The perfect beach for a peaceful late-morning swim. It's clean, calm, and never feels too crowded even when plenty of people are around. There are a few benches, but they're set back from the water, so definitely bring a chair if you'd rather not sit in the sand. Lots of nice shaded spots earlier in the day, which makes it an easy place to spend a few hours without baking in the sun. read more

Poolenalena Beach - Beachfront - Beaches Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Allowing easy access to the neighboring Chang's Beach, Poolenalena beach is much larger, providing plentiful options for shade and is a short walk from the parking area (the next stop from where Google Maps shows this beach), which can fit about 30 cars comfortably if you create your own lane in the middle and fill it to capacity. Be aware that the entrance does have a few potholes. If you want to use Chang's Beach for turtle watching, you can probably park at this beach and walk down to Chang's Beach, given the latter didn't have accessible parking at the time of this review. There aren't any rinse areas here, and bathrooms are limited to two port-o-potties. The foliage and general greenery isn't as nice as other beaches, but it does seem less crowded and quieter. read more

Poolenalena Beach - Left side of beach, with Chang's beach at the far left end. - Beaches Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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Free but tighter parking. The beach has some shaded areas to set up your beach chairs, etc. Water is warm as usual, waves are kid friendly, and beach front as a whole is not overly crowded. There are no on-site restrooms but a single porta potty. Nice choice to have a beach lunch. Observed another group who actually camped overnight at this beach. They had their tent, supplies, and all the works. All of them said it was an amazing experience. Definitely gave me an idea for a future adventure. read more

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Passed by this beach all my life and never realized there was an expansive, white sand beach beyond the gates and dirt parking lot. Luckily, our friends invited us over for a beach day as they were camping out for the weekend. I did not know people camped here either, but after seeing everyone's set-up, I could see why with the porta potties, trash cans, keawe trees to provide shade, and a beautiful view of Molokini and Kaho'olawe in the distance. We set-up our pop-up tent and pretty much played all day. The winds did not kick-up in the afternoon like it normally would and the water was just absolutely glassy. You could see clear through to the bottom for at least 20 to 30 feet. We floated around, took the kayaks and stand up paddle boards out, and body boarded. This was the perfect beach to enjoy all these activities. All local families and so much space on the beach that it was easy to social distance. If you want to do some snorkeling or diving, head towards the southend or around to the next cove over is 5 graves, a popular spot with lots of fish and underwater caves. Overall, this is a great beach and if it wasn't for the pandemic, I probably would've never come here as I'd normally see the parking lot filled with tourists. I would definitely go here again with a bunch of friends. I just would not recommend it if you have little ones because the surf can get high unless you keep them close at all times. read more

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Amazing spot(aka Chang's beach) Super relaxing They have a massage chair And it's a good spot for body surfing read more

Poolenalena Beach - Beaches Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Plenty of parking. Nice fine sandy beach. Only one port-o-potty and no life guard on duty. Otherwise lots of space to camp out and swim with the sea turtles and fish. Water was pretty clear too. read more

A mighty fine beach. Definitely a less touristy spot. An overall positive atmosphere. Lots of room to play in the sand and waves. This isn't Chang's Beach - that is just a bit further south in a tiny cove. read more

One of my favorite beaches in Maui. Its on a popular strip of beaches so you can hop around. Plus theres plenty of parking both inside the gated area and along the street. There's an adult beach right next door so its nice when you dont want to be around too many children. read more

My husband and I were married on this beach on June 22, 2022 with the assistance of Darci from Aloha Maui Dream Weddings and Penny from Penny Palmer Photography. These two are a dynamite duo and made our wedding so enjoyable and fun. Long story short is that if you are seeking a Destination Wedding, hire Darci and Penny, you will not be disappointed. I am so happy with the services they provided. Their love and passion for helping people truly shines throughout their work. read more

Amazing! Warm water, private and sand like silk. Loved visiting this beach. read more

Poolenalena Beach - Beaches Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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Poolenalena Beach is located between the Kea Lani Hotel and Makena Surf condos, near the intersection of Wailea Golf Club Drive. Look for all the cars parked along the road if it's a busy day, or the yellow gates. PARKING: The dirt and gravel lot can be treacherous for low cars, with deep potholes, banked hills, and very uneven surfaces. Parking along the road shoulder is fairly safe from vandals as the road is very busy and the cars are visible. THE BEACH: It's made up of three coves of soft white & yellow sand, and lined with thorny kiawe trees. The first cove is the largest and easiest to access directly from the parking lot. The second cove further north, is an easy walk over a small hill with a cut out pathway from the vegetation, and over some rocky points. The third and most northerly cove is the smallest, and somewhat secluded, sans for the homes that peer down on it. Access is over a small lava rock formation. Legally, the beach is not supposed to be clothing optional, but the nudists flock to the northern sections, and enforcement isn't present. Here, the beach is fairly protected from winds because of the high hillside behind it. The ocean is usually calmer here than neighboring Little & Big Beach, and is great for swimming and body/boogie boarding. Views are of Kahoolawe, Molokini Crater, Lanai, and the West Maui Mountains. Sunsets are gorgeous! Crowds here are way less than Makena State Park, but is quickly gaining popularity, unfortunately. Come sunset, you may be invaded by several wedding parties and cameramen. There are no restrooms, facilities, or lifeguard. read more

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Great place to enjoy the beach. Not to crowded. Warm water. Not to big of waves. Great for kids. The grand finale. Watching the Sun set in Maui. read more

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Great beach to hang out or snorkeling. No shower nor bathroom though. Parking is limited so come as early as you can. Water is calm and the scenery is peaceful. read more

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Best hidden beach in Maui. Clear water, calm waves, clear water and the water doesn't go past your shoulders; not deep. There were a lot of people snorkeling and saw one guy with a spear. read more

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This beach is great. It always has great waves and is not crowded. The parking lot is large but has really deep potholes so you have to be careful getting in. The sand is super hot so we wear our slippers to the waters edge. There are many trees for shade. One of the reasons that I particularly like this place is that while swimming in the ocean, when you look back at the island, you see the green hills of upcountry vs. hotels and condo's. We always see turtles here and there are lava points that add to the scenery. Haven't tried snorkeling here yet. It loses a star because there is no shower there. read more

I love this beach!!! Not overly crowded, amazing snorkeling, and calm waves(but still enough for boogie boarding). My husband and I snorkeled here twice and both times swam with sea turtles!! We even heard whales talking to one another the first time - so cool! Go early 8-9am. Doesn't look like people know there is another public parking lot. It is located right before you reach Makena Surf condos(big gold letters) with a blue shoreline access sign 104. It's a smaller lot with shade coverage. Walk down the cement path through the gate and you'll be located at the south end of Po'olenalena beach where the good snorkeling is found. Showers located here too. read more

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This is a beautiful beach to soak in rays, boogie board, snorkel (in the right conditions) and even camp I guess. I didn't know that you could camp here, but when we left the beach around 5:30pm on a Saturday, there were more than 10 tents set up. I haven't done it and signs says that park closes at 7pm. It says all remaining cars will be ticketed. So evidently these campers know something I don't. We were there in the afternoon. Thankfully the trades were blowing to keep up cool. But there were also some very choppy head height wave sets. The boogie boards took advantage and had a blast. There was a fairly strong current when we were there. So just be aware when you go. And when in doubt, don't go out. There's no lifeguard stand here. There are also no showers, but there is a port a potty. I'd recommend coming to check out this beach. It has beautiful views towards Molokini and looking back north at the west maui mountains. It's also a popular wedding spot, just hang out around sun set and you're bound to see one almost any day of the week. read more

This can be a great spot to spend a beach day at the south end in front of Makena Surf. The public parking is limited and not obvious so usually not crowded. The typical beachgoer here is an older couple reading books under an umbrella. The condos behind the beach run $500-800/nt. I don't typically see young families here. Swimming is good here with a few rocks in the sandy bottom that can be avoided when out in the water. It's good unless the surf is coming in hard enough to make the water look like churned up mud. At that point it's kinda miserable and best to look elsewhere. No public facilities. There's a beach shower at the end of the cement path. read more

Poolenalena Beach - Beaches Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

My cousin told us about this beach and said it had great snorkeling. On our honeymoon, my husband and I decided to check it out. I didn't see many fish, but we were only on one side of the beach, so that might be why. I did, however, see two sea turtles and got to watch them swim in the water. One was the biggest honu I've seen! If you're anything like me, seeing a turtle in the water is just amazing experience. I always tell my husband that seeing a honu is a blessing. Anyway, this beach is so lovely. Very quiet, serene and a perfect way for us to spend our first full day on the island. As the other reviews mention, no real amenities at this beach, but when you have the sun and the sea- as long as you pack some snacks- what else do you really need? read more

Best snorkeling we found the entire trip! Parking is easy and wasn't crowded. There is minimal shade so bring an umbrella or cover up and lots of sunscreen- it gets super hot. The snorkeling by the rocks is the best- several turtles and variety of fish in water that's unbelievably clear. My husband and I got stung by jellyfish while snorkeling on October 20, 2017- pretty painful although harmless. We saw others get stung throughout the time we were there too. There were several jellyfish washed up on shore- they looked like little blue bubbles so if you see them wear a protective suit in the water. read more

Poolenalena Beach - Beaches Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Great beach. Not many people. Great snorkel spot and sometimes great big turtles. . Love to boogie board here with the fam. Great for kids too. Love this place read more

Poolenalena Beach - Beautiful - Beaches Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

great beach, very secluded. no formal restroom. only a port- a potty. be careful driving in, as concrete road (driveway) has not been maintained and will cause an unpleasant surprise to your vehicle. snorkeling (if any) will be on your waaaaaay left near the rocks. waves can get choppy in the afternoon hours. trees , some fallen over, or some twisted by mother nature's crafty hands, are just so cool to look at. enjoy a nice peaceful nap here, as this beach is epitome of true paradise read more

Found this beach with the Maui revealed book. My gps actually did find it under one of its many names. The beach itself wasn't that much better than most beaches in Maui but the snorkeling was great! Swam with two giant turtles and tried to follow them in case they were to lead me to treasure! The lot fills up early here and I do not remember seeing a shower. Easily one of my favorite snorkeling spots! The Maui Revealed book says it is the least known large because in the Wailua/Makena area but it was very busy when I was here! Saw a few turtles each time of all different sizes, and lots of different fish. Great sunbathing beach as well. No places nearby to eat so bring food with you. Was a bit hard to find but my GPS did have it listed under parks. It is interesting that the best snorkeling in South Maui (IMO) aren't at the prettiest beaches that make me think of Hawaii. I think Big Beach is the beach that makes me think of a beach in Hawaii but the snorkeling is FANTASTIC at Po'olenalena. read more

No undertow and no warning signs at 11am. So it was great for swimming. Not crowded and beautiful, with minimal buildings nearby - just a couple expensive houses setback from the beach and lots of palm trees and sand. No showers and only a portable outhouse for facilities. read more

This is an absolutely beautiful beach. My fella and I were scouting out locations for our wedding and decided on this location based on how gorgeous and secluded it is. I could spend all day here just taking in all the sights and sounds. Stay to enjoy the famous Maui sunset. read more

We took our engagement photos here ! It was more local than a lot of the beaches on Maui. We took a local access and easily pranced about the beach with minimal people around. The sunset was spectacular, a few black rocks to make for a few dreamy photos. read more

Very amazing place! The water was very fun to swim in, and the view was amazing! The sand was very sticky, so be sure to wash off after playing in it! This was a very great beach, so be sure to visit it! But if you're looking for a place to wash off in a shower at, then this isn't the place. It was very amazing! Use the access off Makena Rd. Instead of the public access. We saw a turtle nest and two weddings. Went three times and it was never too crowded, even on the 4th. read more

This beach is very crowded with people and bugs! Went to this beach after reading Yelp reviews on it, and was SORELY disappointed. So many flies everywhere, and really crowded on Sunday. Went again on Monday thinking there would be fewer people, but no. read more

Best snorkeling ever!!! Tons of fish, turtles and eels. Boats and kayakers come in to snorkel around 9am, be there at 8 and the beach and water are yours. Gorgeous views, too. read more

This beach is more kids friendly and very beautiful. We found it after leaving Big Beach because of the big surf. I wish we had known about snorkeling earlier as this is our last day. We will come back. read more

The is very calm. Nice for snorkeling. A good place put in your kayak. Will definitely come back.

One of my favorite beaches! The parking lot always looks full, but the beach is so large, it doesn't seem that crowded. Plus, in the parking lot, if you walk to the right, you can scamper over the rocks to find a whole different beach. Watch out for the nudists at the far end. read more

This is one of my favorite beaches on the South Side. It's not feet crowded and is a great place to swim.

Curious turtles swimming with us up and down the shore! So dang fun. The Water was as clear as glass, amazing snorkeling and coral reefs with tons of sea life. We saw starfish, eels, turtles and tons of turtles and fish! The beach itself had a lot of shade, but the sand on the beach had a lot of sticks and charcoal from fires (?). Despite that, our favorite beach. read more

Big beach is bomb but this off the beaten path and special!! Try and find it and make it a stop !!!

This was a very nice beach with some pretty great snorkeling. We saw plenty of turtles and a variety of fish and other sea life. Parking was pretty easy and the beach wasn't overly crowded, even on a Saturday. Snorkeling is definitely better in the morning (at the end of August) before the winds and waves pick up. Then give boogie board g a try. The only think missing at this beach is a shower/rinse off station. read more

3 1/2 stars. The Blue book (and my brother in law) was right. Great beach. Nice wide beach. Not very crowded. Waves were a little much for me to want to take the kids in. (hence 3 /12 stars, not 4). But husband and others went snorkeling around the rocks on the very right/north boundary. From the main public parking lot, take the short path to your right and slightly scramble through some lava rocks. Keep walking a little further and there's actually a bit of shade too. On the day we went there were some nude sunbathers and swimmers. We stayed at the Fairmont, and so this beach was only a couple more miles south of the resort. Look up Makena surf to find it. read more