Which Hawaiian island has the best beaches? Many locals and regular travelers to Hawaii vote for Maui, which often gets rated as the best island in the world for lots of things – best honeymoon island, most beautiful island, best island for snorkeling, best for diving, best for surfing and even best for whale-watching. Maui has it all. And the best beaches? Sure, that’s just another of Maui’s attractions.
But which is the best Maui beach for you? Here are a few suggestions of which is the best Maui beach for different things. Before booking your Hawaii vacation on Maui, check out where your hotel or resort is located, and which beaches are nearby. Maui’s got everything, but not all in the same place!
Maui’s Best Beach for Snorkeling
Malu’aka Beach, or Turtle Beach, near Makena in southern Maui
Here you don’t just go swimming with the fishes, but as the name suggests you can go snorkeling and kayaking with Maui’s sea turtles. The turtles love the offshore coral, and snorkelers love sharing the sea with these magnificent creatures.
Resorts and Hotels near Turtle Beach: Maui Prince Hotel, Fairmont Kea Lani
Maui’s Best Golden Sandy Beach
Oneloa Beach, or Big Beach, near Makena in southern Maui
Once known as Hippie Beach for the encampments there in the 1960s, most Maui locals just call this The Beach, or The Big Beach. It’s almost a mile of golden sand and a hundred yards wide, and packed with people.
Resorts and Hotels near Big Beach: Maui Prince Hotel, Fairmont Kea Lani
Maui’s Best Windsurfing Beach
Ho’okipa Beach near Pa’ia in East Maui
No contest. Ho’okipa Beach is not just the best windsurfing beach on Maui, it’s one of the best surfer beaches in the world. It hosts World Cup surfing contests, is good in winter for the big waves and in summer for the steady winds. Surfers love it.
Resorts and Hotels near Ho’okipa Beach: Hale Akua Shangri-La, Blue Tile Beach House, Spyglass House
Maui’s Best Beach Resort
Ka’anapali in West Maui
Ka’anapali Beach is the busiest, best and most photographed beach on Maui. Its three miles of golden sands and beautiful views have turned it into the Hawaiian island’s number one beach resort. It’s certainly not the most peaceful beach, but it’s definitely pretty and is probably Maui’s best all-round beach for a resort vacation.
Resorts and Hotels in Ka’anapali: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, Ka’anapali Beach Hotel, Maui Eldorado, Royal Lahaina Resort, Sheraton Maui, Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas
Maui’s Best Beach?
D.T. Fleming Beach Park near Kapalua, West Maui
This Maui beach was voted America’s best beach in 2006 and is a great all-rounder, good for swimming, good for sunbathing and pretty good for surfing too.
