The 5 Most Beautiful Beaches in Maui
Most guides will tell you where to go.
I want to show you how it feels to be there.
As a fine art photographer living on Maui, I’ve spent countless dawns and dusks chasing light along the shoreline. Some of the most beautiful beaches in Maui are wild and untamed. Others carry a stillness, as if the ocean itself is listening.
In this guide, I’m sharing five top Maui beaches that never stop amazing me. These beautiful Maui beaches continue to inspire my photography, no matter how many times I return. Along the way, I’ll also share some of my favorite images captured at each spot, and the stories behind the moments that made them unforgettable.
Five beaches. Five moods. All unforgettable:
- Kapalua Bay Beach
- Ka'anapali Beach
- Makena Beach State Park
- Waianapanapa State Park
- Hamoa Beach
Kapalua Bay: One of the Top Maui Beaches for Sunset Serenity
You don’t have to take my word for it, Kapalua Bay has earned its praise.
In 1991, Kapalua Beach won the title of "America's Best Beach". Conde Nast also crowned it, "Best Beach in the World".
In my opinion, even after all these years, it still lives up to the hype.
One of Maui's protected beaches, you'll definitely want to bring your snorkel gear as the coral reef here has abundant ocean life. It's also very common to come across resting turtles on its golden sand.
You have plenty of amenities here as there are public bathrooms and also world class fine dining at Merriman's. Nearby accommodations include The Ritz Carlton Kapalua, The Kapalua Villas, Napili Kai Beach Resort, Hale Napili, Outrigger Napili Shores Resort, Napili Sunset Beachfront Resort, Napili Surf Beach Resort. This is also where I captured Kapalua’s Embrace—a sweeping sunset panorama that barely does justice to the quiet beauty of this cove.
What to Expect at Kapalua Bay
- Golden Sand and Crystal Clear Waters: Kapalua Beach boasts soft, golden sand and clear, pristine waters, creating an idyllic tropical paradise for beachgoers. The calm and gentle surf makes it an excellent spot for swimming and snorkeling.
- Beach Amenities: The beach is well-equipped with amenities such as showers, restrooms, picnic tables, and barbecues, providing a comfortable and convenient experience for visitors.
- Swimming and Tide Pools: The beach's protected bay creates a gentle and safe swimming area for families and beachgoers of all ages. At low tide, tide pools form along the rocks, offering a chance to explore and discover fascinating marine life.
- One of the Best Sunsets in Maui: Stick around for golden hour as Kapalua Bay is known for offering some of the best sunsets in Maui.
A wonderful sunset panorama I captured at Kapalua Bay here on Maui. This beach has been voted best in the world numerous times and is usually a great snorkeling spot as well
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Kaʻanapali Beach Blends Luxury, Adventure, and Golden Sand
Kaanapali Beach is the most popular beach on the island as it's lined with some of the top hotels and resorts on the island. Besides the fact that the beach is huge, it's the conveniences around the beach that most find entertaining. Fine dining, art galleries, shopping, activities, you name it and Kaanapali has it.
In fact, since everything is right there, you can literally check into your room and not leave one of the best beaches in Kaanapali until you need to go back to the airport. Whaler's Village is where most of the activity takes place and where most of the available parking is located. This stretch of sand gave me Kaʻanapali Palms on a picture-perfect day and Lover’s Paradise at sunset, where two palms framed one of the best sunsets in Maui.
What to Expect at Ka'anapali Beach
- Accessibility: Among the best beaches in Maui, Kaʻanapali Beach is also the easiest to reach from Maui’s resort hubs. Its central location makes it a go-to for sun, sand, and adventure.
- Black Rock Cliff Diving: At the northern end of the beach, there is a prominent volcanic rock formation called Black Rock where brave individuals jump from the rocks into the ocean. This stunning landscape has become a popular spot for cliff-diving performances and evening torch-lighting ceremonies.
- Luxury Resorts and Amenities: Surrounding one of the most beautiful Maui beaches are luxury resorts, oceanfront dining, and everything you need for a laid-back beach day in style.
I found these two palms a nice subject for a very beautiful sunset at Ka'anapali Beach
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A picture perfect day at the world famous Ka'anapali Beach here on Maui. Coconut palms and white sandy paradise
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Makena Beach State Park: Big Beach, Big Swells, Big Vibes
Did you know that it's the most photographed beach in all of Hawaii?
I couldn’t resist getting in on the action myself and captured the fiery beauty of this place in my panoramic piece, Bignition.
Makena State Park has three entrances and has two beaches, Big Beach and Little Beach. Big Beach is not only large in size, when there's a south swell the waves are huge! I would not recommend swimming here during those conditions but bring the camera and photograph some of the local surfers and body boarders.
Thinking of wandering over to Little Beach? It’s clothing-optional, so expect bare essentials and bold personalities.
Check out the drum circle every Sunday night.
What to Expect at Makena Beach State Park
- Size and Scenery: Makena Beach (a.k.a Big Beach) is one of the top maui beaches for soaking in serious scenery. Over half a mile of golden sand, framed by lava rock and kiawe trees, makes this spot feel cinematic.
- Little Beach Snorkeling: While the northern part of the beach can have stronger currents, the southern end, called "Little Beach," is known for its calmer waters and offers great snorkeling opportunities.
- A Heads-Up on Little Beach: The southern end of Makena Beach is clothing-optional in some areas.If that’s not your thing, feel free to skip it and stay beachside where you’re most comfortable.
A glorious sunset erupts for this panoramic view of Big Beach (Makena State Park). The sky resembles almost a mirror of the beach itself for this special image
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Maui’s Most Dramatic Coastline? Waianapanapa State Park
Have you ever wanted to spend the day on a black sand beach?
Waianapanapa State Park is truly something special, where dramatic black sand, lush green cliffs, and emerald waters come together for one of the most beautiful Maui beach experiences.
I knew I had to photograph it—the colors, the contrast, everything about this beach just resonated with me. That’s how Resonate came to life.
Located near Hana, it's quite a drive to get there but definitely make it one of your stops if you're planning on making the Road to Hana part of your trip. Check out the trails around the 122 acre park and you'll find sea arches, sweeping panoramic views, caves and even a blow hole.
Don't miss the cave to the right of the beach!
What to Expect at Waianapanapa Beach Park
- Black Sand Beaches: Waianapanapa State Park is home to one of the most unique beaches in Maui. The sand gets its color from crushed volcanic lava rock that has been eroded over time
- Sea Caves and Lava Tubes: Explore sea caves and lava tubes carved by ancient eruptions. These dramatic formations add a wild, adventurous vibe to one of the best beaches in Maui.
- Waianapanapa Cave: Also known as the "Bathing Cave," it is located near the shoreline and has a small pool inside where visitors can take a refreshing dip. Take a dip in its cool pool, once used by ancient Hawaiians–a truly unique swimming experience surrounded by natural rock walls.
One of my favorite beaches I've ever been to and I just love the contrasts of this scene. The almost electric greens contrasting off of the black lava rock, the blue sky against the green and the waves against the black sand. Truly one of the gems of Maui and such a refreshing scene to take in. I captured this one with a medium format camera for maximum detail and color
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Hamoa Beach
One of the true gems of East Maui, this beach is among my personal favorites to photograph. I captured my image Ascension just after sunrise here. One of those rare moments where the light perfectly captures the relaxed, magical vibe of East Maui.
There are two entrances and it's surrounded by lush cliffs. It's also home to a popular surf break and you'll find many locals here when the surf's up. Native Hawaiian's have been surfing here since ancient times actually.
Overall, it's 100' wide by 1000' long in a perfect crescent shape making a picture perfect postcard. It's really amazing to look back at the island being out in the water here as beyond the lush cliffs surrounding Hamoa, you'll be able to see all the way up to Haleakala rising 10,000' above sea level.
What to Expect at Hamoa Beach
- Sheltered Gem of East Maui: Hamoa Beach is a crescent-shaped stunner framed by lush cliffs, golden sands, and that perfect Maui sunrise glow. It’s one of the most beautiful beaches in Maui, hands down.
- Unspoiled Natural Beauty: No high-rises. No distractions. Just the raw beauty of Hawaii that’s ideal for beach photography that captures its true spirit.
- Varied Landscape: Crashing waves, shaded palms, and panoramic views. The beach offers a diverse range of photography opportunities.
One of the best beaches on the island of Maui, Hamoa Beach is isolated and free from crowds at the moment. Just after sunrise there is some magical light here and this just really captures the essence and feeling of East Maui. Take a moment and inhale slowly through your nose and exhale through your mouth.......now you feel the vibe and relaxation
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Why Maui’s Shorelines Are Among the World’s Most Beloved
Maui's beaches stand out as some of the best in Hawaii and in the world, not just for their diverse beauty but also for the unique experiences they offer like:
- Sandy Stunners: Maui’s beaches are wide, soft, and golden. The sand stretches far and meets the tide in perfect harmony.
- Stories in the Sand: Many beaches feature statues, plaques, and markers that share Maui’s rich history and cultural roots.
- Wild Encounters: Snorkel or explore and you might spot sea turtles, dolphins, whales, tropical fish, and seabirds.
- Golden Hour Glow: Catch a sunrise or sunset by the shore. Maui’s light shows are unforgettable.
Whether you're a photographer looking for the perfect landscape to shoot or a visitor simply soaking in the beauty, Maui has a way of staying with you.
And if you haven’t had the chance to experience it yet, or want to bring a little bit of it home, you can explore my Maui gallery for images that capture the island’s spirit.
A perfect morning at the beautiful Secret Beach on Maui. I was lucky enough to have this spot all to myself for most of the morning with just epic conditions.
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So many elements just happened to come together for this shot. Some may think is is multiple images but it's just one shot. The moon was very low on the horizon and we also had fires in central Maui which created a bit of a haze. The haze in turns gets illuminated by the moonlight and it really brings this scene all together into an infinite paradise.
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