Beaches South

West Maui Oceanfront Ground Floor Condo at The Valley Isle Resort in Kahana #107

Maui no ka oi!

Text Box: Beaches South Alii Kahekili Nui Ahumanu or Old Airport Beach Nice long beach, stretches North from Black Rock to the Embassy Suites, seems like a couple of miles. The park where you park has showers and changing rooms. Beginning divers take their underwater classes just about every day at this beach. There is good snorkeling from the park north for a city block or more until the reef runs out. You can see Eagle Rays, turtles, eels, octopus and plenty of reef fish. I have also seen some very large game fish and barracuda here. The list goes on if you’re diving. Kaanapali Beach Basically stretches from Black Rock on the north to the Hyatt on the south. The beach is a long stretch of sand with some pretty fancy resort complexes. The best swimming spot is near Black Rock where it is protected. We usually see lots of people lazing around on the beach. You can rent umbrellas and nice chairs if you plan to stay for a long time. You can arrange for parasailing and other activities toward the middle just out from the Whaler shopping center. There are some nice outdoor restaurants, where Karen and I have lunch after spending the morning on the beach. Black Rock is a very good snorkeling spot, especially for beginners. I have seen Eagle Rays, octopus, turtles and a wide variety of reef fish here. Best is right out at the tip. Lots of snorkelers though. The parking is difficult. Talk to someone about where to park before going here. And, go early. Hanakaoo or Canoe Beach This is the beach park just south of the Hyatt. It is called canoe beach because they have Hawaiian canoe races here periodically. They’re fun to watch for awhile. I have never been swimming here, but the good snorkeling is on the far southern end. As you go north you run into Kaanapali Beach at the Hyatt. Good snorkeling straight out from the Hyatt, but sometimes rough. Also nice restaurants and bar on the beach at the Hyatt. Olowalu This is at mile post 14 south of Lahaina. This is a long stretch of sand and kiawe trees close to the highway. It doesn’t appeal to us because it is so close to the highway. The water is quite calm and shallow and the snorkeling is good. Beginning divers also practice here. Be careful of kiawe thorns. They’re hard on your feet. The best snorkeling is way out. It’s like an aquarium out there. It is also fun navigating through the shallows to get out there. Kihei Beaches Sorry, we have a prejudice against Kihei beaches. There’s plenty of em and they’re supposedly nice, but we’ve never been to them, and probably never will. Ulua Beach A neat little beach between the Aston Wailea and the Renaissance Wailea. Snorkeling is great when water is calm, and body surfing is great when the surf is up. Sometimes when it’s rough up north, it is calmer down here, but you never know. Small public parking lot, but if it’s full, you can probably sneak into one of the resorts lots. Don’t tell anybody I told you. Wailea Beach We have never been here, but hear that it is the largest and widest of Wailea’s beaches with good swimming.