ALOHA!
South Maui is all about seeing the beauty of Hawaii!
Okay so maybe all of Maui is like that.
This includes beaches, trails, and scenic drives!
So first, 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.
For this list of things to do in South Maui, it generally starts right around the Wailea area. And then basically from there, it goes as far south as you can go.
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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.)
Side note!
Clothes to buy on Amazon for your outdoor adventures!
- Lightweight quick-dry hiking shorts (comfortable shorts that are good for movement!)
- for women: hiking shorts | for men: hiking shorts
- Lightweight quick-dry hiking pants
- for women: hiking pants | for men: hiking pants
- capris for women
- Easy-to-pack rain gear (instead of a proper rain jacket)
😴 Search for cheap hotels!
Where to stay if you want to be right in front of Mokapu Beach
2. Ulua Beach
This is one of the top snorkeling spots in South Maui, and you can get here by bus.
Where to stay if you want to be right in front of Ulua Beach
🌴
Top Maui tours
Read the reviews at partner website Viator!*
- Turtle town snorkeling tour (with photo and video)
- Lahaina ATV adventure tour
- Horseback riding tour with Hawaiian cowboys
Things you might want to pack for your Maui vacation
Read the reviews on Amazon! I'm an Amazon Associate.*
- For women: Search for a rash guard for swimming and you won't have to worry as much about putting on sunscreen!
- Search for a rash guard for men
- Water shoes for snorkeling if you won't be wearing fins, or just generally for the beach!
- Cheapo waterproof phone case so you can capture pictures of colorful fishies swimming underwater!
- I always have a camera float attached to my phone case that I put around my wrist
- Snorkeling set: mask and fins
- Fins allow you to propel further faster (aka see more in less time and energy!)
- Go cheap if you accept that you need to come up for air frequently: regular swimming googles. They are not as fashionable but if you get swimming goggles, make them the clear kind so you won't be seeing dimmed colors of the colorful fishies!
- If you are able, I recommend trying out the mask at your local lake (in summer) or pool so you will be good to go in Hawaii when there's actually stuff to see!
- Travel-friendly turkish towel for the beach (lightweight compared to regular beach towels)
- For women: Teva walking sandals (one of the best sandal brands for the outdoors, perfect for lots of walking around outside - that's not a lava field!)
- For men: Teva sandals
- For women: Merrell hiking shoes (one of the best outdoor shoe brands, perfect for walking over rugged terrain like lava fields!)
- For men: Merrell hiking shoes
- Moisture-wicking tech t-shirt for women perfect for hiking and hot days when you'll be outside a lot sweating
- tech-t-shirt for men
- For more ideas, do a search for hiking clothes or swimming clothes!
*As a Viator partner and Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission.
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3. The Shops at Wailea
There’s an outdoor shopping mall in Wailea, called the Shops at Wailea. See the list of stores and restaurants.
There’s also a famous ABC store here, which is a chain of convenience stores that you’ll find across Hawaii.
4. Wailea Blue golf course
There’s a golf course in Wailea.
Where to stay if you want to be right near Wailea Golf Club
5. Wailea Beach
One of the famous beaches in Wailea, called Wailea Beach!
Where to stay if you want to be right in front of Wailea Beach
6. Polo Beach
Another great beach in South Maui.
Where to stay if you want to be right in front of Polo Beach
7. Wailea Beach Path
Beach hopping in Hawaii, South Maui style! Or something like that.
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
8. Makena Landing
This is another snorkeling spot 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.
9. Keawalai Church
If you want to see a cute Hawaiian church on Maui, you can see one here!
There is also a banyan tree on the church grounds.
10. Maluaka Beach aka Turtle Town
This 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 this South Maui snorkeling spot: Maluaka Beach
11. Oneuli Beach
This 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 this South Maui beach: Oneuli Beach
12. 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.
13. 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.
In normal times, there’s a beach party held here on Sunday evenings.
14. 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 this South Maui beach: Makena Cove
15. Ahihi Bay
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 this South Maui snorkeling spot: Ahihi Kinau Natural Reserve
16. 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 spot 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 this South Maui snorkeling spot: Ahihi Kinau Natural Reserve
17. La Perouse Bay
If you drive down the main road in South Maui and go as far south as you can, you will end up at La Perouse Bay!
You will find grand scenic ocean views here, and you’ll also be driving past lava fields to get here.
See more about this South Maui activity: La Perouse Bay
18. Hoapili Trail
And for even more grand scenic views of the ocean and lava fields, you can hike the Hoapili Trail!
This starts from La Perouse Bay, and you will be hiking along the coast across Maui lava fields.
This is among the best Maui hikes to do that can be perfect for your first trip to Maui!
See more about this South Maui lava fields hike: Hoapili Trail
19. Jawz fish tacos food truck
Fish tacos are a thing on Maui, and you might see a fish tacos food truck when you’re in South Maui.
If you do, stop for some fish tacos!
You can get it to-go (which really just means putting a foil over the plate) and then take it to your South Maui beach of choice!
See the menu for this South Maui food truck: Jawz fish tacos food truck
MAP: Kihei to Wailea and onwards south
Explore the map.
MAP: Wailea onwards south
Explore the map.
👆 You can drive as far as you can go in South Maui and you will end up driving along the ocean!
La Perouse Bay is as far south as you can drive.
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 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.
And those are some ideas of how to spend your time in Maui!
Get more ideas for how to spend your time on Maui outside of South Maui:
- Maui itinerary
- Best Maui hikes
- Best Maui snorkeling spots
- Best Maui waterfalls
- Best things to do on the Road to Hana
- How to spend your time in Haleakala National Park
- Best Maui campgrounds
- Black sand beaches on Maui
HAPPY VISIT TO WAILEA AND SOUTH MAUI!
👆 One of the best things to do in South Maui is to hike the lava fields!
👆 One of the best things to do in South Maui is to walk the coastal Wailea Beach Path!
👆 One of the best things to do in South Maui is to go snorkeling at Turtle Town!
