Discover South Maui’s Best Beaches
Go ahead, get that “out of office” message ready and say aloha to the beach! But which one?! The entire island of Maui has beautiful beaches so the choice can be tough. Since we live in Kihei, we’re going to dive into some of our favorites on the South Shore, which is comprised of Kihei, Wailea and Makena!
Here’s a quick guide to a few of the best South Maui beaches:
Keawakapu Beach
• Location: far end of South Kihei Road in Kihei or beach access near 5 Palms Restaurant
• Amenities: portable bathrooms, outdoor showers
• Fast Facts: Truthfully, this is one of our absolute favorite beaches on Maui. I can’t quite put my finger on why but there’s just something about it that always makes us feel like we’re on vacation. Some things to note are the sunbathing, snorkeling and shore scuba diving are great here! Depending on the time of year, boogie boarding and body surfing can also be good. Our main tip? Bring a cooler! While there are a few restaurants nearby, depending where you are, it can be a bit of a walk to them and the parking lot.
Kamaole Beach I, II, and III
• Location: off of South Kihei Road in Kihei (between mile marker 7 and 9)
• Amenities: bathrooms, outdoor showers, lifeguards, picnic tables, bbq grills
• Fast Facts: 1.5 miles of sandy beach! We probably don’t need to say more (because, hello – 1.5 miles of beach!) but we will. This stretch of coastline is broken into three beaches more popularly referred to as Kam I, Kam II and Kam III, respectively. Kam I tends to be best for snorkeling, especially the north end; while Kam III is noted for its excellent boogie boarding. Once you’ve worked up an appetite (a day at the beach is hard work but someone’s gotta do it!), one of our favorite things about these beaches is that they’re right across the street from tons of good food options, including Coconuts Fish Café and Hawaiian Moons Natural Foods.
Ulua Beach
• Location: Wailea – end of Hale Ali’i Place
• Amenities: bathrooms, outdoor showers
• Fast Facts: Our first introduction to Ulua was actually when we were getting scuba certified! And that’s for two main reasons – it’s a good beach for swimming and a great beach for snorkeling and scuba diving. It’s not our main choice for just a full-on beach day because it’s frequented by many divers and dive lessons.
Big Beach/Makena Beach
• Location: Makena – Makena Alanui Road
• Amenities: portable bathrooms, lifeguards
• Fast Facts: Hands down one of the most spectacular beaches on Maui for the sheer width of it! Big Beach is true to its name – even if the parking lot is pretty full, this South Maui sandy gem can easily accommodate a lot of people. Another reason we love it is the fact that there are fun food and beverage options (I know, it seems like we’re always hungry!). On your way to or from this beach, you’ll usually see Jawz Fish Tacos food truck and also, a few roadside stands where you can pick up a coconut. While it may seem touristy, we find there’s just something fun about drinking from a coconut while your toes are in the sand. The only real downside to Big Beach is that it has a particularly harsh shore break. It can be fun to watch the waves, but unless you are an experienced waterman or waterwoman, take it easy and save the water activities for other beaches.
Mai Poina Beach Park
• Location: North Kihei right off of South Kihei Road
• Amenities: bathrooms, outdoor showers, picnic tables, bbq grills
• Fast Facts: Conveniently located right down the road from our THERE Maui House, this is one of our favorite spots to watch the sunset or go for a stroll. Plus, it’s far less busy than some of the beaches in South Kihei. The only drawback is that it can be pretty windy some days.
Ready for the next wave? Catch our Maui Virtual Visit!
