13 Best Beaches on the Island of Maui

Maui Beaches are known for stunning variety — from golden, tranquil crescents to dramatic, surfable shores. Each beach offers its own mix of beauty and experiences, inviting visitors to slow down and enjoy one of the most beautiful places on earth.

In this article we’ll discuss 13 of the best beaches on the island of Maui, from unmissable classics to lesser‑known opals. Whether you’re planning your first trip here or returning to explore more of the island, these picks will help you find the perfect spot to relax, play, and connect with Maui’s unforgettable coastline.

1. Napili Bay

With its large, rhythmic swells and hush-hush vibe, you’ll feel like you’ve snuck into heaven at Napili Bay. It’s impossible to beat the peaceful, exclusive nature of this boutique-clad bay, which is why we think its the best beach on Maui, and one of the best in all the Hawaiian islands.

The easiest way to access Napili Bay is to: 1. Arrive early. 2. Park on Lower Honoapiilani Rd. (free) or the nearby $$ parking lots. 3. Enter via Napili Kai Beach Resort as if you’re walking to the Sea House Restaurant. You don’t need to go inside the hotel — there are outdoor garden pathways.

2. Kahekili (Airport) Beach

Just around the corner from the famous Ka’anapali Beach, Kahekili Beach is every bit as good with a fraction of the crowd. Sand quality is fantastic and the surf is a little bit wild. As a bonus, sea turtles are known to feed here.

3. Maluaka Beach

Another one of the top-tier beaches on Maui is Maluaka Beach on the Kihei side of the island. This is a large, public beach minus the hotels. You’ll find plenty of space to spread out your stuff beneath the natural shade of the trees.

Related Article: 20 Best Things to Do on Hawaii Big Island

4. Kaanapali Beach

The famous Ka’anapali Beach draws over 2 million visitors to the NW corner of the Maui every year. The undulating, three-mile shore is endlessly walkable with shave ice and vendors along the way.

5. Keawakapu Beach

The Kihei side of Maui has a variety of beaches, all of them varying shades of perfection. Keawakapu is the most walkable of them all, with good services and easy access. At almost a mile-long and criminally underutilized, Keawakapu Beach is ideal for both the active and the isolative.

6. Makena/Big Beach and Little Beach

Makena Beach, also known as Big Beach, and the nudist neighbor Little Beach, are Maui institutions. Found south of Kihei toward the end of the road, Big Beach is a picturesque arc of shoreline with borderline abusive waves.

If you want a little danger in your water play, or an acre of sand to yourself, or perhaps you simply need to drop your speedo in public, Big Beach/Little Beach is a timeless option.

7. Baldwin Beach

The best beach on the north side of Maui, Baldwin Beach brings something entirely different than Kaanapali and Kihei. The drama is tense at Baldwin, with thrashing blue waves, rocky benches, and a tree-lined back drop filled with locals studying textbooks.

If you love to travel, we have something we would like to give you. It is our professionally designed e-book and it is FREE of charge. We think it’s pretty great, and we’re hopeful you’ll like it, too. It’s called, “Cultivating a Lifetime of Travel”. Click HERE. and we’ll send it on over!

8. Po’olenalena Beach

This is an underutilized public beach south of Kihei with a whimsical shore and reddish sand. Po’olenalena Beach is a foolproof bet if you want to get away from the condos and hotels that line the Maui coast.

9. Paluea Beach

Paluea is a sweet, little beach lined by a dozen beautiful homes. The shore is hidden from the street with only a small trail through the trees.

True Story: When we visited, a monk seal beached itself and became quite the spectacle. For your information, if you happen to experience a monk seal, humans must maintain a 50′ distance. In our opinion, 25′ actually feels a lot like 50′. You should be aware that if you get closer than 50′ to a monk seal, a polite local may gently scold you (definitely not speaking from experience).

10. Kameole I, II, III Beaches

If you’re staying in Kihei you will absolutely spend time on the Kameole Beaches. People have their preferences, (most prefer Kameole III), but all of them are great. The last time we visited our condo was nearest Kameole I, and there we watched the sun set most every night.

If you’re staying near the Kameole Beaches be sure to explore some of the others. While the access is super easy, there are superior options on Maui.

Related Article: 20 Best Things to Do on Oahu

11. Wailua Beach

Wailua Beach is found at the base of the famous Grand Wailua Hotel. This resort is a phenomenal place to explore — the luxury is second to none on the island.

The beach itself is good/not great, to be perfectly honest, and we don’t understand why everyone praises it so highly. Perhaps the exquisite facilities of the Grand Wailua weigh heavily in the evaluation.

If you’re staying here, Congratulations! And enjoy! If you’re staying elsewhere, access to Wailua Beach is awkward enough that we would recommend other beaches.

11. Slaughterhouse Beach

This beach is out of the way, further up the road from all of the Kaanapali Resorts. If you’re looking for something a little more natural or remote, the ominously named yet undeniably beautiful Slaughterhouse Beach might fit your bill.

Limited $$ parking is found roadside above the beach. A lengthy staircase is required to reach the shore.

12. Ho’okipa Beach

Ho’okipa Beach is on the north side of Maui, down the road from Baldwin Beach. Surfers thrive in these waters — the waves are friggin’ ferocious — but the primary reason to visit Ho’okipa Beach is to observe the thriving bale of sea turtles from a distance.

The Most Disappointing Beach: Kapalua Bay

This one hurts to write. So many travel blogs revere Kapalua Bay as one of the best beaches in all the Hawaiian Islands. And we were once among them. Heck, 20 years ago we were married here at sunset in a circle of flowers! This is our beach!

Sadly, the years haven’t been kind to Kapalua Bay, as the sands have migrated to other shores, leaving large, unsightly benches and rugged footings in the surf. Furthermore, the shortened seafront is very popular, which leaves a paucity of space for the drowsing throng.

An Honest Review for the Best Beaches on Maui

If you ask those who visit Hawaii often which island they love best, many will state, “Maui,” as their absolute favorite. The reasons we hear most are the peaceful atmosphere, fewer tourists, and the beautiful beaches. And who could argue with them?

Are these the best beaches in the Hawaiian Islands? They might well be. Of course every island has their jewels, so it is absolutely debatable. We happen to prefer Oahu’s North Shore and Windward Side to Maui, but it’s close.

If you’re coming to Maui be sure to set aside a half-day for Napili Bay. You won’t regret it. The setting is unbelievably chill and the swells are custom made for bobbing in the surf.

If you’re staying in Kaanapali, be sure to visit the Kahekili (Airport) Beach as a counterpart to the unmissable Kaanapali Beach. And if you’re staying in Kihei be sure to explore your options! The best beaches start at Kameole I and move south to Makena/Big Beach.

Thank you for stopping by our website! We are the Hoffmann family, a full-time RV family that has split residence in Seattle, Washington and San Antonio, Texas. We have special needs children that we homeschool, and work travel assignments for the Veteran Affairs Hospital. If you would like to learn more about us, check out our Start Here and Biography pages. In the meantime, God bless and travel happy!

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