Best Beaches In Maui

From all over the world people visit our beautiful Valley Isle just to enjoy its gorgeous beaches. Hanging out, being a Maui beach bum for the day, is definitely a must-do on a vacation here. Many kick back at the beach after their Haleakala sunrise bike tour, or guests can simply use our Maui bike rentals to explore Maui’s best beaches on their own.

You might not want to just stay at the beach by your hotel, with so much to see why not venture out to some of the other beaches on Maui’s pristine shores? Maui has so many wonderful beaches. You have to visit at least a few on your excursion here.

So to help you with your beach exploration, we’ve made a list of some of best beaches in Maui and some of the Maui activities you can do while you’re there.

Baldwin Beach

Located approximately mile from our shop in Paia is the white sand Baldwin Beach. This is a great beach to go to after your Haleakala bike tour. There is actually a good bike trail down to Baldwin Beach from the town of Paia. Based on availability, we offer daily Maui bike rentals for those who want to just enjoy biking around for the day. Noted as one of Maui’s most beautiful white sand beaches, Baldwin is a favorite for locals with protected swimming areas and lifeguards on the east and west ends of the beach. At Baldwin Beach Park, there are open air tables, grills, showers, and a covered pavilion if you would like to have a picnic at the beach after your Haleakala bike tour.

Ho’okipa Beach

Also close to Paia along the Hana Highway on the North Shore is Ho’okipa Beach. Known as the “windsurfing capital of the world,” Ho’okipa is a exciting place to stop and watch world-class windsurfers and surfing professionals on the large winter waves from either the beach or close by picnic areas. Also a popular spot among locals, Ho’okipa has pavilions, grills, tables, showers, and restrooms where you can enjoy a nice picnic lunch and watch all the action, even possibly a thrilling windsurfing competition. You may even see some Hawaiian green sea turtles make their way up the shore. So stop by on your way home from your Haleakala sunrise bike tour and watch the sunset at this stunning Maui beach if you can.

DT Fleming Beach

Here is an awesome spot for relaxing in the sun, located in West Maui – DT Fleming Beach Park at Honokahua Bay. This beautiful long, sandy beach offers a great view and a great place to go body boarding or boogie boarding. With picnic tables, grills, restrooms, etc., this park is perfect for enjoying a sunset picnic or a full day at the beach. Although there is a nice shoreline that gets gradually deeper as you walk out, there can be some pretty powerful waves and strong rip currents so be careful in the surf. Interestingly, the DT Fleming Beach is named for David Thomas Fleming who introduced pineapple to West Maui as a commercial crop.

Big Beach (Makena)

In the southern part of Maui, you’ll find a beautiful sandy beach known as Big Beach or Makena Beach that’s a little less much-frequented than other Maui beaches. South of Wailea, Big Beach is one of Maui’s biggest beaches with long and dramatically wide shorelines, making it a great spot for sunbathing amid awesome views of Molokini and Kahoolawe. The waves can be pretty strong with on-shore breaks, so swim with much needed caution if you are inexperienced, especially in high surf, fortunately there is a lifeguard on duty. Big Beach offers a spectacular sunset view, beautiful blue/green water, and a more out-of-the-way beach location than some of the well sought after Maui beaches.

Ka’anapali Beach

Maui’s most well-known beach is Ka’anapali Beach found in West Maui. A mile-long pristine beach lined with resorts, shops, and restaurants, Ka’anapali Beach is one of the premier tourist purposes in Maui. This signature white sand beach is home to the famous cliff area at north end known as Black Rock, where a cliff diver nightly lights a ceremonial torch and dives off the cliff into the Pacific. Along with the chance to cliff jump, this Black Rock area offers some great snorkeling and diving along its underwater reefs. The water here in some places can experience strong currents so caution is needed. For those who just want to enjoy the view, there’s a nice paved walking path along the beach passing in front of the resorts and shops.

Red Sand Beach (Kaihalulu)

If you’re still up for a little more adventure after your Haleakala bike tour, you might travel on the Hana Highway just south of Hana Bay to the oasis of Red Sand Beach on Kaihalulu Bay. You’ll have to take a short hike to get to this unique cove beach filled with deep red-black sand. The distinctive red sand comes from the cinder hill surrounding the secluded beach. Be careful when hiking to the beach as the path can be steep, narrow, and a bit slippery so good shoes are a must. Swimming is not advised here because of the strong currents (Kaihalulu actually means “roaring sea”), but the amazing scenery is worth the journey to this exceptional beach.

These are just a few of Maui’s best beaches. Others you may want to visit include the Black Sand Beach on the Hana Highway, Kapalua Beach, Hamoa Beach, and Wailea Beach. Check out some of these awesome Maui beaches on your way home from your Haleakala volcano tour!