Makena Beach
Brilliant cobalt waters, silky soft sands, and ample parking – what more could you want? Makena Beach is one of Maui’s most popular beaches with visitors and locals alike for more than a few reasons.
TIP:
During the winter months Makena’s gently sloping sands make for some large and powerful waves, so anyone with children or no swimming experience should be careful.
Located on Maui’s south coast, Makena is also known as Big Beach, as it stretches to almost a mile long, with some sections reaching at least 100 yards in width. Makena offers wonderful views of Molokai, and is sheltered from the wind by massive lava outcroppings at both ends. The beach is inclined, so the waves here break close to shore, making for some excellent skim boarding, body boarding, and body surfing.
There are plenty of places for picnics along the shore, with several tables under large shade trees. There are also three separate parking lots that provide immediate access to the beach. The largest area is also close to Puu Olai (Little Beach), a section of the beach that was cut of due to a lava flow in the late 1800’s.
