The Best Beaches in South Maui
South Maui runs from Maalaea down to Makena, and it holds more quality beach per mile than any other stretch on the island. The trade winds blow offshore in the morning, which keeps the surface glassy and the water clear. Here is the honest breakdown of each beach worth your time.
Kamaole Beach Parks I, II, and III
The three Kamaole parks are the backbone of South Kihei beach life. They sit in a line along South Kihei Road and are separated by rocky points that create different characters for each. All three are county-maintained, free to use, and have restrooms, rinse showers, and lifeguards during peak hours.
Kamaole I is the widest of the three and has the best rocky points for snorkeling on either end. The sand is coarse gold and the entry is gentle. Good for families. Kamaole II is the smallest, squeezed between two rocky headlands, and tends to be slightly less crowded. The snorkeling off the south point is solid. Kamaole III is the largest, with the most parking, a grass area good for picnics, and a playground. It is the most popular with families staying in Kihei.
Keawakapu Beach
Keawakapu is the beach locals quietly prefer. It sits between Kihei and Wailea and lacks the commercial development that comes with the resort strip. The sand is fine and soft, the water is calm inside the bay, and the beach runs long enough that you can walk its length without stepping over strangers. Parking is limited to a small lot at the north end and street parking at the south. Go early. The offshore reef provides decent snorkeling at the south end near the rocky point.
Ulua Beach and Mokapu Beach (Wailea)
Ulua and Mokapu share a continuous stretch of golden sand in Wailea. The shared rocky point between them is one of the best shore-snorkel sites on the island -- a mix of coral heads, ledges, and sand channels where you routinely encounter green sea turtles, eels, and large schools of reef fish. The Wailea resort strip means the beach is nicely maintained, but it also means parking is tight. Arrive before 8:30 a.m. or after 3:30 p.m. to find a spot in the public lot off Ulua Beach Road.
Polo Beach (Wailea-Makena)
Polo sits at the south end of Wailea, framed by a headland that blocks north swells and keeps the water calmer than beaches further north. The sand is coarse gold and the beach slopes steeply into the water, which means you are swimming almost immediately on entry. The rocky point at the south end has good fish life. The crowd here skews toward guests of the nearby Fairmont Kea Lani, but parking is public and usually available.
Base camp on the water
Unit 711 at Maui Sands Seaside puts all of South Maui's beaches within a 5-to-15-minute drive. And there is a reef right off the lawn when you do not want to drive anywhere.
Check availabilityMakena State Park (Big Beach and Little Beach)
Big Beach -- officially Oneloa Beach -- is the most dramatic in South Maui. It is a half-mile of wide, steep, golden sand with no commercial development and no lifeguards. The body-surfing here is serious, and the shore break can be powerful. Swim with caution, especially on days with south swell. Little Beach, accessible by a short scramble over the north headland, is clothing-optional and has a small but vibrant local community. Both beaches are beautiful. Both require respect.
The Beach at Maui Sands Seaside
The waterfront at Maui Sands Seaside is not a wide sandy beach -- it is a rocky shoreline that gives way to the reef. The advantage is direct snorkel access without a drive, and a west-facing exposure that makes it a quietly stunning place to watch the sun drop behind Lana'i. When guests want sand, Kamaole I is a five-minute drive. When they want to watch the water from a lounge chair and not move, the lanai at unit 711 handles that entirely.