Maluaka Beach
Maluaka Beach
4.5
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The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
57 within 3 miles
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52 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
393 reviews
Excellent
304
Very good
71
Average
12
Poor
4
Terrible
2
Nancy S
Flint, MI578 contributions
Mar 2020 • Friends
The beach is sandy and the view is spectacular. Big enough so you don’t feel crowded. Public restroom and picnic area available. If you don’t want to sun sit in the shade and people watch. Parking was plentiful. A bit of a walk to the beach.
Written March 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alaskantravelnut
Anchorage630 contributions
Mar 2021 • Couples
This is a pretty beach that appears to be mainly used by people staying at the nearby resort. There is a free public parking lot at the southern end of the beach off Makena Keonoio Rd. From there you walk down a sidewalk to the beach. If you continue on the sidewalk, you can access the northern end of the beach where the sidewalk ends. There is also limited parking along Makena Rd. at the northern end. Where the sidewalk accesses the beach at the south, is a nice grassy shaded picnic area and a bathroom. The walking, swimming, and snorkeling are better at the southern end. The beach is steeper at the northern end. You have to negotiate a few rocks to get to the snorkeling at the northern end. The ocean drops off more steeply than at the south. The coral and fish are more abundant and closer to the surface on the southern end.
Written March 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BruinDan
Fullerton, CA3,316 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
Located not far from the resorts and condominiums of Wailea and Makena, Maluaka Beach is a public beach popular with both tourists and locals. My wife and I visited here during mid-October 2024.
To drive to the beach from the Makena, Wailea or Kihei area, go south on Makena Alanui Drive, past the Makena Beach & Golf Resort. In about a quarter mile, follow the signs and turn right onto Makena Keononio Road and you'll see a small public parking lot on your right. From there walk through the resort parking area and you will eventually see a walkway down to the beach.
The beach is wide with soft sand. There are public restrooms, showers and a grassy picnic area. The surf was gentle, making it suitable for children. We saw people wading, swimming, boogie boarding, snorkeling and surf fishing. It’s the sort of beach you imagine when you think of Maui, and we’re glad we spent the better part of a day there.
To drive to the beach from the Makena, Wailea or Kihei area, go south on Makena Alanui Drive, past the Makena Beach & Golf Resort. In about a quarter mile, follow the signs and turn right onto Makena Keononio Road and you'll see a small public parking lot on your right. From there walk through the resort parking area and you will eventually see a walkway down to the beach.
The beach is wide with soft sand. There are public restrooms, showers and a grassy picnic area. The surf was gentle, making it suitable for children. We saw people wading, swimming, boogie boarding, snorkeling and surf fishing. It’s the sort of beach you imagine when you think of Maui, and we’re glad we spent the better part of a day there.
Written November 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kathy G
Winnipeg, Canada25 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
On our recent trip to Maui, we visited Maluaka Beach several times. We visited a few other beaches but found Maluaka Beach met our needs with good parking ( if you are there early), good shade and calmer water for swimming. It also never became too crowded.
Written March 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mintchip586
United States92 contributions
May 2023
Best beach for our needs who just wanted calm and relaxing for elderly family members, we saw some families with younger kids, as well as more adventurous snorkelers. A catamaran would come in once that picked up and dropped off guests who presumably sailed out further for half day snorkelers trip. We got there early before 9 am and had pick of the space. Calm waters in the morning and big tree on the side with shade. Small-ish beach but nice walkway from parking lot and showers/restrooms. 3 picnic tables on grassy area that was perched above beach. Overflow lot beyond the initial parking area.
Written May 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barb R
54 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
The beach was great. We went snorkling there for the first time and saw a lot of different fish. My husband saw a turtle swimming near by but I missed him. Great beach for hanging out with friends and family.
Written February 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dayna
245 contributions
Jan 2021 • Couples
Hiked from Oneuli Black Sand Beach on fairly treacherous terrain in flip flops. Almost turned back but ended up making it to Maluaka. Soft sand, clean beach in front of golf course and condos. Walked the road back to our car. Maybe 4 stars without the fun hike.
Written January 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jmryl2018
Dallas, TX152 contributions
Mar 2022 • Couples
We enjoyed this beach twice during our stay. A little hard to get there, but worth the effort. Parking lot is a short walk from the beach. Nice and clean beach area. Not very crowded. Surf was a little rough at times. Go early to avoid high surf.
Written March 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Natalia Salas
San Jose, Costa Rica33 contributions
Sep 2022
Gorgeous, we actually got to enjoy the whole beach to ourselves. It was amazing! It was clean, clear blue, and lovely. Waves were FUN SIZE, meaning, big enough for us to play there and body surf, but not big enough for me to be scared (I am scared of waves that are taller than me).
Written January 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LGB-Local
Lakewood, CA129 contributions
Aug 2011
This beach is located in front of Makena Beach Resort (formerly Prince Hotel). I almost hate to disclose this quiet uncrowded place. Sorry locals. Be gentle with the reef...don't touch or step on coral, or bother the green turtles.
The beach is clean with gentle waves and vegetation at north end offers shade. Reefs at both ends of the cove offer good snorkling, but south end is much clearer due to prevailing current. Saw a dozen turtles at both reefs and even at the large rock just off the beach in the center of the cove. South end has the most turtles.
The beach can be accessed from Makena Road from either the north or the south (the road dead ends on either side of the resort). From the north, take Honoiki Street off of Makena Alanui and turn left onto Makena Road. There is a free public parking lot across the street from Keawalai Church with showers and restrooms (a couple hundred yards north of the beach). From the south, go beyond Makena Beach Resort and take a right onto Makena Road (marked dead end) from Makena Alanui after a big sweeping right hand curve in the road straigtens out. Parking at the south end of the beach is limited to roadside off-pavement spots.
The beach is clean with gentle waves and vegetation at north end offers shade. Reefs at both ends of the cove offer good snorkling, but south end is much clearer due to prevailing current. Saw a dozen turtles at both reefs and even at the large rock just off the beach in the center of the cove. South end has the most turtles.
The beach can be accessed from Makena Road from either the north or the south (the road dead ends on either side of the resort). From the north, take Honoiki Street off of Makena Alanui and turn left onto Makena Road. There is a free public parking lot across the street from Keawalai Church with showers and restrooms (a couple hundred yards north of the beach). From the south, go beyond Makena Beach Resort and take a right onto Makena Road (marked dead end) from Makena Alanui after a big sweeping right hand curve in the road straigtens out. Parking at the south end of the beach is limited to roadside off-pavement spots.
Written September 19, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rebecca S
Hawaii
Aloha, My family is a resident on the road accessing Maluaka Beach. Our family is part Hawaiian with property passed down.
Residents have rights too such as for PEACE and quiet especially at night so there are legal signs posted no parking allowed after 8pm which is well after dark. Legal signage also states no parking before 7am for the same reason. I truly believe people do not realize the noise that is carried back from water inland including road noise. We hear EVERYTHING. Conversation, screams, crying, arguments, drunks cursing, car engines, car doors, car horns when locking the cars, car horns when they set off their alarm, trunks slamming, blasting music with open windows, scooters buzzing, motorcycles roaring and even worse the straight piped motorcycles that stop all conversation until they are gone. Then after dark we experience headlights shining into our home/bedroom as people prefer to turn around in the road rather than drive a few yards to properly turn around in the culdesac. There is a severe issue with speeding on this tiny curvy road with constant pedestrians, bicyclists and pets. Not only is this a safety issue but the faster one goes, the louder the sound. What's the rush? My cat was hit breaking her pelvis and recently I buried a feral orange tabby I had been feeding killed on the road. Over the years we have witnessed a shift in attitude. Not with all people but more and more it seems a disrespect and lack of consideration for the aina, the residents, well anyone around them. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" I'm sure we all desire PEACE and privacy in our homes. It's definitely a challenge here in Hawaii with open homes. Our old Hawaii home windows are screened without air conditioning so we cannot close out noise and light. It became so bad at night we made our storage room into our bedroom as it's behind the house plus we run a box fan to drown out car/people noise to have uninterrupted sleep. ALL that is being asked is to obey the law which is posted parking allowed between 7am and 8pm. aloha and mahalo nui loa
Written August 31, 2017
I truly respect that and agree with you. It was a privilege to be on that beach and even while there, I had a sadness to think that its pristine quiet will soon end with development that's encroaching.
I can only imagine your frustration.
Written September 1, 2017
can someone give me directions to parking? We would like to snorkel at the south end. Thanks!
Written March 28, 2016
We just Google mapped Turtle Town Maui and it took us straight to the maluaka beach parking lot. We went once in the morning and once in the afternoon, both times we found a parking spot. There's a bathroom house on the left side of the street with an outside shower next to it. Once parked, continue walking down the street that you were driving on (less than 5 min) and there's the beautiful beach. We snorkeled around the coral on the right side of the beach and saw a lot of turtles both times we went. Good luck
Written March 28, 2016
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