Kihei’s Best Beaches

South Maui (Kihei, Wailea)
As a rule, the further south you go, the better the Maui beaches get. North Kihei condominiums are fronted with long stretches of wonderful walking beach, but for swimming and other ocean activities, south Kihei and Wailea are the way to go. North Kihei is, as a rule, windier than south Kihei: although there is no "official" division line between North and South Kihei, locals generally use Foodland (and south) as a landmark for the beginning of South Kihei.

Kamaole Beaches I, II, and III are located in south Kihei, and are great for swimming, snorkeling and boogie boarding. Lots of colorful fish, turtles, eels and sometimes manta rays can be seen here. Each beach has its distinctive charm. A little further south, Keawakapu Beach is the northernmost gateway to the Wailea beaches, and this is a magical stretch of world class beach.

While boat trips are great for snorkeling, you can experience spectacular underwater viewing right off the shoreline. Kamaole III Beach, Keawakapu Beach, and the Wailea beaches all have wonderful reef areas visible with an inexpensive rental snorkel and mask.

Ulua Beach in Wailea is another great beach for snorkeling. The beach in front of the Maui Prince Hotel is nicknamed "Turtle Town", where lots of green sea turtles hang out. All ocean activities are best done in the morning hours when the water is calmer.

West Maui (Lahaina, Kaanapali)

Every area of Maui has its amazing beaches, each with its own flavor. South of Lahaina, before you get there from Kihei, you’ll find local surfer’s shore breaks along the coastline, along with one of the most beautiful drives on the planet. Small patches of beach are interspersed, but quite close to the road. Venture to northernmost Lahaina, and you find a beautiful stretch of soft sand favored by locals and visitors alike: Baby Beach. North, you’ll find spectacular Kaanapali Beach, one of the most amazing outdoor playgrounds on the island. It combines stark natural beauty, incredible snorkeling, and every imaginable watersport opportunity, with an array of great eateries, pool side bars, and more than a mile of soft, sandy beach.

Kaanapali isn’t the only great beach in the area: the Honokowai and Kahana shoreline is cut with wonderful sections of sandy swimming beach, although much of it is also rocky and not suitable for swimming.

*Recommended: Molokini Snorkel Boat Tour, Lanai Snorkel Tour (calm days ONLY), Kayak/snorkel tour, Shore Dive.

**There are many dive/snorkel equipment rental shops in Kihei. Go with the least expensive snorkel set. We have found that the "better" snorkel is not, and is a waste of money.

$8 - $10 plate

Da Kitchen: Good local food, large portions, casual dress, Rainbow Plaza.

Kihei Café: Good breakfast/burgers, outdoor dining, good food, but you have to fight the flies.

Surfside Deli: Good local food, very casual, Island Surf building, next to the bike shop

Bunny’s Café: Good, basic homestyle breakfast and lunch, Dolphin Plaza

**Just south of Wailea is the settlement of Makena. You will find a roadside fish stand (not the fish taco stand. Drive further south.) The fresh fish kabobs are great! Sit on a bench, soak in the atmosphere, and enjoy!

$10 - $15 plate

Pita Paradise: Great pitas, gyros, fish, salads. Located in Kalama Village, but portions can be small

Thailand Cuisine: GREAT Thai food, Near Starbucks on Kihei Road, Kukui Mall

East Ocean Chinese: Great Chinese food, next to Denny’s on Kihei Road, NEW OWNERS, and excellent

Antonio’s: Great Italian food: Azeka Plaza North Kihei, great old school recipes

Stella Blues: Variety of foods, good salads, Azeka Plaza, a little pricy but good value

La Pinata: Close to airport, behind Kinko’s, excellent Mexican

Matteo’s Italian: Best pizza on the island, great pasta, outdoor dining, nice wines, good vibe, and one of Wailea’s easiest on the wallet

$15+ plate

Sansei: Great sushi, located near Foodland on Kihei Road, late night dining

Sarento’s: Fine dining on the beach, great service and ambiance, great seafood, impeecible service, Right between Kihei and Wailea on Kihei Road, next to Five Palms

Roys: Safeway Plaza, Wonderful!.

*The upscale resorts in Wailea have a variety of restaurants, including Ruth’s Chris, Longhi’s, Spago, Humu, and many more. All have a great reputation, and most are expensive.

**Drive to Mama’s Fish House in Paia for a wonderful dining experience. Expensive and worth it. This is a fabulous seaside restaurant famous for its delicious seafood and beautiful sunsets. Make reservations in advance!

Lahaina-Kaanapali

You’ll find great coconut shrimp at Bubba Gumps and Aloha Mixed Plate and an excellent reasonably priced pasta house, hiding on Dickenson, Penne Pasta.

Stock up at Costco right after leaving the airport. Go left at the first stoplight you come to and Costco will be on your right. There is also a Walmart right off Dairy Road in Kahului for other needs. The grocery stores will be much more expensive for most items.

Choose Safeway for groceries. It is less expensive than Foodland or any of the many mini-marts you’ll find. There is one located on Piilani Highway in Kihei. If you don’t have a Safeway Card, you can ask the cashier for one when you check out. This will give you a substantial discount.

**Food spoils much quicker in the islands due to the humidity. Keep this in mind when you stock up on foods, especially perishables. Put opened foods in ziplock bags to prolong spoilage and prevent ants. There are also many bugs that are sometimes pesky and hard to control. Keep bread in the refrigerator.

Haleakala Volcano

Bring warm clothes. We know: it’s hot in Kihei. Trust us: you will freeze. Really. It gets down in the 40's at times, especially early in the morning. Go up and watch the sunrise!

La Perouse Bay

Drive south through Wailea, all the way to the end of the road. You will park there. Hike along the shoreline. There are many old Hawaiian ruins here. Beautiful! Find your soul here!

Best Luau

Old Lahaina Luau: located in Lahaina. Authentic and fabulous. On the beach. Great cocktails and Hawaiian food. Exciting entertainment, lots of Hawaiian history.

Road to Hana

Start very early in the morning. Bring snacks. There are many sights to see along the way. Waterfalls, hiking and beautiful shoreline. Pick up a guide book. "Maui Revealed" is our favorite. You can find it at Walmart. Drive past Hana and go all the way around on the back road. TAKE YOUR TIME...roll down the windows, and soak up the Maui vibe. Make sure you leave enough time to travel most of this road in the daylight hours. There is so much to see! Rough and rugged in spots, but any car can make it, unless the weather is bad. If it is raining, head back the way you came.

Great CD

Pick up a copy of LUKE808 "Island Vibin..." our son is an awesome musician and his reggae-island music will leave you feeling GREAT about Maui!

**Remember to be very careful leaving your valuables in your car. Bring a small backpack or fanny-pack and take them with you when you leave your car. Rental cars are targets for thieves. Do not leave any personal objects or camera cases visible in your car.

**Spread the Aloha... the pace is slower here. Take a breath, let a waiting car pull out in front of you in traffic, there’s no rush. Be kind, and feel the aloha come back to you. Say hello to a local, and he’ll likely return a smile and show the local Aloha. No rush, eh?