The Best Beaches in Maui (and Which Are Right for You)
Maui's best beaches for swimming, snorkeling, sunsets, and families — matched to what you actually want, with honest notes on parking, surf, and safety.
Maui has more than thirty named beaches, and they are not interchangeable. The right one depends on whether you want calm swimming, easy snorkeling, a sunset, or a wide stretch of sand for the kids. Here are our favorites, sorted by what you’re after.
Best for easy swimming & families
- Kāʻanapali Beach (West Maui) — a long, golden, gently sloping beach with a paved oceanfront walkway. Reliable swimming and a built-in sunset.
- Kamaʻole Beach Parks I, II, III (Kīhei, South Maui) — three side-by-side beaches with lifeguards, grassy parks, and restrooms. Our easiest family pick in South Maui.
- Nāpili Bay (West Maui) — a small, protected crescent with calm water and resident turtles. Limited parking; arrive early.
Best for snorkeling
- Kapalua Bay (West Maui) — a sheltered bay with fish and turtles close to shore; one of the most beginner-friendly snorkels on the island.
- Honolua Bay (West Maui, summer only) — a marine reserve with superb snorkeling in calm summer months. In winter it becomes a famous surf break — not for snorkeling.
- ʻAhihi-Kīnaʻu / Mākena area (South Maui) — clear water over lava; check current access rules for the reserve.
- For the marquee snorkel, see our Molokini guide.
Reef-safe sunscreen is the law in Hawaiʻi. Sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate are banned. Bring mineral (zinc) sunscreen, or cover up with a rash guard.
Best for sunsets
- Kāʻanapali & Nāpili (West Maui) — the west-facing classics, often with the islands of Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi on the horizon.
- Keawakapu (between Kīhei and Wailea) — a long, soft-sand beach that glows at golden hour and stays calm.
Best wild & dramatic beaches
- Mākena (Big Beach), South Maui — a vast, stunning beach with powerful shorebreak. Gorgeous for walking and sunning; swim only with great caution and never turn your back on the waves.
- Waiʻānapanapa black-sand beach (East Maui) — a striking volcanic beach on the Road to Hāna. Timed-entry reservation required; book ahead.
- Hoʻokipa (North Shore) — not a swimming beach, but the best place to watch surfers and find honu (green sea turtles) resting on the sand. Keep your distance from turtles.
Beach safety, honestly
Maui’s beaches are beautiful and the ocean is no joke. A few rules that matter:
- Swim at lifeguarded beaches when you can, and ask about conditions.
- Respect shorebreak and currents — Mākena and many north/east beaches can be dangerous. “When in doubt, don’t go out.”
- Never stand on or touch coral or turtles. Give honu at least 10 feet.
- Don’t leave valuables in your car at beach lots — break-ins happen.
Quick matcher
- Calm family day: Kamaʻole (South) or Kāʻanapali (West).
- Best snorkel without a boat: Kapalua Bay (West) or Honolua in summer.
- Sunset: Keawakapu (South) or Nāpili (West).
- Wow factor: Big Beach (with caution) or Waiʻānapanapa (reserve first).
Add your favorites to a day on the trip planner, and pair beach days with Molokini snorkeling and the Road to Hāna.