Family walking along a shimmering Maui beach in soft light

When we’re not behind the camera, we’re out soaking up everything we love about living on Maui. Here are our best tips, plus a big list of our favorite things to do, see and eat around the island. We check this list regularly, but hours and seasons change, so please confirm with each business before you go.

Quick Tips

Family standing on lava rocks along the shore as the sun comes up

Maui Daily

Maui’s wind is a daily thing, and it usually comes and goes with the sun. Please pin down lids, napkins and chip bags, because our wind will carry them straight into the ocean, where plastic can look like jellyfish and harm our fragile wildlife.

Give our protected wildlife space: stay at least 10 feet from sea turtles and 50 feet from Hawaiian monk seals, and never touch or feed them.

Please pick up after yourselves and respect kapu (sacred) areas around the island. Mālama kekahi i kekahi: take care of one another, and never forget to have the most amazing time on this beautiful island we call home.

Lahaina

Much of Lahaina town, including Front Street, is still being rebuilt after the August 2023 wildfire, and many families who lived there are still recovering. Please stay out of restricted areas, follow posted signs, and be respectful: avoid photographing the burn zone or residents’ properties. The best way to help is to spend your money at West Maui businesses that are open, like several on this list.

Family sitting together on lava rocks with palm trees behind

Reservations

These popular spots now require reservations for visitors:

Haleakalā for sunrise: The reservation is per vehicle and only needed for sunrise. Park rangers only let vehicles with a sunrise reservation into the park until after the sun has risen. Reserve on Recreation.gov.

Waiʻānapanapa State Park: Known to most as the “Black Sand Beach” on the road to Hāna, it requires a reservation for a timed entry window. Reserve on Go State Parks.

ʻĪao Valley State Monument: Home of Kūkaʻemoku (the “ʻĪao Needle”). Out-of-state visitors need a reservation for parking and entry; residents with a valid Hawaiʻi ID don’t. Reserve on Go State Parks.

Couple walking along the shoreline at sunset

Ocean Safety

A simple way to check conditions is The Snorkel Store’s Maui snorkel report, a daily report on conditions and visibility at beaches around Maui.

Shore breaks are dangerous and have caused many neck and spinal injuries. Look at the ocean when you arrive and decide whether conditions are comfortable for you and your family. Talk to the lifeguard and don’t hesitate to ask questions; they are the best source of ocean safety advice. If there’s any doubt about the conditions, please stay out.

Beaches.

Man kissing his partner’s forehead on the beach at sunset

It doesn’t take much to have a perfect beach day! Pack a cooler, grab a towel and let the island do the rest. Here are some of our favorites around Maui, with a little key:

* Known for surfing

** Safer for young keiki

Dad holding his young son in the surf at golden hour

South Maui

ʻUlua Beach: We absolutely love spending a day on this beach. Great for beginner scuba divers and snorkelers, too! Google Maps

Kamaʻole III**: The reef here usually protects the shoreline from big breaks, making it easier to swim, and there’s a lifeguard tower. Google Maps

Kalepolepo**: A loko iʻa (fishpond) here creates a protected area where even little ones can take a quick dip. Turtles are known to visit. Google Maps

Couple embracing on the lava rocks at sunset

West Maui

Kāʻanapali Beach: A long stretch of golden sand with stunning scenery and a relaxed feel, right next to Whalers Village.

Launiupoko* **: A loko iʻa here creates a protected area for kids to swim, and just outside it is a popular, gentle surf spot. Google Maps

Kapalua Bay: A beloved bay with clear water, golden sand and beautiful scenery. Google Maps

Couple smiling together with the ocean behind them

Rest of Maui

Hoʻokipa Beach*: This is the beach to see turtles! Honu (green sea turtles) often haul out on the sand here to rest, especially in the afternoon, so keep your distance and stay behind any rope. Hoʻokipa is also one of the world’s best-known windsurfing and surf spots. (Famous big-wave “Jaws,” or Peʻahi, is a separate spot a few miles farther east.) Google Maps

Hāmoa*: Often called one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, Hāmoa is a must if you drive to Hāna. Surfing here is for more experienced surfers. Google Maps

Kanaha Beach: Right behind the airport, with a beautiful view of the West Maui Mountains. It’s known for windsurfing and kitesurfing, but there are areas set aside for swimming. Google Maps