Faced with so many wonderful things to see and do on Maui, Lana’i and Moloka’i, and usually too little time, travelers can use the checklists in this section as a tool to stay focused on the Special Experiences that make Maui one of the most unique vacation spots in the world.
Major tourist attractions on Maui certainly are no mystery to anyone. Every guidebook and a superabundance of promotional brochures found in every store, restaurant and hotel on the island present slightly different versions of Maui’s “best” and “must-see-and-do” attractions. These four checklists cover more ground and activities than any of these guides.
Be aware that any beaches on Maui, Lana’i and Moloka’i can be dangerous during high surf, storms or other inclement weather conditions. Never turn your back on the ocean. Always be certain that where you enter the water is safe.
Kapalua Beach: Protected from strong winds and currents by two lava promontories, calm waters in the protected beach cove that fronts the Kapalua Bay Hotel are great for snorkelers and swimmers, and the golden sand, swaying palms, ample shade and showers, restrooms, and lifeguards make it ideal for spending the day.
Ka’anapali Beach: Golden sand and safe swimming for about four uncrowded miles that leads to excellent snorkeling at Black Rock, full of watersport choices, lined by an oceanfront walkway linking hotels, condos, and many open-air and other restaurants, and Whalers Village shopping center with more restaurants. Facilities include outdoor showers and you can use restrooms at hotel pools.
Launiupoko County Wayside Park: Bring your children to this park (except on weekends) just south of Lahaina to play in the large, protected wading pool, next to a small sandy beach with good swimming that you might enjoy or simply relax and enjoy the view of Kaho’olawe, Lanai, and Molokai in the distance. Facilities include restrooms, showers, picnic tables, and barbecue grills.
Hamoa Beach (Hana): A long, perfect half-moon of gray (fine coral+lava) sand beach in a lovely tropical setting below high lava cliffs, maintained (but not owned) by the Hotel Hana-Maui, providing a shower and restrooms for nonguests.
Red Sand Beach (Hana): Difficult to access, which keeps the population down and attracts nude sunbathers, a stunning beach and spectacular setting perfect for picnics with a protected breakwater forming a shallow splash pond.
Wai’anapanapa State Park (Hana): Preferably on an uncrowded weekday, enjoy the black sand beach and scenery of lava formations, swim (only if the water is calm) over to the huge arch in Pailoa Bay, take a shoreline hike on the King’s Trail toward Hana, and picnic (apply insect repellent with DEET).
Wailea Beach: Long, wide and protected, gentle waves in the morning and clear waters for snorkeling anytime make the golden sands of Wailea one of the best of the Wailea Resort’s five beaches (all open to the public), made all the better by an oceanfront walkway leading to the restaurants and cafés of the Four Seasons Wailea, the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel and Spa and the other Wailea properties.
Ulua Beach: Wailea's best (and most popular) snorkeling, with plentiful fish and coral, safe for swimming and excellent at times for bodysurfing, picnickers have a grassy area in a pretty setting with wonderful ocean views, showers and restrooms nearby.
Malu’aka Beach (Makena): Wide golden sand in front of the Maui Prince Hotel, fringed by palms, uncrowded, serene, beautiful, bounded by black-lava points and big sand dunes and by a grassy hill on the southern end with great views of Molokini Crater and Kaho’olawe, picnic tables, showers, restrooms, lifeguards and shade, ideal in the morning for swimming and snorkeling to view turtles.
Oneloa Beach (Big Beach): Long (about 2/3 mile) and wide (over 100’), Oneloa (which means "long sand" in Hawaiian and used to be incorrectly called Makena by hippies during the 60’s), has become one of the most popular beaches for Mauians and visitors who want to swim, boogie board, surf, fish, sunbath, play, simply enjoy the view of Kaho’olawe and Lanai, snorkel around the foot of Puu Ola’i (a 360’ cinder cone) to Little Beach, the small pocket beach used by nudists, with a good beach for swimming.
Kanahena Beach: A little, hidden white sand gem between ‘Ahihi Cove and Big Beach, Kanahena is a lovely spot for a picnic after snorkeling elsewhere in ‘Ahihi Bay, with the virtue of easy access between two oceanfront homes.
Fish Pond: A beautiful, secluded cove, with a sand beach, perfect for snorkeling and picnics, but difficult to find and get to across lava fields between ‘Ahihi Bay and La Pérouse Bay.
Kamaole III Beach Park: Among Kihei’s three beach parks -- Kamaole I, II, and III -- "Kam-3" is the biggest, swimming is safe (with parental supervision), snorkeling good at both ends, sunsets are grand, and facilities include restrooms, showers, picnic tables, barbecue grills, and lifeguards.
Ohukai Park: Not as well known as Ho’okipa, but the place on the South Shore to be for windsurfing when the winds turn northerly, Ohukai Park in North Kihei offers a combination of good winds, parking, grass to make it easy to assemble gear, and easy access to the water.
Lana’i
Hulopo’e Beach (Lana’i): A golden, palm-fringed beach that fronts on beautiful Hulopo’e Bay, famous for its Marine Life Conservation District that provides snorkelers with lots of tropical fish and pods of spinner dolphins, with restrooms, showers and easy access to the Manele Bay Hotel and its restaurants.
Papohaku Beach: On the west end of Moloka’i, Papohaku Beach is one of the longest, widest and most beautiful beaches in Hawaii. Except in summer, riptides and big surf make the waters dangerous, but walking, beachcombing, picnics and enjoying the scenery are wonderful year-round.
Sandy Beach: On the east end of Moloka’i, Sandy Beach is just a pocket of sand protected by a reef suitable for swimming, but the views of Maui and Lanai are wonderful.
Halawa Beach: at the foot of east Moloka’i’s Halawa Valley, this beautiful black sand beach around a lagoon fringed with palm trees is a hidden gem.