Daydreaming for hours on your calendar while staring at a beach in Hawaii sounds fascinating. How about the perfect fantasy where you can shut your eyes and imagine the feeling of glorious Hawaiian sunshine embracing your skin?

Maui has the best beaches in the country. The best beaches in Maui depend on what kind of vacation you have in mind. Whether it is a honeymoon, a family vacation, or a surf trip, this guide shall help you choose the perfect beach.

Hawaiian Island has beautiful beaches, but the ones on Maui are picture-perfect. Gold sand,  white sand, red sand beaches, black sand beaches.

The black sand has some of the most blissful scenery thanks to multiple offshore islands and an abundance of whales during winter, and the black sand makes a fantastic backdrop to the lush green foliage and blue water.

Stop worrying about being unable to determine where the best beaches in Maui are. Relax, trust your instincts, and choose our experienced perspective. Plan the perfect beach holiday with all the best things to do in Maui.

You can go snorkeling with the pride of Maui at Turtle Town with your family, take surf lessons on Maui with your friends, plan a delicious Hawaiian-style beach BBQ for a celebration, beach hopping, or just lay flat out in the sun and work on perfecting and sculpting the well deserved Hawaiian tan.

Enjoy these top beaches in the Maui article and absorb that vitamin sea you deserve.

1. Hamoa Beach

The crescent-shaped Hamoa Beach is no more than 1000 feet in length and is one of the best beaches in Maui’s famous white sand beaches nestled just across Haneo’o Road.

Hamoa Beach is one of the favorite Maui beaches that offers crystal clear waters, perfectly golden sand, and wide shores backdropped by cliffs with overgrown tropical foliage, making this place heaven on earth.

This Maui beach is well known for body surfing; the Hamoa beach offers swimming, surfing, and snorkeling opportunities during the morning when it is calm and serene.

However, there are times when the surf can become quite powerful due to the lack of outlying reefs, so enjoy the Hamoa beach in the shallows. You can find an awesome picnic table and restrooms shared with the nearby Hana Maui Resort.

2. Ka’anapali Beach

It is a west Maui beach, and the stunning Ka’anapali beach offers three miles of soft, beautiful white sand beach and warm waters in fifty shades of aquamarine. There are plenty of hotels and resorts lined along its wide and longshore, but they do not deter from how beautiful Maui Beach is.

Several water activities await you at Ka’anapali Beach, ranging from scuba diving, stand-up paddling, cliff jumping, and snorkeling. Black Rock Beach is one of the best-known beaches in Maui. It is one of the best places for cliff jumping in Maui.

Surfers eagerly chase the biggest waves they can find on this Maui beach. These waves can be found in front of Ka’anapali Beach. If luxury is what you have in mind, then make sure to book a room at The Westin Maui Resort and Spa.

Enjoy the best snorkeling opportunities in front of the Sheraton near Ka’anapali Beach, located on the north end of the beach, or get your daily dose of adrenaline while jumping off a 16-foot cliff at black rock.

The Puu Kekaa, the Black Rock, on the northernmost section of the Maui beach, is excellent for snorkeling. It is an unusual black rock beach.

3. Baldwin Beach Park

Maui’s north shore offers a must-visit spot if you are looking for family-friendly beaches on Maui. Baldwin Beach is nestled near the historic Paia town and provides a large grassy field with picnic tables, a covered pavilion, showers, restrooms, and lifeguard stations.

The mile-long best beaches in Maui Park are a favorite place for sunset chasers, a place to jog and walk while taking in mesmerizing sunset views. Baldwin Beach also has a protected saltwater lagoon on the beach’s western edge, which is a perfect spot to chill with the kids.

You can enjoy Baldwin Beach by playing beach games on its soft sands, swimming in crystal clear waters, and sunbathing while watching body surfing and body boarding show off their skills during bigger swells.

After a full day on Baldwin Beach, you can treat yourself to the freshest seafood in one of Maui’s best seafood restaurants. Baldwin Beach is one of the best beaches in Maui for families and travelers.

4. Kamaole beach park

If you are hunting for the best beaches in Maui to enjoy swimming with friends, then Kama’ole’s three beaches have your back. The first is the northernmost and largest, offering a volleyball court and a sandy cove protected from road traffic.

At the North end of Kamaole I Beach, you’ll find a large beach called Charley Young Beach. The Charley Young Beach is a great spot to spend with family and friends.

The second is one of the bodysurfing beaches in Maui that offer the perfect swell. The third Maui beach is among the south Maui beaches filled with locals excited for lawn games, barbecues, etc.

You can go snorkeling during the calm mornings and catch a good wave for boogie boarding in the windy afternoons. You can find parking lots, showers, bathrooms, and lifeguards on these three beaches.

5. Pāʻia Secret Beach

The Pāʻia Secret Beach is a diamond between Paia Bay and Baldwin Coves. You will reach the place after a short walk from the east of Baldwin Beach Park, and it will get you to this private beach where you will not find crowds of tourists and golden sand.

You can relax on the golden sands of Pāʻia Secret Beach.

Make sure to visit the Kahului end of the beach, where clothing is limited and sunbathing is common. You might find yourself sandwiched between Kihei and La Perouse Bay, with more than 20 beach parks to explore.

The La Perouse Bay is not known for its beaches on Maui and is made up of a dodging sharp volcanic rock.

6. Kanaha Beach

This white sand beach is a locals’ favorite spot for fishing and swimming. The windy afternoons make Kanaha Beach the perfect place to enjoy exciting sports like kiteboarding and windsurfing.

The beach is near the airport, and you can set aside a few hours for a relaxing swim, take good pictures with aircraft landing in the background, or admire the views of the West Maui beaches and West Maui Mountains from your flight.

The beach has plenty of facilities for public use: showers, restrooms, picnic tables, lifeguards, sand volleyball courts, canoe clubs, etc.

7. Spreckesville Beach

The Spreckelsville beach is the historical name for a few individual Maui beaches lined along a two-mile stretch from Spreckelsville to Kanaha. The golden sand beaches from west to east are Camp One, Specks Beach, Lobster Cove, Sugar Cove, hidden Cove, and Baby Beach.

The locals’ favorite activities on these beaches are windsurfing, and fishing and Sugar Cove is a famous beach for its perfect waves for boogie boarding in winter.

The north coast is not ideal for swimming, and the baby beach is one of the most sheltered locations to enjoy serene waters. The Spreckelsville beach is located near the airport, so kite surfing is prohibited due to the potential dangers of airplanes flying nearby. But it is one of the best beaches in Maui.

8. Hana Bay Beach Park

If you want to experience a true Hawaiian vibe, then make sure to add the small crescent-shaped Hana Bay Beach Park to the Hawaiian bucket list. It is located within Hana Bay, and the beach park is a black sand beach spiced up with a tinge of Hawaiian culture.

Because of the calm conditions, you can see a grassy park, multiple picnic tables, snack bars, public restrooms, and no lifeguard on duty. The beach is protected by an outer coral reef, making the water perfect for swimming along the East Maui coast.

You can get ready to encounter local families celebrating a birthday or a special event and witness canoe racing, which has become a common sight in Hana Bay.

Within Hana is Honokalani Beach, one of the most Instragrammable spots and the best beach. It luxuriates on its onyx/ black sand and millions of tiny lava pebbles.

If you’re tired of black sand beaches in Hana, check out Koki. It is not a great place to swim, but it is an expert surf spot in Hana and a wonderful place to grab a slice of sand. These are among the best beaches in Maui.

9. Launiupoko beach park

If you plan to visit the Maui beaches, then Launiupoko Beach Park is a must-visit spot. It is located in East Maui. While visiting the park, you can see parties and family hangouts everywhere since it is a local Maui favorite for its picnic areas.

The Maui Beach Park is a great beach with parking lots, restrooms, and picnic facilities. There is a small lagoon protected by a lava sea wall where you can swim safely. It also has a unique natural pool surrounded by a lava rock wall that is excellent for small children.

Water junkies can undoubtedly try their hand at surfing at various beginner surf breaks and enjoy stand-up paddle boarding on calmer waters.

10. Keawakapu beach

The long Keawakapu Beach is another beautiful beach in Maui nestled between Wailea Beach and Kihei, which fronts private property.

You can stroll along the sandy beach during the evening to take in stunning views of the picturesque sunsets.

The southern edge of the beach offers a parking lot, showers, and perfect conditions for swimming, stand-up paddling, and snorkeling during the winter months.

11. Kalama Beach Park

It is one of the most beautiful beaches on Maui, with a view and plenty of area. The Kalama Beach Park is one of the best beaches in Maui if you have plans to travel with your friends.

This beach park is located near Kailua Park Beach but is less crowded. The park expands and stretches from the North Shore of Kalaheo Avenue to the middle of Kailua Bay, giving you gorgeous panoramic scenery.

You can find ample space for playing basketball, football, tennis, baseball, a small skate park, and a roller rink for hockey.

12. Ho’okipa Beach Park

The Ho’okipa Beach Park is Mecca to the world of windsurfing. It is the most photographed beach, which provides a stunning backdrop to watch the best effortlessly play with the ocean in a way that mere mortals can only dream of.

There are professional windsurfing competitions held regularly if it is windy.

It has an exposed reef with marine life that runs along the shore breaks, and frequently, Hawaiian green sea turtles can be seen bobbing on the other side. A couple of sea turtles can be found lazing on the shore at the far end of the beach.

Initially, the people did not understand the sea turtles because they looked like scattered boulders. The sea turtles will pop up on the shore, break for sunset, and rest at sunset. A sea turtle is commonly known as “Honu.” It is quite a sight to see on the Maui beaches.

13. Makena Beach

Makena Beach is one of the big beaches on Maui. It has white sands extending nearly three-fourths a mile, and it is one of the undeveloped beaches on Maui.

You can enjoy relaxing on the beach with only nature in sight. It is nestled between two black lava outcroppings; Makena Beach offers protection from the trade winds and provides a great view of the islands of Molokini and Kahoolawe.

The Makena beach area is divided into two: a big beach and a little beach. The big beach is located south of Wailea Beach. The Big Beach Stretches over a mile long and 100 feet wide from sand to the shore. It is one of the largest beaches on the island. These Maui beaches are composed of several of the best beaches.

The little beach is a cove that tends to be clothing optional; it is just around the corner, on the other side of the peninsula.

The popular duo of Big Beach and Little Beach is quite on the talks on the southern shore. East Maui offers a few beaches along the Road to Hana but makes up for it with a beautiful black sand beach at Waianapanapa State Park.

Near this state park,k there is the Slaughterhouse Beach Red Sand Beach. All these combined create the best beaches in Maui.

14. Wailea Beach

The Wailea beach is known for its luxurious resort community in South Maui, with acres of land and amazing Pacific Ocean views. It has 1500 acres of luxurious Maui beaches, resorts, and attractions. The area exudes a sense of privacy, serenity, and freedom spread across an area three times the size of Waikiki.

It is the best beach in Maui, with excellent swimming, scuba diving, and snorkeling. It is a polo beach, and close by, there are the Mokapu Beach and Ulua beaches, which give a postcard view of the West Maui Mountains.

These two are Maui’s beaches known for their serene atmosphere. Palauea Beach is located just south of the Kea Lani Beach Hotel and the Polo Beach Club. It is one of the best beaches in Maui.

15. Fleming Beach

Fleming Beach is the best beach in Maui. It is located in the northwest region of Maui, Hawaii, maintained and staffed by Maui County at D.T. Fleming Park.

It was named America’s Best Beach and Best Beach in Maui in 2003 and is a popular surfing and bodyboarding site.

It also features Kapalua Beach, named America’s best beach in 2006. The Kapalua beach is known to veterans as the Old Fleming beaches in Maui.

16. Kapalua Beach

Kapalua Beach is enclosed by coral reefs from two sides and is the best beach in Maui. The crescent-shaped Kapalua Beach is nestled at the foot of Kahalawai and is one of the most breathtaking beaches on Maui.

You’ll understand that Launiupoko is a local Maui favorite.

Closing Thoughts

So, these are the best beaches in Maui to visit this summer.

Last Updated on July 18, 2024 by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology