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Best known for its reefs and snorkeling, Olowalu Beach is a very long beach that extends on both sides of MM 14 and provides a very pretty picnic spot. In addition to interesting hiking opportunities around Olowalu to Petroglyph Hill and even into Olowalu Valley, on a hot morning, the beach walk will be preferable, and kids can splash along the water’s edge. Park along the Hwy. on the makai/ocean side of Hwy. 30.
Park in the public parking lot at the corner at the corner of Shaw St. and Front St., across from 505 Front St. or park along Front St. further south (next to 409 Front St.) and use Access #202. Walk along the beach to Lahaina Harbor and the Lahaina Seawall. On another occasion, start at the seawall, after breakfast at the Pioneer Inn or the Sunrise Café (just behind the Inn) or end up after a walk at one of these eateries for breakfast or brunch.
Plenty of parking is available at the north end of Hanakao’o Beach Park where you can start your walk northward on the Ka’anapali beachwalk. This walk starts at the Hyatt Regency Maui Hotel, passes the other Ka’anapali Beach Resorts and condos until you reach the curved stretch of sand at Black Rock. As an alternative, try to find parking at any one of the public beach parking lots (Hyatt, Access #209; Marriott, Access #210; Ka’anapali Ali’i, Access #211; Westin, Access #212; Sheraton, Access #213) or park at Whaler’s Village and spend $10 for 3 hours of validated parking. Stop for a snack, lunch, shopping, pupus and refreshment breaks along the way at the Beach Walk Market or, in Whalers Village, the Beachside Grill at Leilani’s, or Hula Grill.
Pleasant and long (1 mile one-way), the Kahekili Beach Walk on the north side of Black Rock is bordered by ironwood trees, a large grassy area, restrooms, showers, and picnic tables. Across the highway from the Sugar Train Station, it’s an easy combination excursion with kids. Take Hwy. 30 past MM 25, turn left on Kai Ala Dr., and then right to reach the entrance to the large shady parking lot.
#1 - Start the morning by driving up Hwy. 30, make a left turn on Napilihau St. at MM 29 to a right turn on Lower Honoapi’ilani Hwy. Turn left turn at Hui Dr. for Napili Bay, park at Napili Shores, and walk through the resort to the Gazebo Restaurant for breakfast (early to get one of the 15 tables). Afterwards walk along Napili Beach to and through the Napili Kai Beach Club to Kapalua Bay and Beach.
#2 - Take Hwy. 30 about a mile past the Kapalua exit to the road on your right to the Plantation Golf Course, make a left into the clubhouse parking lot and start the morning with the best breakfast in West Maui at the Plantation House Restaurant (opens 8am)fronting on the Kapalua Plantation Golf Course.
#3 - Park along Hui Rd. (ignore “no parking” sign) off Lower Honoapi’ilani Hwy. near the Hale Napili and beach Access #218 to Napili Bay. Walk along Napili Beach northward to the Napili Kai Beach Club where you’ll find a path around the lava point, and the Sea House Restaurant, another option for breakfast (or lunch) with great views. Afterwards enter Kapalua Bay for another great beach walk and to spend the day swimming, snorkeling and relaxing on one of Hawaii’s best beaches.
Drive to Kapalua Pl. and beach Access #219 next to Kapalua Bay, walk along the beach or the lawn of Kapalua Bay Hotel to a Public Shore sign for Hawea Point. Follow the wide sand beach along the shoreline along Oneloa Bay (Ironwoods) as far as you want to go before retracing your steps.
Drive directly to Oneloa Bay, a lovely beach walk by itself, which can be accessed from Office Rd. on Ironwoods Lane. Along the way, if you did not already have breakfast at the Plantation House Restaurant, have breakfast at the Honolua Store on Office Rd. and pick up a picnic lunch at the same time for spending the day at Kapalua, Oneloa, D.T. Fleming or other beaches and coastal spots.
Drive past Office Rd., to the shoreline access sign, the first exit from Hwy. 30 past Kapalua, and on to Lower Honokahua Rd. Soon you’ll come to the wide sandy beach at pretty D.T. Fleming Park (Honokahua Bay). Park in the public parking area, walk the beach to Makalua-puna Point, within sight of the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Walk past Dragons Teeth to the great views at the end of the point. Return to the Ritz-Carlton, walk up the very pretty pathway to The Terrace restaurant for a Plantation Breakfast Buffet or to the Beachhouse Bar & Grill for lunch.
Drive on Hwy. 30 past Kapalua and Mokule’ia Bay to find roadside parking past the dirt road to Honolua Bay (just past MM 33 at the top of the hill). A dirt road leads around Lipoa Point with wonderful views back to Kapalua. Drive a short way to the end of Lipoa Point and the dirt road access to beautiful Punalau Beach for a walk. Lipoa Point, with tiny snorkeling coves, and Punalau Beach both are perfect picnic spots.
Drive north past Honolua Bay to Honokohau Valley and Bay. Park after the bridge on the left side of the road, and walk the beautiful boulder beachfront.
Drive north past Honolua Bay to MM 38, turn left at the sign for Nakalele Point Light Station, park near the gate and walk down to Nakalele Point.