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Best Beaches West Maui

Are you looking for the best beaches West Maui? You’re in luck! Today we will discuss just that. Maui is famous for its stunning beaches, and West Maui certainly has its fair share of them.

From calm and serene coves to more rugged and adventurous shores, West Maui has a beach for everyone. Whether you’re looking to sunbathe and relax, catch some waves, or explore the underwater world, you’ll find a beach that suits your needs in West Maui.

As a Hawaii Travel Agent, I strongly recommend renting a car in Maui! You’ll find the best prices anywhere at Discount Hawaii Car Rental. Having a rental car is basically a must in Maui!

The best beaches in West Maui

Here are the best beaches west Maui, listed in no particular order. However, the most popular beach is listed first!

Kaanapali Beach

Ka’anapali Beach is one mile long. That stretch is full of sparkling white sand. There are seven resorts located directly on this beach too.

So, if you are looking for peace and quiet, Ka’anapali Beach is not going to be the perfect place for you.

However, it is one of the best beaches in West Maui when you want to have easy access to stores and restaurants.

You will discover Black Rock Beach at the beach’s north end. That beach area is a great snorkeling place. There are quite a few reefs to explore and marine life.

Black Rock Beach is also a popular place for cliff jumping. Don’t let the name fool you; this is not a black sand beach in Maui. 

Kahekili Beach

You will find this beach at Kahekili Beach Park. It is to the north of Kaanapali Beach. You may hear the locals call it Airport Beach.

This beach is where many local families spend their time. Small children will love learning how to snorkel in the shallow reef.

The reefs prevent too many waves from reaching the area. So, the water conditions are normally calm.

This beach is also a favorite spot for watching green sea turtles. Or whales during the winter months.

There are plenty of amenities at Airport Beach. The kids will love playing in the grassy area. You will love the picnic tables and the large gazebo.

You won’t find any restaurants or snack bars. Therefore, it is important you pack everything you need for a fun day in the sand.

You will find food trucks at the Honoapiilani Food Truck Park nearby. You can always stop there for food and bring it with you to Kahekili Beach. This is a popular thing to do in Maui during the summer months.

Napili Bay

Napili Bay is a crescent-shaped beach. This is one of the prettiest beaches on the island.

The soft sand is part of a steep incline. That incline leads to crystal-clear water. It can be difficult to find a parking spot here, but it is possible if you arrive early.

And you will want to arrive early if you want to experience paddleboarding on Napili Bay. During the winter months, this is an excellent place for whale watching.

This beach is in a residential neighborhood. You won’t find as many touristy attractions in between swims here. There is still a convenience store, a couple of restaurants, and public restrooms.

Olowalu Beach

Olowalu Beach is one of the numerous beaches on the Olowalu shoreline. Most of these beaches are close to the Honoapi’ilani Highway. Therefore, you will have a short walk and drive to reach the sand.

Once you arrive at Olowalu Beach, you will be thrilled with all the beach activities. This is a great place to swim with marine life near the coral reef.

The water near the coral reef is quite shallow. This means it is a perfect spot for young children.

I recommend arriving at West Maui Beach early in the morning. This will allow you to find the best spot on the sand.

Choose a good place on the sand with views of the West Maui mountains. This will ensure you can capture the mountains in photographs throughout the day.

Hamoa Beach

You will need to escape the west side of Maui for a day if you want to visit Hamoa Beach. This is one of the most beautiful beaches on the Road to Hana. You will find this beach at mile markers 49 and 50.

You won’t find a small parking lot at this beach. Instead, you will find a few on-street parallel parking spots on a very narrow road. The best time to snag this free parking is really early in the morning.

Or you can stay at the nearby hotel and use their complimentary shuttle. The hotel also offers guests beach chairs and extra facilities.

Depending on how you arrive, you will either walk down a service road or the stairs to the beach.

This is a popular spot for surfing. The strong currents can really be seen on the ends of the beach.

Wailea Beach

One of the best beaches in West Maui is NOT Wailea Beach, as it’s actually on the south side of Maui. However, as one of the best beaches in Maui, it’s worth mentioning. Some of the top luxury resorts sit on this stretch of sand. This means you will always find people on Wailea Beach.

Standing on this beautiful beach, you can look towards Molokini and Lanai. And during the winter, you can spot whales.

Boogie boarding and body surfing are two of the popular water sports here. A great snorkel spot is down near the rocky outcroppings.

If your family gets tired of the water, take a walk along the paved walkway. It is an excellent way to check out the views.

Kapalua Beach

Kapalua Beach can be found right on Kapalua Bay. There is a path that leads directly to the beach.

You can park near the path if you arrive early enough. If not, additional parking can be found near the tennis courts or out by Kapalua Place.

This is a popular place for snorkeling and scuba diving. There is plenty of marine life to check out. Scuba divers can go out a little further to see some of the best coral reefs in the area.

The public restrooms make it possible to stay to watch the incredible sunset. So does the beach shack. You will find all sorts of snacks and drinks there.

Charley Young Beach

There are so many Maui beaches to choose from during your vacation. One of the best sandy beaches near West Maui is Charley Young Beach. This is near the Kamaole beaches.

There is a large parking lot. Once your car is parked, head across the street. Follow a ramp lined with palm trees to reach the sand.

This is one of the best places in the United States to watch sea turtles. Find a great spot at least 30 feet away from the turtles. Then use your phone to zoom in on these spectacular creatures.

Baldwin Beach

Baldwin Beach is close to West Maui but just outside of Paia. You will find this big beach on the north shore. This is one of the most beautiful places on this Hawaiian Island.

This beach is long and wide. The center section is best for surfing, especially during the winter months.

If you are searching for a calmer experience, you have options. Head to the beach’s left or right side for calmer waters. The eastern side is called Baldwin Cove. The western side is Baby Beach. I will share more about that beach shortly.

DT Fleming Beach

DT Fleming Beach is a popular beach for bodyboarding and surfing. This is one of the West Maui beaches that is closer to the northwest side of the island.

The rough surf may mean that swimming is not a possibility on some days, especially during high tide. When you arrive, I urge you to look for the lifeguard flags and warnings. And then heed those warnings and stay out of the water if necessary.

If you want to swim, head to this beach early in the morning. This is when calm waters are present.

Despite the rough water, this is a popular beach. It can get crowded, especially with surfers. But there is plenty of golden sand for everyone.

One of the best things about this best beach in West Maui is there are showers and public restrooms. You will also find picnic tables and grills to use for meals and snacks. You may want to claim your spot in the picnic areas early, or you may not get a table.

Makena Beach

Makena Beach is a beach closer to the southern shore of Maui. This is one of the most underdeveloped beaches in Maui.

The water here is protected from the trade winds. This is an excellent beach for swimming, snorkeling, and fishing.

You will find restrooms, concession stands, and picnic tables. Add in the lifeguards, and you will have a pretty stress-free day at the beach.

Honolua Bay

Swimming and sunbathing are not the activities of choice at Honolua Bay. This beach on the west side of Maui is actually considered one of the best spots for snorkeling and surfing.

It is best to snorkel when the waters are calm. Then when the waves pick up, surfboards can hit the water. You will discover the best swells during the winter months.

If you do not surf, you may be interested in watching the surfers from the overlook on the east cliff.

Baby Beach

Baby Beach is a nickname for Pu’unoa Beach. It is located within Lahaina. There is plenty of parking on the street or in the parking lot.

This is one of the best beaches in West Maui for small children. You will often find local families here hanging out.

The extremely shallow water is perfect for younger children. And those people who do not swim very well.

However, that same shallow water is not very good for snorkeling.

Due to the shallow water, there are never any lifeguards present. You will need to keep an eye on the whole family when they are out in the water.

But no worries, because you will all be looking out towards the water anyway to see if you can spot whales. Or the sunset if you stay until late in the day.

There are plenty of stores and restaurants within walking distance of this beach. You will also find public restrooms nearby.

Don’t confuse Baby Beach with Little Beach; they are not the same! How to find Little Beach in Maui will tell you everything you need to know about this beach. 

Launiupoko Beach Park

Launiupoko Beach Park is a local favorite. There are natural tide pools that are surrounded by lava rocks. This rock wall allows small children to swim safely in shallow water.

The water can be rough, with lots of surf breaks beyond the rock wall. There are picnic areas, but you will need to bring everything with you. There are no restaurants or stores nearby. Well, at least not within walking distance.

And trust me, once you find a parking spot, you won’t want to give it up!

The best beaches West Maui

What did you think about this list of the best beaches West Maui? If I missed your favorite, make sure to let me know in the comments. I know some of these beaches are NOT in West Maui, but they’re accessible even if you’re staying in Lahaina or the Kaanapali area! 

Want even more Hawaii travel ideas? Check out some of my top Hawaii travel tips

• 15 easy hikes in Maui
• 20 things you should never do in Hawaii
• 100 things to do in Hawaii
• The 25 best restaurants in Wailea Maui
• The 15 best golf courses in Maui

Although I am a Hawaii Travel Agent, I am only taking on a few clients per month. You can contact me if you’d like more information. I recommend starting with my Hawaii travel guide if you plan to DIY your vacation!

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