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Honolua Bay

4.4 (205 reviews)

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Heather K.

The best spot for snorkeling! We snorkeled to the right of the beach and saw so many colorful fish, a turtle, and a creepy large eel. The turtle was amazing to watch from a distance. He didn't seem to mind we were there and just did his thing. The eel on the other hand, half its face was all messed up and he looked at us with his good eye and looked like he was ready to attack. We hopped out the water for a moment until the eel left. We also took some really cute photos in the forest that leads to the beach. Parking is just along side of the road. We didn't have any issues finding a parking spot.

Bay
Matt K.

Great snorkeling not much currents calm and a relatively easy launch from the rocky beach. Adequate free parking along the road but beware of No Parking / Tow Away signs if you don't park in one of the designated shoulder strip lots. We saw lots of different fish. No turtles on the day we went. The bay can get a little crowded. Short 0.3 mile walk from the road to the bay.

Michelle J.

Snorkeling is awesome with a lot of fish and some turtles. Although getting into the Bay and back out is a bit tricky. Definitely don't where anything light colored or that you don't want stained up. We basically had to slide across the big alge covered rocks to slide down into the water, so needless to say our shorts were stained up. But the snorkeling is great once you're in!! *Be mindful of the locals that have a encampment at the bottom of the trail, they won't bother you, just don't cut thru their camp.

Amber L.

Let's just get into it: if you're looking to snorkel there are much better options across the island and this spot is a skip. Parking is not great as many park along the street just to get in. The walk through the trees to get to the bay is the best part of the entire thing. Once you reach the bay you have to navigate a very rocky beachfront, if you can even call it one. You have to watch your step because there are a lot of rocks that will slide out under your feet as you come down. Getting in the water is also difficult as the rocks are very slippery. Once you're able to get past all that get ready for some low visibility snorkeling as the sand and silt provided limited visibility. We were able to see a few fish but definitely nothing compared to other spots. Mid snorkeling it started to pour which forced us out and back onto even wetter and slippery rocks. Not a great time, would rate it lower but we know we can;t blame the bay for it raining, only the god of rain.

Very very very rocky beach

Parking very limited... free Short 5 min walk from the road Very very very rocky beach Not a place to lay out. Fish... meh Given the rocky beach not worthy of getting high marks or a revisit. Watch out for the very slippery rocks.

Ben C.

Snorkeling heaven. Somewhat challenging park & hike access. Not for sun bathers ~ no sand, all large rocks. All which make it more a seclusive experience for snorkeling. The occasional tour boat filled with snorkelers will come by midway but they usually stay less than an hour. Mornings are best to find parking and calm waters. *Be wary of the wind & tide conditions before attempting.

Stephen M.

What a nice snorkeling beach! It's not a same beach so be prepared to walk on some rocks to get your snorkel on. The path to the beach itself is beautiful. Will be back again!

Not a beach for sitting around at, covered in stones, best for scuba diving/snorkeling
Jay P.

A nice historical site, now most prominent for being part of the Marine Conservation program with no fishing or removal of natural resources allowed and for being a spot for snorkeling and scuba diving. The old chief of Maui used to come here to relax and fish. Kihaapiilani his son was purported to have surfed at this pay. In more modern times it was used to load and unload supplies onto ships by Honolulu Ranch. A hint at the history is a sign that says stay on the trail "many unmarked graves in this area". The walk to the bay was the most fun for us. Huge tropical trees and foliage, you'll see vine covered giant trees and leaves that are so big you can use them as umbrellas. Mosquitos will also attack you so be prepared especially if you are O blood type. There are also truly wild Maui chickens in this area. If you come at the right time you can see a local man feeding them with dried corn making them more fearless around other humans. Bay itself is not a beach for relaxing at. It's covered in stones and there's a stream emptying into the ocean carrying all sorts of dirty water and runoff from the still functioning farms next to it. There's also the inevitable tour boats for snorkeling and diving that park here, if you came for snorkeling you can watch the boats to see how far you have to swim out to for better visibility and sea life.

Small trek from road to the water
Brian V.

This was my favorite activity on my trip to Maui. Not only do you get some quality exercise in a swim, but you get to see some beautiful wildlife in the water. I got to see a bunch of fish and some turtles. I absolutely love this place! In terms of the utility you get out of cost for touristy activities, this is prob the best value you can get. I went to a nearby store, can't remember which one, and rented snorkel gear for less than $15 for the day. My family and I then drove to this location and parked. The walk or hike is about a quarter mile until you get to the actual bay. It's a little rocky near the water, so make sure you bring proper footwear before you go out there. If I ever find myself back in Maui, this is on my list of things to do for sure.

11/30/2022:  Honolua-Mokule'ia Bay Marine Life Conservation District has lost over TWENTY-FIVE FEET of shoreline!
Shirley M. F.

12/1/2022: I'm out of breath~the ocean's surf is too hard core! Low tide is high tide despite, waiting five hours for the ocean's angry surf abating . . . It didn't dissipate its angry, turbulent surf: I'm absolutely beaten up. Time packing up and forget snorkeling . . . Maui Beer burning my brain coming up!

Magical Enchanted Forest
Matthew W.

Out of all the places we visited in Maui, Honolua Bay is by far the best for snorkeling if you're willing to work a bit more. It's not the easiest to reach, as it's right beside private property and you'll need to mind the warning signs. You should also wake up early (7-7:30am) to avoid the massive crowds/tours and get a rare parking spot (it's by the highway so you need to park on the side of the road). If you're unable to find parking closest to the entrance of the forest, there should be much more road parking at the nearby Honolua Farms up the road. You'll go through a "magical enchanted forest" (which is indeed quite unique) to reach the bay, and also navigate through a LOT of rocks to get to the water. (There's no sandy shore). Be careful as many of the rocks can shift, especially the sheer, moss covered rocks by the water. Hiking or swim shoes are recommended before donning your snorkel fins at the edge of the water. Lots of little skittering bugs around the water, but they shouldn't bother you. Water is fairly calm but slightly cold. I'd highly recommend the North side of the bay (to the far right of the bay entrance). The diversity of sea animals is incredible; the further you go out, the more things you see (we reached open water at the very edge of the bay). However, don't go out further than you can swim back! We saw so many different kinds of fish, from huge parrotfish to Hawaii's state fish, an enormous barracuda-like fish, a white-tipped reef shark (don't worry, they don't bother humans much), and a bunch of sea turtles, including a mother and child (most were nesting on a large rock at the mid-point of the bay). At one point, we thought we saw a whale in the bay, but it turned out to be an endless school of fish. Again, getting to the bay and the water isn't east, but it's definitely worthwhile. Make sure to bring your waterproof GoPro and take lots of video and pictures!

See where that boat is? That's where you want to swim too - lots of fish, coral, and a chance for sea turtles!
Alyanna C.

This place will hold a special memory... because in all the years I've gone to the Hawaiian islands, this was the first area I was able to swim with sea turtles. The snorkeling here is superb! There was a Northern AND Southern swell that was making snorkeling conditions difficult on the islands... so we took our chances going here. We lucked out because the water was pretty calm and it made it easy for us to enter the water and swim a far distance with our fins. The funny thing I had considered chartering a boat to take us snorkeling due to the conditions - it turns out all the snorkel tours came here. We were able to swim all the way out to where the snorkel tour groups were without having to pay. Getting into the water couldn't have been easier. While the rocks can be slippy and difficult to walk on, I found it easier to enter and exit the water. Why? Because even if there were waves pushing and pulling you, at least you didn't get sand in your pants. I hate that feeling. You also get a better control with your hands on rocks than you would on sand that's moving around a lot. We saw a wide variety of colorful coral and fish, like wrasse, butterfly fish, tangs, and sea urchins. The Snorkel Store gave the area of rating of 6.5 for the the day, but we had good visibility and calm waters in the bay. It made us wonder what a 7+ rating looked like! During our 3 hours of snorkeling we even saw 3 sea turtles at different times - I was so happy as my last times snorkeling in Hawaii did not allow me to see these wonderful creatures. We kept our distance but enjoyed watching them glide in the water and come up for air. We did have to go out pretty far to get them - basically where the boats were... which I think was past 50 ft from the shore? Fins help get you around when snorkeling, so use them! I have to hand it to Maui, unlike the places I went snorkeling in Oahu... people, even tourists, were a lot more respective of the coral. It's not as dead as there is still some color, and people aren't as stupid as to step on it. Keep in mind you need to use reef friendly sunblock here - there's a lot of information on the websites on what kind of sunblock should be used. No facilities either - the only bathrooms here are porto potties. We also lucked out with parking here - it's very limited. Come really early to beat the crowds! We got here around 8:45 am on a Thursday and parking was already limited. Some folks had to park far and walk. We were able to get a spot right in front of the porto potties because a lady let us know she was leaving and made it so that the other car coming in the other direction wouldn't just grab it. Just be patient and plan ahead. The other thing to note about this place - there is a short trail from the main road to the actual beach. It's REALLY short, like maybe 5-10 minutes one way? And the walk is pleasant because it's through a rainforest with wild chickens and wild papaya trees (they're right on the trail and hard to miss). If I have any complaints at all... it's that the limited parking situation gets people a little competitive on the road. That and the beach is rocky so it's hard to just lay down a towel to sit on when you're taking a break from snorkeling. But given the snorkel situation and how easy it is to enter the water, I can overlook these minor things.

On the trail

Absolutely gorgeous and easy trail - such a special place. So happy we were told about this wonderful stop

The 5 min route to the bay

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Review Highlights - Honolua Bay

Once you get in the water I can say this is probably the best snorkeling on Maui as long as the water is clear.

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Napili Bay Beach - Calm beach

Napili Bay Beach

4.5(181 reviews)
2.2 mi

A beautiful no resort-y style beach. FYI: No lifeguards. We witnessed a medical emergency and no…read morelifeguard was hard. Limited parking - but it's still busy as there are a ton of condo's/motels on the beach. There are a few restaurants overlooking it, so easy to escape for a meal or a drink. When we were there for spring break, we were coming off a storm and it was quite rough. Some surfers catching some great barrels which was fun to watch. Other days it was calmer. A ton of snorkelers - I guess there is a few reefs full of fish. It's also adjacent to a sea turtle cove, so you can catch some sea turtles on their way. Overall, a great beach. I'd come again to the area.

Napili Bay a relaxing beach in Maui. The water is usually calm and crystal clear, making it perfect…read morefor families and kids to swim and snorkel safely. We saw plenty of fish close to shore, and if you go early in the morning, there's a good chance you'll spot sea turtles cruising through the bay. The beach itself is clean with soft sand, and the cove shape keeps things feeling peaceful compared to some of the busier spots on the island. It's the kind of place where you can easily spend the entire day just unwinding. Parking can be a little tricky, so getting there early is worth it. A great tip is to pair your visit with breakfast or brunch at The Gazebo Restaurant right next door. It's super convenient and makes your morning really efficient--grab a meal, then walk straight onto the beach and enjoy the rest of your day. Whether you're swimming, snorkeling, or just laying out and taking in the view, Napili Bay has that classic Maui magic.

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Napili Bay Beach - 8.20.2024

8.20.2024

Napili Bay Beach - No lifeguard on duty

No lifeguard on duty

Napili Bay Beach - Sunset

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Sunset

Black Rock Beach - Very sandy beach

Black Rock Beach

4.3(368 reviews)
7.1 mi

One of the highlights of my trip to Maui was coming to Black Rock Beach in Lahaina. Originally we…read morewere supposed to stay in Lahaina, but because of the rebuilding of the area, we stayed a little further south. I wish I did stay in the area because the whole area is a vibe. It's a little more touristy with resorts and shopping areas, but once you get on the beach you forget all that. Some of our group was already here and gave us specific instructions on where to park. We parked in a paid parking garage and had to walk between hotels to find the entrance to the beach. This particular stretch is in front of the Sheraton Maui Resort. This beach was awesome! Don't get confused like I did and think this was a black sand beach. Black Rock refers to the giant black lava rock going from the beach into the ocean. It's a very popular cliff diving area. In my opinion, you got to have some athletic ability to do the cliff diving. There's two ways to get to the peak of the rock to jump. There's a path from the shore, but you have to do a little climbing with a very sketch path to the top. The other option is to swim in the ocean towards the end of the rock where you have a little ladder to get you up, but you still have to get to the top of the rock. My friends and I decided to do the swim out which in itself was a challenge. One I got close, I decided to be the photographer in the water for when my friends jumped. We hung out in the water for awhile before swimming back to shore. The beach is perfect for lounging around, with soft white sand and crystal clear water. I brought my snorkel and goggles to really appreciate what's under the sea. We stayed out here way longer than we planned because time flies when you are having fun. On my next trip to Maui, I would totally consider staying right on this beach. I will most definitely be back!

Favorite beach in Maui. You can guarantee you will see 3+ turtles by the rocks on the right side…read moreevery time. And occasionally, a Hawaiian monk seal that comes up to bask in the sun during the day. Tourists here are the worst though! I have seen them crowding the turtles (10 ft distance is the law), standing on the swimming turtles to treat them like surf boards, and even approaching the monk seals or blocking their path back to the water (50+ ft is the law). Enjoy this beach responsibly and respect the beautiful wild life that frequent this beach.

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Black Rock Beach
Black Rock Beach
Black Rock Beach

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DT Fleming Beach Park

DT Fleming Beach Park

4.4(116 reviews)
1.0 mi

Nice beach with some good amount of shade. Though with shade it meant that there were leaf, twigs…read moreand small cones on the beach that kids didn't like when they stepped on it and hurt their little tender feet. Sand was semi soft and smooth, definitely not as smooth and soft as Kaanapali Beach. Waves can be big depending on day and time.

This beach is located near the end of the Kapalua coastal trail in extreme northern Maui…read more We had driven 1 hour from Kihei to Kapalua Bay for snorkeling on Thursday November 7, 2024. Afterwards we drove over to Dragon's teeth to hike down to Makaluapuna Point, where we watched huge waves crash against the rocky shoreline. Walked 10 minutes past the Ritz Carlton, Kapalua to DT Fleming Beach Park. Only 3 miles from Kapalua Bay, one of the best snorkeling spots on the island. However, no snorkeling here today, as high waves rolling into the long beach. Red flag warning sign says 'Danger, no swimming'. Another sign says 'Warning, Dangerous shorebreak'. Picnic tables and rest rooms, with outdoor showers available to wash away the sand. There are about 20 free public parking spots, but all were taken by 10am, including a number of food trucks, and surf board rental trucks. Across the street is a parking lot of several dozen spots, with only three filled. Nonresidents have to pay and register at this parking lot, through www.parklinq.com, entering zone 210. On Thursday November 7 2024 they only offer all day parking 7am to 8pm for a flat fee of $26. Hawaii residents may register to park for free. The good thing is that this $26 fee enables you to park on the same day at the impossibly crowded Kapalua Beach parking lot 3 miles away.

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DT Fleming Beach Park
DT Fleming Beach Park
DT Fleming Beach Park - Just a Sea turtle sunbathing

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Just a Sea turtle sunbathing

Honolua Bay - beaches - Updated May 2026

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