Makena Beach

Makena Beach in Maui is hands down the most beautiful beach I've ever visited. The moment you set foot on the soft, white sands, you're immediately struck by the pristine, untouched beauty of this natural paradise. The beach stretches out seemingly endlessly, offering plenty of space to find your own little slice of heaven.

The waters at Makena Beach are simply incredible. Crystal clear and a stunning shade of turquoise, they invite you in for a swim that’s both refreshing and invigorating. The gentle waves make it perfect for swimming, whether you're a seasoned swimmer or just looking to wade in and enjoy the cool water. On a sunny day, the water sparkles like a thousand diamonds, making it almost impossible to resist.

The surrounding scenery is equally breathtaking. Lush green vegetation provides a picturesque backdrop, and the distant view of the other Hawaiian islands adds to the sense of tropical paradise. The beach is well-maintained, and its natural beauty is preserved, creating an unspoiled haven for visitors.

What made my time at Makena Beach truly special was the overall atmosphere. It’s serene and peaceful, allowing you to completely unwind and soak in the natural beauty. Whether you’re swimming in the clear waters, lounging on the soft sands, or simply taking a leisurely stroll along the shoreline, every moment at Makena Beach feels like a dream.

Overall, Makena Beach offers an unforgettable experience with its pristine waters, white sands, and breathtaking scenery. It’s the perfect spot for swimming, relaxing, and enjoying the incredible natural beauty of Maui. I can’t recommend it enough – Makena Beach is a must-visit for anyone looking to experience one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Super nice beach but WARNING ‼ the waves here are super huge and they have signs on the beach to watch out for the waves and the currents so beware but other than that it’s a beautiful beach overall

Amazing beach! Super clear water, soft sand, some shade from the trees, pretty empty with only a few people around. The waves are big! No joke! So be careful going in & out of the water. I saw a few people snorkeling further out & some people surfing. The state park has a $10 parking fee but we drove a bit past the parking lot & parked on the side of the road for free. This beach is super chill & relaxing & was one of our favorite beaches in Maui! Definitely check it out

Beautiful beach! We went on a calm day and felt pretty confident body surfing. I would heed the warnings about the strong surf.

This beach is a great hang out spot because it's so massive. There's tons of space on the sand, so it doesn't really feel crowded.

The water is really nice here and can be really calm and clear at times. The snorkeling is okay because the water is so clear, but because there's not a lot of formations on the bottom there aren't a lot of fish hanging around.

We did, however, snorkel with the largest Eagle Ray I've been in the water with. The wingspan was probably about 5 feet. It was unconcerned and us and hung out with us for quite some time. We could hear dolphins and whales but never saw them.

Love this beach. Many of the reviews here gave me the wrong impression though, so I want to set the record straight:

- Did not have to pay anything. We parked on the road on the south side (plenty of space), and there was no entrance fee.
- The waves were totally fine to swim when I was there, and there were kids swimming and boogie boarding.

To be clear, the waves do get big and they are strong. But if you know how to swim and aren't like 3 years old, then you'll be fine (at least if the waves are like they were when I visited). The waves were a lot of fun.

The beach itself is beautiful, and the vibes are great. Definitely check it out if you're in the area!

Awesome beach with big waves and dicey shore breaks. I’d recommend this beach to strong swimmers/people who are comfortable in choppy waters. Bring a boogie board and surf the waves!

She's my favorite beach. Such a long stretch of beautiful consistent waves. Read a book and vibe out or play in nature's wave pool. Snorkeling is fun here if it's not too choppy. Beautiful!!!

A true beauty! The waves are usually too harsh, great for surfing, not so much for a typical swim. A walk along the beach is a must, breathtaking views. Bring lunch or breakfast with you, no food options unless it changed recently. A bit of a walk from the parking lot, but worth it!

Nice clean beach with paved parking lot. Life guards on duty- frequent warnings about heavy wave break. Not the best place for little kids to swim, but kids could still have fun here with the right supervision. Tons of space on the beach on a Tuesday, we arrived at 830am and there were only 3 cars. Parking fees and $5 State park fee all paid through Park Mobile app. All very convenient and easy. You can see Molokini Crater in the distance and little beach is just beyond the rocks on the north end of the beach. Snorkeling was a no go due to the crazy turbulence in the water when we were there but I would still recommend this beach. On the way out there are two resident Taco Trucks, we at Jazzys, it’s legit and not too expensive, maybe $13-15 per person.

Probably the best beach we went to in all of Maui. We drove an hour and a half and the drive was worth it. The waves here are big but the water is warm and very blue. They also have a lifeguard as well which makes you feel a little safer. If you walk all the way to the right of the beach and up the rocks you will find Little Beach as well. Highly recommend checking this beach out!

This beach is beautiful but definitely not safe for children and even adults. If you’re not a confident swimmer, seriously don’t play around. Plenty of sand to lay around on. You have to pay $10 parking (if you’re parking in the lot) + $5 entry fee per person. Saw people parking outside the lot on the side of the road and only pay the $5 entry fee. Up to you if you want to walk a bit more and not pay the parking fee.

Would definitely recommend.
- Sand was amazing and fine (not rocky)
- Water was clear and warm, but you should get there earlier in the day as the waves get quite large and after a certain point you can’t really swim in them as they turn into “surfer waves”.
- Lifeguard on Duty
- Plenty of space for you to set up camp but not a lot areas that had shade
- Paid parking (and limited spots) BUT if you don’t mind the 5 min walk then park on the side of the road!

Gorgeous beach, kids had fun climbing the rocks. We came when the water was very rough so couldn’t snorkel. Easy parking!!

The more popular and crowded beach. We loved it and enjoyed watching the turtles play in the waves.

It was paradiae on earth. Many waves, next to Little Beach which is a nude beach. Usually entrance fee to Makena Beach is $5 but at times you can get by without paying.

Beautiful big beach away from the city craze. The water color is picture perfect, the sand is deep, clean and yellow, nice for kids to play in. On a windy day it can be uncomfortable with sand flying and hitting you. And, waves can be too big to go in the water. There is a lifeguard on duty. There's a few min walk from the parking lot to the beach. The parking lot is a good size, but can get full on a busy day. Watch out for scammers who will pretend to be park rangers asking for parking fees. There are 2 machines to pay for parking. There is some shade near trees, but it's further away from water.

A really beautiful beach that is not overcrowded. There is lots of space and beautiful sand and water to hang out in. The waves are frequently quite big here so it is not the best place for people who aren't great swimmers. There also are not any trees on the beach to provide shade, so bring lots of sunscreen with you.

BE AWARE….$10 per car to park PLUS $5 per person, including if you walk onto the beach.

Beautiful beach that slopes down to the water, super strong currents, that can knock you down and pull you under. Be cautious and aware since that can happen when you least expect.
If your in decent shape and up for a bit of a climb, you can hike over to Little beach, clothing optional but, incredible water without so much danger in currents.
There is a lifeguard on Big beach when our world is normal, none now though.
Parking can be a struggle when it’s high tourist season, there is a $10 fee for parking and the car will be towed if not paid. There are kiosks to pay at with a credit card. You can park outside the lot and walk in with no fee.

Beautiful beach with amazing sunset views . There were some pretty large waves would recommend being very careful they will smash you . Really fun to swim in just be careful and respect the waves