The 15 Best Things to do in Kapalua and Napili
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The idyllic, crescent-shaped beaches of Kapalua and Napili are some of the most beautiful places in West Maui. Nestled on the northwestern coast of the Valley Isle, this area is a bit more isolated than the popular resort towns of Kihei and Wailea and enjoys a laidback feel, stunning landscapes, and epic whale watching in the winter months. Once the playground of Hawaiian Royalty, it’s not difficult to see why this was such a cherished place.
You can easily spend several days exploring this area, we certainly have! In case you’re short on time, we’ve narrowed it down a bit to help you decide. Whether you’re eager to find the best snorkeling spots, practice your golf swing, or fly above the tree line, these are the best things to do in Kapalua and Napili.
Get all your Maui resources in one place:
Check out our Maui Travel Guide for everything you need to know about the island.
West Maui is open again, so be sure to get up to date with visiting Maui after the fires.
Maui is easily the best island for whale watching, so if you’re planning a winter visit our Maui Whale Watching Guide will be a huge help.
Planning a Maui vacation can be overwhelming, but grabbing a Maui Itinerary will help you cut through the noise and get to all the good stuff.
Where are Kapalua and Napili?
Sitting in the shadow of the Pu’u Kuhui volcano, Kapalua and Napili are located on the northwest side of Maui, north of the town of Ka’anapali. West Maui is connected to the rest of the island by an isthmus and has unique, peninsula-like geography that juts out towards the Au’au Channel, which also makes this one of the best places for whale watching from the shore in the winter!
Kapalua and Napili are near the border of the leeward and windward sides of Maui, which can make it a little more difficult to predict weather and winter swells. Technically, this area is on the leeward side. This portion of the island sees less rain than north Maui as the trade winds flow over the nearby mountains and expel most of their precipitation there, but Kapalua’s location close to the windward side of the island also means that weather can be a bit more nuanced.
At times, this part of the island sees a bit more rain than areas like Lahaina or Ka’anapali further south. This climate tends a bit more of a tropical vibe here than the other leeward cities in West Maui.
Is it Worth Visiting Kapalua and Napili?
Yes! Not only are two of our favorite beaches located here, we love staying in Kapalua and Napili for a more relaxed, laid-back vibe than Maui’s resort towns of Kihei and Wailea. If you’re looking for a quiet part of the Valley Isle to call home base for your vacation, this is an excellent choice. Pristine beaches, some of the best swimming on the island, and proximity to plentiful natural beauty make it an absolute winner in our book!
Is Kapalua Good For Swimming?
Kapalua is often wonderful for swimming, especially Kapalua Bay with its protective reef and typically calm waters. Napili Bay, located just a few minute’s walk south of Kapalua, is another idyllic, crescent-shaped beach that’s great for swimming, snorkeling, and playing in the golden sand. Beaches do vary in Kapalua and some, like Oneoloa Beach and D.T. Fleming Beach, get potentially dangerous winter swells.
The northwest side of Maui turns up the heat in terms of currents and waves from December to March and large ocean swells can become dangerous. While this doesn’t mean you won’t be able to swim here in the winter, it is something to be aware of ahead of time.
Do Kapalua or Napili Have a Downtown?
No, Kapalua and Napili don’t have a designated downtown area, but they do have a collection of stores and restaurants where you can find anything you need. The Napili Plaza is the “hub” for shopping in the area. There are several small markets and grocery stores, as well as a weekly farmer’s market nearby if you happen to be in the area on a Wednesday or Saturday.
Both the Napili Market and the Honolua Store #89 are great places to grab a picnic lunch or to do your weekly grocery shopping in Kapalua. If you’re looking for a pharmacy, it’s just a 10-minute drive to the Times Honokawi Pharmacy or you’ll have to make the trip down to the Walgreens in Lahaina, which survived the devastating fires in the area.
While you’re on Maui, don’t miss the other great things the island has to offer:
The 14 Best Things to Do in Wailea (+ how to get to Molokini FIRST)
14 Amazing Things to Do in Kihei: your South Maui bucket list
33 Things to Do on Maui (+Things to Skip)
The 15 Best Things to do in Kapalua and Napili:
1. Swim in Kapalua Bay
Kapalua Bay is our favorite beach on Maui! Yep, out of the 80 accessible beaches on the island, this is our #1. It was also voted as “America’s Best Beach” by Dr. Beach in 2018. If that’s not convincing enough, a simple Google search will reveal just how popular Kapalua Bay is and just look at this shoreline!
This beautiful, crescent beach is also possibly the best for swimming on the entire island of Maui. A reef at the mouth of the bay protects it from large swells while also providing a safe haven for wildlife. Aside from being just plain stunning, there are also a ton of fun activities to take part in like SUPing and snorkeling. This is one of our favorite snorkeling spots on the island for its plentiful and colorful sea life.
Keep in mind that if the parking lot is too crowded, you can also park on the street or park at the tennis club or Merriman’s for a fee. There are restrooms and outdoor showers at the beach park. There are no lifeguards at Kapalua Bay and currents become much stronger outside the bay itself. Always double-check conditions before swimming or snorkeling!
If Kapalua Bay is too crowded you can also head just a few minutes’ walk away to Napili Bay. Situated south of Kapalua, this is another picturesque stretch of sand on Maui. This is another one of the best snorkeling spots on Maui.
Check out our day hanging out at Kapalua Bay, and watch to the end to see Jordan crash our drone.
2. Hang with the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles
Tucked along the coast, just south of Napili Bay, is one of the best places to spot sea turtles on Maui: Honokeana Bay. While the beach here is rocky and not so great for a day sprawled out in the sand, it’s an incredible spot if you’re itching to see sea turtles.
You won’t even have to enter the water to spot them if you’d rather stay on dry land. You’ll see the turtles basking on nearby rocks or coming up for a breath of air, but nothing beats the magic of snorkeling alongside them.
Make sure to keep at least 10 feet of distance from sea turtles at all times, whether on land or in the water. This isn’t just a suggestion, sea turtles are protected by laws.
3. Kapalua Coastal Trail
Following along the coastline between Kapalua Bay and D.T. Fleming Beach, the Kapalua Coastal Trail makes for an exciting addition to your day – and a great way to get between these beaches for the adventurous. You’ll make your way through iconic Hawaiian scenery, from rocky cliffs overlooking the sea to stunning beaches and lava fields. The village trails are relatively easy at only 1.76 miles one way and 3.5 miles roundtrip.
Aside from the striking views of the ocean, you’ll also come across several historic areas and sacred lands. It’s not difficult to imagine why this area was so important to native Hawaiians as you walk along the trail. There are places to stop for some food or a drink along the way if you start feeling hungry, especially if you decide to do the roundtrip hike. Overall, this hike is a fun and easy way to see Kapalua and some of its rugged coast.
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4. Watch the surfers at D.T. Fleming Beach
Surfing was born in the Aloha State and there’s no better place in West Maui to catch waves or watch the pros catch them than at D.T. Fleming Beach. Winter swells, and even the trade winds in summer, make this spot ideal for both bodyboarding and surfing. It’s also a pretty beach, backed with ironwood trees, you certainly won’t be sacrificing beautiful beach views.
D.T. Fleming Beach is another spot that can be great for swimming in the summer months. But beware that the same shore break that makes D.T. Fleming ideal for surf also makes it dangerous for swimming in the winter. Powerful rip currents can form during this time of the year. There is always a lifeguard on duty who can advise whether or not it’s safe to swim and in fact, they’re a wonderful resource for visitors on both swells, currents, and ocean conditions.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite watching the surfers, head to #5 for a delicious bite to eat.
5. Eat at the Burger Shack
Tucked away, just behind DT Fleming Beach, the Burger Shack is a great place to grab a bite to eat after a long day in the sun. This casual restaurant serves up, as you might have guessed, delicious burgers alongside fish tacos and gourmet milkshakes. Kids will love their keiki menu while adults will be happy sipping one of their island-themed cocktails.
Sit outside beneath the swaying palm trees and string lights to enjoy your meal with sprawling panoramas of the ocean. The stunning views of the turquoise water and Moloka’i looming in the distance are the perfect backdrop to your burger feast.
6. Pick up Produce at the Napili Farmer’s Market
The Napili Farmer’s Market is held every week on Wednesdays and Saturdays. This is a wonderful place to try out local, Hawaiian produce like lilikoi and dragonfruit, or to grab essentials for a beach picnic. It’s also a great way to experience Hawaii’s local culture and infectious sense of community.
Check out the Napili Farmer’s Market in our video following our staycation in Napili, you’ll also see the Burger Shack, Nakalele Blowhole (#9 on this list), and Honolua Bay (#14 on this list).
7. Enjoy Sunset from Napili Bay
Napili Bay is truly a spectacular beach throughout the day, but the real magic happens at sunset. Watching the sun sink into the sea, framed on either side by palm trees, is a strikingly beautiful sight and a must-do if you’re staying in or near Kapalua. This is our favorite sunset spot in West Maui.
8. Kapalua Ziplines
Ready for an adventure? Hawaii is well known for its epic ziplines and Kapalua Ziplines has one of the best in Maui. While the beach and ocean usually get all the glory, this is one of the most exciting inland activities in the area. You’ll fly above the jungle treetops at a maximum height of 300’ with views of the ocean. You can choose from either their four or six-line tour, but we recommend the six-line which also happens to be their most popular run.
The dual lines make this ziplining adventure even more fun as you’ll be able to race your family and friends or sometimes even hold hands for the romantics. Their ziplines are only half the adventure as you’ll make your way around the property by ATV and have the chance to walk across the longest suspension bridge in Hawaii.
Check out my experience in this video! I was nervous to start, but it went by so fast and I was ready to go again!
9. Nakalele Blowhole
Best viewed when there’s big surf, the Nakalele Blowhole is one of the coolest spots in West Maui. This geographic phenomenon was formed as the ocean eroded the lava shelf, causing a hole to form where water explodes with each passing wave. If you catch the blowhole on a particularly powerful day it can shoot upwards of 50’ in the air.
You’ll need to drive down a dirt road to reach this area. We don’t suggest you go any further than this out of respect for locals – and because the road becomes quite narrow.
The Nakalele Blowhole is perfectly seen from about 50 meters from the parking area. There’s no need to walk down to the blowhole to view it and in fact, it can be really dangerous (especially with young children) to get closer. While this is a super fun activity and a unique natural phenomenon, you’ll need to be very careful! Several people have died getting sucked into the Nakalele Blowhole or nearby ocean.
10. Enjoy Dole Whip from the Honolua Store
Trying Dole Whip on your trip to Hawaii is practically a rite of passage in the Aloha State. You can’t come here without sampling this frozen treat. Made from Hawaiian pineapples and swirled into a small tower of creamy goodness, this is the perfect treat on a hot day – or a winter’s day for that matter. The best place to grab a bowl in Kapalua is at the Honolua Store.
11. Golf
If you’re a golf fanatic, you’ve come to the right place. Kapalua’s golf courses are open to the public and feature both incredible views and amenities like restaurants and pro shops.
Sign up for the Kapalua Golf Academy or head straight to the course. The Bay Course is championship grade and has the only hole on Maui that overlooks the ocean. With few trees to obscure your views, this course might have some of the best scenery on the entire island. The Plantation Course has frequently been voted as the best golf course in Hawaii, so you can’t go wrong with either option.
12. Breakfast at the Gazebo
The Gazebo has hands down the best breakfast in West Maui. At the left end of Napili Bay, their macadamia nut pancakes are legendary but they also serve traditional breakfast fare and some lunch options as well. Be prepared to wait in line, but trust us – it’s worth it!
13. Slack Key Show
Slack-key guitar playing was invented in Hawaii and gained popularity around the time of the steel guitar and ukulele. Achieved by lowering a guitar’s strings to have varying, open tunes, you might have heard its smooth and relaxing melodies before without even realizing it. The Slack Key Show, held every Wednesday night at 6:30 pm at the Napili Kai Resort, is a great introduction to this traditional music. Grab a drink from the bar and enjoy the show as the sun slips into the sea.
14. Snorkel in Honolua Bay
There’s a reason that so many charters show up in Honolua Bay as a part of their tours – it’s breathtaking! This is one of our favorite snorkeling spots in all of West Maui. Snorkeling here is extra special because of the variety, and size, of the fish you’ll see, a result of the marine life conservation district. Stick to the rocky areas and there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to spot eels and sea turtles.
Try to get to Honolua Bay as early as possible as parking spots can be difficult to snag. It fills up especially quickly in the high season. Getting to the beach takes only a pretty, 200-yard walk beneath a huge banyan tree and other jungle scenery.
15. Head to Happy Hour at the Sea House
Situated on the right-hand side of the gorgeous Napili Bay, Sea House Restaurant has some of the most beautiful, oceanfront dining on Maui. While lunch and dinner are equally as good, Sea House didn’t win the Maui Award for Best Happy Hour for nothing. Served from 2:00 to 4:45 pm, you can nibble on delicious apps like poke nachos or coconut shrimp, alongside a Mai Tai with views of the sparkling sea. Even better, these happy hour prices are outstanding!
Plan With Confidence
So you have an awesome list of what to do in Kapalua and Napili, but there’s still so much of Maui to discover! From Molokini snorkels to the Road to Hana to amazing food trucks, we’ve taken all the hard work out of planning and compiled it into an easy to follow, grab-and-go itinerary.
We just returned home and wanted to thank you so much for sharing your adventures and tips. From Haleakala to Mamma’s Fish House (amazing) to O’o Farm, you gave so many great ideas that we completely enjoyed. Especially your tips on the Road to Hana. What we thought was was a once in a lifetime vacation. Now may be another.
Dan & Jennifer Schmidt
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Get all the details on our itinerary and download it for a memorable and easily planned trip to Maui.