The 9 Best South Maui Beaches: Map Included!
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South Maui has some of the best beaches on the entire “Valley Isle”. With 120 miles of sprawling coastline, 30 miles of which are beautiful beaches, there’s no shortage of bustling bays near popular resorts, sprawling and pristine coastline, and coves that are hidden away beneath the palm trees.
Unique features like black sand and views of neighboring islands in the distance make Maui a truly special place to clock in some beach time. Skip doing your own research and follow our list of the 9 best South Maui beaches.
Take the stress out of vacation planning, we have all the bases covered here:
1. Pick when you want to visit Hawaii and there’s even a best time to visit Maui.
2. Explore our Where to Stay database for the best lodging in Hawaii.
3. Book your rental car with this site, they’ve saved us thousand on Hawaii car rentals!
4. We recommend that you at least do one tour or activity on your trip. From sunset cruises to luaus to whale watching, they add a lot to your vacation!
5. Since you’re so close to Molokini in South Maui, make sure you check out one of the best Molokini snorkeling tours!
Does South Maui (Wailea, Kihei, and Makena) Have Good Beaches?
South Maui has some of the best beaches on the entire island. Visitors can look forward to long, sweeping coasts, beautiful blue water, and even unique beach features like lava flows.
There are three main beach areas in South Maui: Wailea, Kihei, and Makena. The beaches in Wailea are often touted as being some of the most beautiful in the world, while Kihei beaches are known for their excellent snorkeling, and Makena has some of the most secluded and pristine beaches on the island.
What Part of Maui Has the Nicest Beaches?
Maui’s plentiful beaches make it difficult to choose which area takes the cake for the nicest beaches. West and South Maui’s beaches are best for swimming while the North and East side of Maui’s beaches are absolutely stunning and rugged, but they aren’t great for swimming.
Overall, most people would probably agree that South Maui has the nicest beaches on the island, and if not the nicest, at least the most plentiful! With well over a dozen different beaches to choose from, there’s a little something for everyone. Pair this with South Maui’s typically calm waters and you have a match made in Hawaii beach heaven.
It’s incredibly important to keep beach and ocean safety in mind when you’re swimming on Maui. Dangerous rip currents are common and intense swells can occur at any time. Always obey the lifeguard flags, ask the on-duty lifeguard for advice if you’re unsure, and, most importantly, if in doubt, don’t go out!
South Maui Beaches Map
More South Maui resources:
14 Amazing Things to Do in Kihei: your South Maui bucket list
The 14 Best Things to Do in Wailea (+ how to get to Molokini FIRST)
Don’t Miss the 15 Best Restaurants in Wailea & Kihei (by category!)
The 9 Best Beaches in South Maui
1. Kalama Park
Located in Kihei, Kalama Park is a sprawling, waterfront park where festivals and other community events take place throughout the year. While Kalama Park isn’t the best beach for swimming, it’s a wonderful option for land-based activities – all overlooking the beautiful oceanfront!
Take part in basketball, tennis, skateboarding, inline skating, baseball, soccer, or bring the kids to the playground and to run on the huge grassy area. There is a tiny, sand beach and while you can certainly swim here, the ocean floor is shallow and rocky, making it difficult to swim or snorkel near the shore.
One of Maui’s best surf schools, Maui Wave Riders, leaves straight from Kalama Park if you’re looking to learn from the pros. They offer private and semi-private lessons, depending on which experience you’re looking for and your experience level in general.
Get The Maui Itinerary
The step-by-step itinerary takes you to all the best beaches, snorkeling spots, restaurants, and sights. You’ll get six carefully planned excursion days to help you see the can’t miss stops no matter how limited your time is.
Get all the details on our itinerary and download it for a memorable and easily planned trip to Maui.
2. Kamaole I, II, and III
Kamaole I, II, and III are a series of three beaches in the Kihei region of Maui. These are some of the most popular beaches in all of Kihei and offer up everything from great swimming conditions to beautiful white sand, parking lots, bathroom, and picnic tables. Walk along their golden sand while taking in striking views of Kahoolawe and Lanai in the distance. Several rocky areas separate the beaches from each other.
Kamaole I and II are the largest of the bunch, while Kamaole III is quite small. The calm waters at Kamaole I and II are great for snorkeling and swimming. Kamaole III can occasionally have rough waves which make it better suited for bodyboarding and surfing. Kamaole II is the best of the bunch for bringing children as its calm waters are ideal for splashing around in the shallows.
While all three of these Kamaole beaches have lifeguards, keep in mind that they aren’t always present. Check Maui’s official website for ocean conditions and safety protocols.
3. Keawakapu Beach
Over a half mile long of pristine coastline, Keawakapu Beach feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of the popular Kihei trio, Kamaole I, II, and III. There are no big hotels that line the beach here meaning that you won’t run into throngs of resort-goers or those looking to grab a cabana. Instead you’ll find peaceful solitude, wonderful swimming, and one of the best spots to see the sunset on
Maui. Keawakapu Beach is often overshadowed by its neighbors, a strange phenomenon as it offers great amenities like showers and bathrooms. Walk to the northern end of the beach to see the tidepools, alive with spiny sea urchins and spindly brittle starfish. This is a great activity to bring the kids along for.
Another crowning glory of Keawakapu Beach is that there are two large parking lots. That’s right, two! As this beach doesn’t have any nearby resorts, the Wailea Ekahi Village is a wonderful option for staying close to Keawakapu Beach and its peaceful atmosphere.
4. Ulua Beach
Ulua Beach is one of the best spots on Maui for snorkeling, as well as a popular destination for scuba diving. Just below the surface is a treasure trove of reefs and coral that support tropical fish and sea turtles. More experienced snorkelers will want to seek out the northern part of Ulua Beach while those who are just starting out can stick to the shallows.
A slightly inclined beach that leads up a grassy hill, dotted with palm trees, Ulua Beach’s crescent shaped bay is a beautiful place to soak in the sun or simply swim. There are also excellent facilities onsite like restrooms, showers, and parking but be aware that no lifeguards are on duty.
Ulua Beach’s status as one of the best places to snorkel and dive on Maui means that it can get crowded with both locals and visitors. This can also make parking difficult so be sure to get here early if you know you’ll want to visit!
If you’re looking to stay nearby, the closest resort to Ulua Beach is the Wailea Beach Resort
5. Wailea Beach
Wailea Beach is your quintessential Hawaiian beach with swaying palm trees that line the coast. This beach’s crescent shape, surrounded by lava fields, makes it one of the most beautiful beaches on Maui.
Situated in front of both the Grand Wailea and the Four Seasons, Wailea Beach has multiple public beach access points and a myriad of different activities like snorkeling, that leave from the beach itself. While you should expect resort vibes with umbrellas, beach chairs, and cabanas, it is possible to get away from the crowds as the beach is wide and spacious.
Wailea Beach might not be great for snorkeling but plenty of marine life, like sea turtles, are swimming just below the surface. You’ll find free public parking, restrooms, and showers, amenities that take this beach to the top of our list.
6. Polo Beach
Polo Beach is a beautiful stretch of coast where two sandy crescents converge to create a small, rocky tombolo. There are tons of amenities at this beach including plenty of parking, showers, bathrooms, and just easy access to the beach in general. Polo Beach is one of the better beaches on Maui for snorkeling and it’s possible to have good boogie boarding conditions here too!
Head towards the south end of the beach for thinner crowds and a more calm atmosphere than the often busy and congested end that’s in front of the Fairmont Kea Lani and the Polo Beach Club.
If you do plan to snorkel, stick to the northern side of the beach which has a nice reef to explore. Like some of the other beaches on Maui, there are dangerous rip currents at times, especially in the winter. That mixed with a lack of lifeguards on duty makes this a beach you don’t want to turn your back on.
And if you want to head out from the shore, we just did this excellent canoe snorkeling trip and loved it! It leaves right from Polo Beach two times per day.
7. Maluaka Beach
Maluaka Beach is a hidden gem tucked away just south of Wailea. If you’re a lover of turquoise waters, white sand, and pristine views, this beach is for you. Usually having calm ocean conditions, Maluaka Beach is ideal for both swimming and snorkeling.
Either end of the beach provides wonderful snorkeling opportunities where you’re bound to see marine wildlife like colorful fish, including wrasse and parrotfish, as well as more unique sea creatures like eels, octopi, and the ever popular, sea turtles.
Maluaka Beach is a quieter beach than most you’ll find on Maui due to its location in the more peaceful Makena area. Its secluded vibes are also partially due to the parking lot being tucked away and essentially hidden from the main road.
Our favorite Molokini snorkeling tour, the Kai Kanani Boat, leaves from this beach if your interest piques with views of the tiny, mysterious island in the distance. Parking for Maluaka Beach is near the northern end of Makena Road.
8. Makena Beach (Big Beach)
Makena Beach, also known as Big Beach, is made up of two different beaches (both Little and Big Beach) that collide to create a massive stretch of sand that is ⅔ of a mile long! Located at the very southern tip of Wailea, inside the Makena Beach State Park itself, Makena Beach is unique for South Maui beaches in that there are no resorts in sight.
Stroll along the beach with views of Molokini and Kahoolawe in the distance or swim along its pristine shores. This is one of the largest undeveloped beaches on the entire island of Maui!
Makena Beach has tons of paid parking, restrooms, showers, and picnic tables. Beware of rip tides as Makena Beach is known for them due to its dangerous shore-break, and stay alert of any flags or warning signs. Although there are typically lifeguards on duty, it’s always a good idea to stay alert. And as always, when in doubt, don’t go out.
Know before you go: Little Beach, separated from Big Beach by volcanic rock, is known as Maui’s nude beach. Keep this in mind if you’re planning on visiting to avoid a potential surprise.
9. Secret Cove
The grand finale to our list of the best beaches in south Maui though? Secret Cove Beach! The pathway to this beach is tucked between two houses and many people don’t even know it exists. This tiny cove packs a big punch with spectacular views of the ocean, fringed with palm trees and rocky lava outcrops. Secret Cove is a popular option for those that are looking to get married on the beach as it offers seclusion and truly stunning scenery.
Sometimes you can catch local cliff divers jumping off nearby bluffs into the water but we wouldn’t recommend this risky activity. Instead, live it up back on the beach taking in the stunning panoramas with your toes in the golden sand. These same rocks make swimming at Secret Cove borderline impossible and if not, at the very least, painful. This beach is really a loungers paradise at heart.
Related reads:
Tried and Tested: The 9 Best Snorkeling Tours on Maui
The Ultimate Guide to Whale Watching on Maui: Best Tours and Tips
The 16 BEST Maui Farm Tours on You Don’t Want to Miss
Get the Best Maui Itinerary
You know the best South Maui beaches, now it’s time to plan your trip to visit them! We’ve done all the leg work of vacation planning in our Maui Itinerary, so all you have to do is download, book, and go. We cover where to stay, where to eat, whether you need a rental car, all the way down to what to pack for each day out. We don’t miss a beat so that you don’t either.
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Get The Maui Itinerary
The step-by-step itinerary takes you to all the best beaches, snorkeling spots, restaurants, and sights. You’ll get six carefully planned excursion days to help you see the can’t miss stops no matter how limited your time is.
Get all the details on our itinerary and download it for a memorable and easily planned trip to Maui.