ALOHA!
So you want to go to some of the best beaches on Maui!
Welcome to South Maui!
South Maui is one of the main beach areas of Maui.
I spent 3 weeks on Maui, and I went to a bunch of South Maui beaches! Here is what you need to know!
I’ve also listed some oceanfront places to stay, and you can read the reviews at partner website booking.com!
1. Mokapu Beach
This will be the furthest north beach on this list.
There are quieter parts on this beach if you walk a bit further along.
You can also make it a nice beach walk by walking across some lava rocks from Ulua Beach too. (Next on list.)
Where to stay near a South Maui beach
2. Ulua Beach
This is one of the top snorkeling beaches in South Maui, and you can get here by bus.
Where to stay near a South Maui beach
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3. Wailea Beach
One of the famous beaches in Wailea, called Wailea Beach!
Where to stay near a South Maui beach
4. Polo Beach
Another great beach in South Maui.
Where to stay near a South Maui beach
5. Makena Landing
This is another snorkeling beach in South Maui.
There’s a small beach area here, but it’s not much of a beach to hang out at.
There’s a small parking lot.
6. Maluaka Beach aka Turtle Town
The Maluaka Beach area is also known as turtle town, and it’s a spot that known as a snorkeling spot and being able to swim with turtles!
You might even see a turtle popping its head out of the water.
This is a beach you can hang out at.
See more about Maluaka Beach.
7. Oneuli Beach
Oneuli Beach is known as a black sand beach in South Maui.
This has been called the alternative black sand beach to visit if you don’t want to drive the Road to Hana where the famous Maui black sand beach can be found.
Although this black sand is only kind of black (if you call it black at all), if you won’t be getting around to the other ones, then you might like this beach.
This is also a beach to go to if you’re looking for a quieter area.
This is a beach you can hang out at, and there tend to be less people here.
See more about Oneuli Beach.
8. Big Beach aka Makena Beach
Makena Beach is a part of Makena State Park.
This is among the most popular state parks on Maui.
It is one of the best Maui state parks!
Makena Beach is a large expansive beach that can be good for hanging out at.
It’s also called Big Beach.
There’s a $5 parking fee here.
9. Little Beach
You’ll get to this beach from Big Beach.
This is somewhat of a hidden beach, and there a path to it at the far right of the beach as you’re facing the ocean.
It’s a clothing optional beach.
10. Makena Cove
Makena Cove is also called “Secret Cove” and also called Paako Beach.
It might not be so much of a secret anymore, but if you didn’t know any better then you would likely drive right past the path to Makena Cove!
It’s pretty much hidden in plain sight.
So if you’re looking for a smaller beach that’s also likely to be a more quiet beach than other popular South Maui beaches, then you might want to head to Makena Cove.
See more about Makena Cove.
11. Ahihi Bay
Well, this might barely be called a beach, but it’s another snorkeling “beach” in South Maui!
This is a part of the Ahihi Kinau Natural Area Reserve, and it’s another top snorkeling spot in South Maui.
This snorkeling spot is located right off the road you will drive to get here.
There are limited parking spots around.
There is a very small beach area, but you pretty much walk straight from the road and into the water.
This isn’t really a beach to hang out at.
See more about Ahihi Kinau Natural Reserve.
12. Kanahena Beach aka the dumps
And yet another top snorkeling spot in South Maui! (The last one on this list.)
And so, you see that you have a number of choices for where to go snorkeling in South Maui!
This is also a part of the Ahihi Kinau Natural Area Reserve.
This snorkeling beach once again isn’t a sandy beach to hang out at.
In fact it’s a rocky beach, which means it will be a good idea to pack water shoes as part of your Maui snorkeling essentials. (Good to pack no matter what, actually!)
There’s a small parking lot here, and then you’ll take a short trail (maybe less than a minute) across a lava field to get to the beach.
There’s a sign for the best entry spot to get in the water, and that will be off to the left side as you’re facing the ocean.
See more about Ahihi Kinau Natural Reserve.
PLUS…
Wailea Beach Path
Also to note… the Wailea Beach Path!
Walk along the Wailea Beach Path and you can go beach hopping in South Maui!
You can walk from beach to beach to beach following the great coastal sidewalk of the Wailea Beach Path!
Or just go for a walk for the sweeping ocean views.
But if you want to make it a beach hopping kind of day, you can go from Ulua Beach to Wailea Beach to Polo Beach by walking the Wailea Beach Path. Walking from Ulua Beach to Polo Beach is around 1.5 miles one way.
Also if you are on Maui during whale season (generally speaking during winter months), then you might even see whales from shore as you are walking along the coastline! Maui is known to be one of the best (if not THE best) Hawaiian islands for whale watching.
More places to stay if you want to be along the Wailea Beach Path
- Wailea Beach Resort (Marriott)
- Wailea Beach Villas
What is South Maui?
Yes, South Maui is overall on the southern side of Maui.
But what is specifically known as South Maui is generally the western shores of the southern part of the island.
If you’re looking at a map of Maui, it won’t include the entire area which you might consider to be the southern side of Maui.
As far as the road that you can drive, this translates roughly from Kihei onwards south along the coast.
MAP: Kihei to Wailea and onwards south
Explore the map.
For this list below of South Maui beaches, this will generally start right around the Wailea area.
And then basically from there, it will take you as far south as you can go.
MAP: Wailea onwards south
Explore the map.
La Perouse Bay is as far south as you can drive.
There isn’t really a proper beach here, but it is a spot you might want to go for the views and to start a hike to see one of the best lava fields on Maui!
South Maui beaches without a car: Getting to Wailea by bus
The Maui bus does go to Wailea.
The furthest south you can go by bus is basically to Wailea, and more specifically to the outdoor shopping mall called the Shops at Wailea. This can be your point of reference on a map if you’re trying to figure it out.
So this means that anything north of Wailea you can get to by bus. This means that you can get to Kihei, and the beaches between Kihei and Wailea Beach (there are many) no problem without a car.
How many things on this list you can do without a car depends on how far you’re willing to walk from the bus stop!
See more about how to take the Maui bus.
Get more ideas for outside of South Maui:
- Black sand beaches on Maui
- Best Maui snorkeling spots
- Maui itinerary
- Best Maui hikes
- Best Maui waterfalls
- Best things to do on the Road to Hana
- How to spend your time in Haleakala National Park
HAPPY SOUTH MAUI BEACH TRIP!
There are partner websites included in this post. I may earn a commission.