ALOHA!
Little Beach is known for being the clothing optional beach on Maui with Sunday beach parties.
Little Beach in Maui is located near Big Beach in Makena State Park.
You get to Little Beach by taking a steep trail located at the one end of Big Beach.
You can call Little Beach one of Maui’s hippie beaches.
This is located on the shores of South Maui.
It’s another beach that’s known to be a clothing optional beach in Hawaii.
If you’re young and looking for a party, or if you have an inner hippie spirit, you might want to check out Little Beach on Sunday evenings.
The Sunday beach happenings have been called “Maui’s biggest sunset jam.” There have been known to be drum circles, fire dancers, and body paint.
Although the legality of these beach parties can be questionable (alcohol is not allowed in state parks, and clothing is required in state parks), through normal times they were basically regularly occurring weekly beach parties that were going on.
Ask your accommodation for details! If you stay at Aloha Surf Hostel in Paia or Banana Bungalow Hostel in Wailuku, they do a group thing to Makena Beach on Sundays that you can join in. See more about staying in a Maui hostel.
Otherwise, you can go on your own too.
This is the “Little Beach” compared to the “Big Beach” which is the neighbor beach.
If you hear of Makena Beach on Maui, it’s likely referring to Big Beach.
There is also a beach at Makena Cove, but that’s in a completely separate area up the road – it’s a slightly hidden beach on Maui!
Well, Little Beach is also a bit of a hidden beach!
And it does require a trail going UP to get to Little Beach.
And even if you are not so much interested in going to a hippie type beach, it can still be worth taking the trail up to get the wide expansive views of Makena Beach (Big Beach) from above!
🌴
Here are some popular activities you need to know about to get some very-Hawaii experiences! Read the reviews on the partner websites listed below!
🐢 You can swim with turtles on Maui!
Read the reviews for the molokini and turtle town tour on viator and the turtle town kayak and snorkel tour.
🌺 Eat Hawaiian food at a luau with a fire show! Have a look at the Maui Nui Luau
🐳 Winter means it's WHALE WATCHING season in Hawaii! And Maui is the best Hawaiian island for whale watching! 🐳
Read the reviews for the whale watching by raft tour and the whale watching catamaran tour.
🐠 If you're going snorkeling (or to the beach!), here are things you must consider packing for Hawaii!
You can find these things on Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate.
- Swimsuit or swimming shirt aka rash guard
- rash guard: swim set for women and swim shirt for men
- Water shoes
- Waterproof phone case (so you can capture pictures of fishies underwater!)
- cheapo phone case OR waterproof camera
- I also have this "camera" wrist float to attach to my cheapo waterproof phone case so my phone won't sink to the bottom of the ocean in case I somehow let go of it. (Mine does stay afloat - test this for yourself before completely trusting it!)
- Swimming goggles or snorkeling mask set
- Reef-safe(r) sunscreen
- lightweight travel towel
- walking sandals perfect for Hawaii
- teva is a popular outdoor shoe brand
- teva sandals for women
- teva sandals for men
I also don't go snorkeling in Hawaii without a personal swim float buoy. Not only does it help to keep me visible, but it makes for a perfect way to rest out in deeper water! Oh, and it also serves as a dry bag so I can take stuff into the water with me.
Another way I have taken valuables into the water with me is to wear a travel money belt that I don't mind getting wet with salt water (it's not waterproof but I have several so I just use one of them) and then I put things in a ziplock freezer bag, and put that freezer bag in the money belt.
There are also designated waterproof waist pouches that you can store your valuables and take into the water with you.
How to save money on your trip
I tend to use booking.com or hotels.com to look for the cheapest hotels. You can also try the expedia hotels site (good for car rentals too) or see if you like any of the vrbo vacation rentals.
Search for the cheapest car rentals at the Maui airport.
/end side note
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So…
How to get to Little Beach
The access for Little Beach is at Makena State Park, which is the same access point as Big Beach.
Can you get to Little Beach by bus?
The nearest bus stop to Makena Beach is near the Shops of Wailea. The entrance to Makena State Park is over 4 miles away from the bus stop.
So for most people, this probably isn’t walking distance, and this would mean that you can’t get to Little Beach by bus.
So…
Driving to Little Beach!
Makena Beach is a popular beach, and there’s a big parking lot here.
There is a parking fee at Makena State Park if you’re not a Hawaii resident, and it’s self-pay. See current fees.
In January 2020 it was posted as a $5 parking fee, but the state park website currently lists the parking fee as $10.
You might see a Jawz food truck in the Makena Beach parking lot, and if you do, you might consider getting some food here! You might see them in a few places around Maui, and they are known for their fish tacos.
So once you’ve parked, you can make your way to Makena Beach!
And then you will arrive at Big Beach! And yes, it will look like a “big” beach! Lots of sand! Lots of space!
Now to get to Little Beach, facing the ocean, you’ll head to the right, until it “dead ends.”
And that’s where you’ll find the trail that goes up!
And then once you reach the top, you’ll see those Big Beach views from above!
And then you can take the path to keep going to the hidden Little Beach.
And you’ve arrived at Little Beach!
And that’s a bit of how to get to the hidden Little Beach at Makena State Park!
Also have a look at another slightly hidden beach down the road from Makena State Park!
HAPPY BEACH TIME AT MAKENA STATE PARK!
