channel between Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, making whale watching from Airport Beach a must!

Whales can get close to the shore at Airport Beach. They will swim among the sailboats moored just offshore. 

Chill on the beach and watch for breaches, blowholes, and pec slaps.

Swimming at Airport Beach

Swimming is good at Airport Beach but the shore break can be strong. Entry into the water requires some timing with the waves as the beach isn’t located in a protected bay or cove.

The sand can drop off steeply during the winter into the water. Making for a fun run into the waves but kids and beginner swimmers should exercise caution on entering the water. 

See Baby Beach Lahaina for a great kid-friendly beach in the area.

Once in the water, the water depth drops steadily as you get farther from shore. You can float, play in the surf, or get some exercise swimming along the shore. 

We recommend signing up for The Snorkel Report for daily snorkeling and swimming conditions in Kaanapali.

Snorkeling at Airport Beach

Snorkeling is excellent at Airport Beach! Snorkeling is one of the main reasons we come here. As one of our favorite snorkel spots near Lahaina (West Maui), you will find clear water, a vibrant reef, and abundant Hawaiian fish here.

Moray eels are also frequently spotted on the reef at Airport Beach. 

While Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles can be found swimming along the shore and munching on seaweed, we recommend visiting Kapalua Bay or Napili Bay for a better chance of seeing them.

You will find many scuba classes and tours departing from Airport Beach. We usually see two or three scuba vans parked at the beach with divers walking into the ocean from the beach. If you’re interested in a snorkel tour of Maui, many of the best leave from West Maui. See our favorite Maui snorkel tours for ideas!

Airport Beach Safety

Conditions can change abruptly in Hawaii; we recommend signing up for The Snorkel Report and paying attention to ocean conditions. 

While Airport Beach is on the dry side of Maui, the beach is close to northwest Maui, so rain showers and winds can come off the West Maui Mountains throughout the day.

There are no lifeguards on duty at Airport Beach! 

Avoid swimming too far from shore as the current can get strong in the channel.

Visit Airport Beach and More

Planning your perfect trip to Maui just got easier. With our download-and-go itinerary, we take you to the best sights all over the island. Plus, with our Quick Hits section, you always have recommendations for the best restaurants, beaches, and snorkeling spots at your fingertips.

Planning Maui was OVERWHELMING so I stumbled onto the Hawaii Vacation Guide Youtube page and ordered the Wayfinder itinerary. It was not expensive at all! I thought ok well I hope this helps. WOW! It planned out every day perfect down to finding free parking with what to pack and what to expect. We got to see almost all of the island and hit spots we would have never known about despite buying two books on Maui.

Paula M.