Makena Beach is truly a beautiful hidden gem. It's a bit more isolated compared to other beaches, but that's part of what makes it so special. The sand is incredibly soft and smooth, making it perfect for relaxing or long beach walks. There are quite a few birds around, and they aren't afraid of humans, which adds to the charm and makes the experience feel more connected to nature. The views are absolutely spectacular, with stunning scenery that makes the trip more than worth it. Parking is available but does require a fee of about $16, so keep that in mind when planning your visit. The beach can get windy, and there may be sporadic rain, so it's best to plan ahead and check the weather. Overall I'd love to come back to visit again! read more

See all

Awesome beach. Tossed around in every direction by the waves on multiple days. Can I surf? No. But I did learn how to catch waves on a boogie board and ride them to shore. Someone even brought an inflatable pool out there. Love this beach. Strong 5/5. Edit: Peep the sunset photos. It's majestic! read more

Makena Beach - Beaches Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

See all

Some places have port a potties and some don't nearby. Parking can also be tricky depending on crowds or time of day. This is just a nice clean beach I think this beach is suited for older kids but regardless keep an eye on your kids because the waves can come in rough even for a grown adult. There's also some bees in the area to watch for. Overall good place for fun with the family. read more

Makena Beach - Beaches Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Makena Beach was one of our favorite beaches we saw while in Maui. It was a super clean beach that was a little more secluded and not overrun with people (as opposed to other beaches we visited, where you could not find a place to even be able to put your towel down!) The sand at Makena was super silky and soft, making it a great place to take a walk barefoot and feel the beach beneath your toes. When the sun gets high in the sky, though, the sand can get very hot - so definitely don't forget the flops to give your toes a rest. There's lots to do here aside from relaxing on the beach, though. You can snorkel, picnic, swim, or grab food from the food trucks that sometimes operate nearby. We just did a little splashing around right at the front where the water meets the sand, and that was enough for us. If you're just looking to cool down, I think that's the way to go, unless you're a thrill seeker that wants to do deeper into the water. There are signs all over saying that the waves can get very dangerously powerful. So if you're planning to go deeper in for any kind of water sports, just be aware that it can get a little dangerous out there if the surf is getting pretty rocky. As one of the largest beaches in Maui, it's incredible how well maintained and pristine Makena is. If you're looking for a quieter beach to spend your day at, definitely check out Makena for fun, surf, and sand - a little bit outside the hustle and bustle of the busier areas! read more

See all

We enjoyed our visit to Makena Beach during our Maui vacation! It's a beautiful local beach with clean and soft sand. From Makena, you can enjoy scenic views of the nearby Hawaiian islands. Amenities are limited, with some porta-potties available, and lifeguards on duty for safety. During our stay, the surf was a bit rough, but we had fun splashing in the waves and relaxing in the sun. read more

Absolutely stunning beach. Parking was easy, and Joanna, the parking attendant, was super sweet and helpful. Highly recommend!

We visited this spot twice on our trip. Greets snorkeling, easy to park, very clean. Not very crowded and great atmosphere and views read more

Known as the Big beach due to its size. On my recent visit in July 2025, looks like there's parking fee everywhere now. Maybe if you park on the street, it maybe free? read more

Great beach but can get rough not always for beginners. Lot of broken necks and spine injuries here over the years.

Breathtaking in two ways. Beauty and danger! The soft white sand and the sunset views with Molokini and Kaho'olawe in view are outstanding. The pounding surf and the signs saying "Spinal cord injury" due to dangerous shore break you kind of pause lol. We arrived two days for sunset pictures and the waves were definitely coming in a bit rough and they break right on the shore so you do run a risk of getting yourself face planted just a few feet in. Don't turn your back on the waves for sure. They are amazing to watch and if you treat the water with respect you'll have fun. Absolutely majestic area. read more

See all

It was my first time visiting the white sandy Makena Beach, and words do not do it justice. The incomparable beauty of the shoreline, jewel toned sea, and blue sky finished off with the bright sun encompasses all the reasons why you go on vacation. The beach is serene, with 1.5 miles of white sand. This beach is one of the largest undeveloped beaches, which helps to minimize any crowds that typically would frequent the beach areas near the resorts. You have to pay for parking and admission fees per person. The parking app incorporates the admission and parking fees, just in case you're wondering if you have to pay separately (which we were trying to figure it). There is some street parking if you don't mind the walk and aren't bringing too much gear. We had just had some fish tacos nearby and couldn't miss the opportunity to visualize this natural beauty firsthand. read more

See all

Absolutely stunning!! The water is nice and warm! The views are breathtaking! I came here twice while in Maui and I would do it over and over again! Total sand beach! read more

Makena Beach - Beaches Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Absolutely gorgeous beach. There's plenty of shade and soft sands on the far left side, and the waves are strong enough to draw droves of surfers and body/boogie boarders (Warning: there's a steep drop off in the sand bank under the water and the powerful waves are easily enough to push and pull a person, so if you're not a strong swimmer, you should reconsider the left side, or if you're a parent, supervise your kids). If you're traveling from Kihei side, eschew the main parking lot (which is paid) and see if you can find street parking further down, which is limited but often available. This beach does attract a certain clientele, which is the 20-40 year olds, so think fewer families and more bikinis (thank you to the kids who brought a boombox and blasted hip hop behind us). While it's a great place to lounge and relax, it's not the best place to snorkel due to the heavy waves and abundance of surfers. read more

(Late review from September - October 2022) Probably one of the best beaches in Maui! The water is calm, there's no harsh waves here and it's just a chill, relaxing beach spot. Definitely beats going to the more crowded beach areas in Lahaina. Recommended beach to visit and swim at when traveling to Maui! read more

So beautiful and quiet! I think it was a $10 fee per car and you could pay by phone! Such a nice little protected cove and local beach! read more

Makena Beach - Beaches Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Makena Beach aka Big Beach is great. The sand is like powder and the water is the perfect temperature. Be careful there is a shore break at this beach and it will toss you on your head Also beware that little beach is clothing optional by tradition. read more

Makena Beach - View from the rock that separates big and little beaches - Beaches Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

This beach is beautiful! A great place to snorkel, definitely go in the morning to see a lot of turtles! Has a nice walk in to the ocean area and has bathrooms close to the area. read more

Very beautiful and quiet. The water is clear and has and beautiful turquoise color. Very good quality and no litter. warm water and clean sand. It was and amazing time spending there on my vacation. read more

This was one of the nicest if not the nicest beach we went to in Maui. Some people know it as Big Beach and it's right next to, you guessed it Little Beach. You will pay a parking fee and person fee which was a total of $30 for our group of 4. Some folks park outside the road however I believe is great to support State Parks if you can. Even though I liked the beach I didn't go into the ocean as I felt the tide was high so maybe not the best for snorkeling but definitely it was beautiful to chill. You can go walking to Little beach and despite plenty of signs saying nudity is prohibited you will see a good amount of people enjoying the beach butt naked so beware. read more

Makena Beach - Beaches Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

See all

One of the prettiest beaches in Maui. The crowd is pretty spread out. The water is just clear blue/sea green. The waves are pretty powerful which can be intimidating! The waves break so close to the shore. It's amazing to stand and a 6-8 foot wave just lands! It can be dangerous for smaller kids unless supervised by a parent. There's a parking lot but you have to pay. There are only portable toilets and no water station to wash yourself so be sure to get change of clothes and towel to remove sand. read more

Makena Beach - Beaches Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

An easy drive from Waukesha or Waianae but it's an easy drive up the paved road to get to a double entrance but we took the second entrance. Parking was easy and then a walk of a few minutes to the beach that has a lifeguard. The water is fresh off the ocean wth an occasional sea turtle or some crabs in the sand. We encouraged the kids to work off the extra energy from sugary drinks of just energy from being on vacation. read more

Makena Beach - A great view of the smaller islands - Beaches Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Best beach around this area, waves are pretty big but it is soooooo fun to jump in them and swim around. Awesome beach but not for little babies. read more

Beautiful beach well taken care of and lots of parking inside lot $10 or on the street. White, beautiful sand with tiny seashells. Waves were huge and a little scary. The water is amazingly blue and so clear! There are trees you could sit under for shade if you don't have an umbrella. Not crowded and easy to find a spot on the shore with the best views. We saw a couple of whales while viewing the ocean. Great beach for relaxing and enjoying a day in Maui! read more

Beautiful views. Not a swimming beach unless you like crashing into huge waves. Biggest waves ive ever seen in person. There is parking in a parking lot which is 10 dollars per car and additionally 5 dollars per person. It's bc it's a state park. There's parking on the street where you can walk if you don't want to pay for your car but you still pay 5 dollars a person. My husband had a lot of fun running and jumping into the waves. Pretty scenery. Not too crowded. We went on a Tuesday. Our houses for bathrooms are located at the entrance read more