This beach is located near the end of the Kapalua coastal trail in extreme northern Maui…read more We had driven 1 hour from Kihei to Kapalua Bay for snorkeling on Thursday November 7, 2024. Afterwards we drove over to Dragon's teeth to hike down to Makaluapuna Point, where we watched huge waves crash against the rocky shoreline. Walked 10 minutes past the Ritz Carlton, Kapalua to DT Fleming Beach Park. Only 3 miles from Kapalua Bay, one of the best snorkeling spots on the island. However, no snorkeling here today, as high waves rolling into the long beach. Red flag warning sign says 'Danger, no swimming'. Another sign says 'Warning, Dangerous shorebreak'. Picnic tables and rest rooms, with outdoor showers available to wash away the sand. There are about 20 free public parking spots, but all were taken by 10am, including a number of food trucks, and surf board rental trucks. Across the street is a parking lot of several dozen spots, with only three filled. Nonresidents have to pay and register at this parking lot, through www.parklinq.com, entering zone 210. On Thursday November 7 2024 they only offer all day parking 7am to 8pm for a flat fee of $26. Hawaii residents may register to park for free. The good thing is that this $26 fee enables you to park on the same day at the impossibly crowded Kapalua Beach parking lot 3 miles away.

Nice beach with some good amount of shade. Though with shade it meant that there were leaf, twigs…read moreand small cones on the beach that kids didn't like when they stepped on it and hurt their little tender feet. Sand was semi soft and smooth, definitely not as smooth and soft as Kaanapali Beach. Waves can be big depending on day and time.

A beautiful no resort-y style beach. FYI: No lifeguards. We witnessed a medical emergency and no…read morelifeguard was hard. Limited parking - but it's still busy as there are a ton of condo's/motels on the beach. There are a few restaurants overlooking it, so easy to escape for a meal or a drink. When we were there for spring break, we were coming off a storm and it was quite rough. Some surfers catching some great barrels which was fun to watch. Other days it was calmer. A ton of snorkelers - I guess there is a few reefs full of fish. It's also adjacent to a sea turtle cove, so you can catch some sea turtles on their way. Overall, a great beach. I'd come again to the area.

Napili Bay a relaxing beach in Maui. The water is usually calm and crystal clear, making it perfect…read morefor families and kids to swim and snorkel safely. We saw plenty of fish close to shore, and if you go early in the morning, there's a good chance you'll spot sea turtles cruising through the bay. The beach itself is clean with soft sand, and the cove shape keeps things feeling peaceful compared to some of the busier spots on the island. It's the kind of place where you can easily spend the entire day just unwinding. Parking can be a little tricky, so getting there early is worth it. A great tip is to pair your visit with breakfast or brunch at The Gazebo Restaurant right next door. It's super convenient and makes your morning really efficient--grab a meal, then walk straight onto the beach and enjoy the rest of your day. Whether you're swimming, snorkeling, or just laying out and taking in the view, Napili Bay has that classic Maui magic.

We happened upon Baldwin Beach on our second day in Maui. A short drive from the airport, this…read morebeach had it all. It was sparsely populated with almost a mile of sandy beach. There is a lifeguard station and bathroom. Beach goers ranged from locals to tourists, all friendly. The current was a little rough on our first day there, but if you walk about ten minutes along the coast line, there is a lagoon at Baby Beach that was calm, warm, and more populated. Totally worth the stroll.

Expansive beach with plenty of parking. Lifeguards and restrooms. You can see turtles here too. I…read morepreferred the south end with some small cove and shades. Wind is strong and surf can be high at time. Close to Paia to meet your dining or shopping needs. Spectacular views.

Small roadside beach in the Kahana area of Lahaina in West Maui and not too crowded at all. You can…read moresee out towards Lana'i and Moloka'i from here, and the waves are not too bad. I think you can even snorkel and see the turtles as well. Also a good place to catch a sunset.

Which Maui beach can you see both Lanai and Molokai close by across the ocean strait?…read more We were staying at the Kahana Villas across the street from Kahana Beach Resort and Kahana Sands, both modern luxury condominium timeshare complexes. Kahana Sands is the northern tip of Pohaku beach, which runs in front of Kahana Beach Resort, along Pohaku Park and then south to the Noelani Condos. Every evening just before sundown we would walk across over busy Lower Honoapilliani Rd with it's blind curves to the public access pathway through the Kahana Beach Resort to Pohaku Beach, and watch the sunset between the steep hills of Lanai to the south and Molokai 8 miles to the west. The beach is narrow and eroding from the pounding of the ocean waves, with areas near the park of no beach, just rocks, and heavy vegetation right next to the road. High surf the entire 10 days that we were there. Not a place for snorkeling, although well known for surfing. Place is often referred to as S turns because of the S turn in the road in the old days, before they straightened it out. Once we drove into the Pohaku Park, with a long narrow paved parking lot. Narrow enough to make it difficult to back out and make an exit onto the one entrance on Lower Honoapilliani Rd. Place filled with locals drinking and relaxing, enjoying the sunset, before commuting back home in Kahului on the other side of the island. BBQ facilities and benches with one porta potty, but no showers in sight. Would not advise changing clothes in the porta potty, as one fall and you might tip over the structure! In which case you would really need to dive into the ocean to clean off your hair and clothes! Talk about a bad hair day! On the south side of the park is a small cove with rocky areas on both sides of the cove. We never went there, but saw it through the trees. Found out later that this is the place to see turtles come up early in the morning onto the beach. Missed opportunity! Only my wife needed her beauty rest, and would never get up that early. And at 63 and being white, she needs every bit of rest she can get to keep away the wrinkles and age spots on her face, hands and legs of father time! We Asians don't age quite that fast! This was one case where the turtles always beat us to the beach in the morning.

Be smart and safe, bring a telephoto lens and view this from a safe distance. If there is a swell…read more(waves breaking against the cliff) don't go down there, a large wave could break over the cliff and pull you out to sea. The blowhole can trick you into thinking it's not doing much and then a huge explosion out of it will soak you and knock you down. Watch for a while from a distance to get a good idea of what is going on and if after 30 minutes you have an idea of the level it's going to go at and you can determine how close you can get safely. Still recommend keeping a good 50 yard distance at a minimum.

Beautiful but a very difficult to climb. Crazy that they now…read morecharge $17 to park! What a ripoff!

Bring bug spray! The trail is nicely shaded with lush green tree, ground coverage, and softened…read moredirt path. Although, that meant lots of mosquitos for the 5 min walk from the trail head to the stream. The stream during this season is dry and zero water. There were plenty of chicken and roosters running around. The sunlight peaking through the trees and branches created nice backdrop for pictures. Definitely would explore more if we ever come back.

The best place to snorkel at…read more There were so many fishes and different kinds also! It was my first official time snorkeling so it was a little spooky but man oh man, I had a blast. Didn't see ant sea turtles but did see a variety of fishes.

We came here to potentially get in the pools, but after reading some of the warnings online and…read moreseeing the pools, which were magnificent, we opted out. We also had our kids with us so that was a game changer. Parking was easy at the trailhead and there weren't a lot of people here. There is a sign at the beginning honoring a man who died here and asking people not to go in the pools. It is about a 5 minute walk to the cliff where you can first see the pools. If you choose to walk down, it is probably another 10 minutes and the terrain isn't too terrible. The pools are indeed right on the ocean, with water from the ocean splashing into them and then pulling back out. It did not too violent when we were there and there were about 10 people swimming and diving into them, so they must be pretty deep. We stood and watched and took in the view for about 15 minutes and then went on our way.

This is a really cool stop off the side of the road in West Maui…read more It's a short walk off of the side of the road. It's a little steep and definitely rocky. There are signs warning you not to go any further way earlier than it actually gets unsafe. People swim in the pools which is said to be dangerous due to changing tides and waves. The pools are very pretty even if you don't swim (which we didn't). It's fun to watch the waves splash in as well. It can be a quick stop and is worth doing if you're in the area.

Such amazing waves. Secluded. Shaded. My favorite beach on the planet now. It's down a big flight…read moreof stairs but totally worth it. A definite hidden gem. So glad we found it. I spent my last day hear just listening to those ginormous waves crash against the beach. It was sublime.

This beach is a secret and very secluded. It is good for snorkeling when waves are low. Google Maps…read moregives wrong directions by winding you onto Ridge Road into a residential neighborhood that dead ends. To reach the beach, you drive north on highway 30 to the Mile 32 marker at a slight curve where two paved pull off areas will be on the left in front of chain link fencing. There is enough parking for 15-20 cars. Park here then walk north to the end of chain link fence and green metal rails with concrete steps will lead you down to the beach. The rails are hidden behind high shrubs.