Surrounded by 120 miles of coastline and over 30 miles of colorful beaches, you'd be hard-pressed not to find a beach in Maui that suits you. Locals and tourists alike flock to the beaches with white, black or red sand. Maui's beaches have lifeguards, picnic facilities and restrooms, with several off the beaten path.
Instructions
West Maui Beaches
1. Check out Black Rock. This beach is the northernmost portion of Kaanapali Beach and is a great place for beginner snorkelers and swimmers to play as well as experienced divers to examine the sealife. Walk the popular beachwalk and browse the hotels, restaurants and shops along the way.
2. Bodysurf at D.T. Fleming Beach Park in Kapalua. Named "America's Best Beach," the Beach Park includes a public park, picnic tables, great swimming and lifeguards on duty. Pack up the family and a picnic lunch and enjoy.
3. Windsurf at Kaanapali Beach and Kaanapali Resort. This 3-mile white stretch of beach is popular with the surfers, windsurfers and sailboats and offers catamaran rides and rentals.
4. Lounge at Launiupoko Beach Park. Relax in a beautiful, natural pool of water surrounded by a lava rock wall. The beach is great for little children and a nice place for families to hang out.
5. Camp out at Wahikuli State Park-Lahaina. A favorite with the locals, this beach boasts calm water perfect for snorkeling, swimming and boogie boarding. Pull out your camping gear and stay a while. Grill out with the kids or float on the water and enjoy the scenery.
South Maui Beaches
6. Visit Kama'ole Beach Parks I, II and III in Kihei. These parks are a family and local favorite, boasting excellent swimming conditions and lots of volleyball.
7. Travel over to Mai Poina 'Oe Ia'u Beach Park in Kihei. This beach is great for the swimmers in the family and offers perfect conditions for wind and kite-surfing. Plan your visit in winter and you're sure to see a whale or two.
8. Take in the sights at Polo Beach in Wailea. Tour "Oceanfront Walk," a two-mile path that follows the water's edge with fantastic views and leads to Maui hotels and the "Shops at Wailea." Popular with the guests and locals alike, this beach offers great swimming and snorkeling too.
9. Walk or jog Ulua Beach Park. The beautiful sunsets and excellent beachcombing makes this beach another local favorite in Wailea.
Central and East Maui Beaches
10. Dive into the waters of Kanaha Beach Park in Kahului. Located in the central part of Maui, this beach is famous for its excellent diving opportunities. Since this beach is situated so close to town, it's a favorite of local lunch crowds. You'll also see many volleyball enthusiasts.
11. Watch the board surfing contests at Ho'okipa Beach Park in Paia. This beach is a world-famous locale for professionals in both windsurfing and boardsurfing. Winter surf can be extreme with excellent opportunities to safely view and photograph professionals.
12. Examine the beauty of Homoa Beach. Voted one of Hawaii's favorite beaches and located just outside of Hana, this gorgeous eastern beach shares amenities with the Hotel Hana Maui. Admire the sea cliffs and tropical vegetation surrounding the bay. Just offshore, you can observe the coconut-topped island of Alau.
13. Swim Hana Beach Park. Many local community events are held for locals and families alike at this favored swimming beach.
14. Stay in a cabin at Wai'anapanapa State Park--Hana. This state park boasts exceptional camping facilities, as well as cabins, making it one of Maui's best beaches. The park overlooks a black-sand beach where visitors flock to swim, snorkel and explore freshwater pools within caves.
Tags: Beach Park, Maui Beaches, alike this, great swimming, Kaanapali Beach, local favorite