Kihei is a beach town on the south shore of Maui. It used to be called "Kamaole," which means "barren" in the Hawaiian language. The original name refers to the town's hot and dry weather conditions all year round. Today, with its miles of sandy beaches, Kihei is one of the top beach destinations in Hawaii.
I went today to Big Beach, and the snorkeling was amazing! The best snorkeling was on the north side (or to the right when you are on the beach). The shore is very sandy and shallow when you enter, but just a little ways out, the bottom drops far (40-50 feet!).
Maui Expert Tip For Kahekili Beach Park (aka "Airport Beach": The best snorkeling and most colorful reef is in front of the public beach pavilion by the middle section of the park.
Scuba diving and snorkeling in Maui or anywhere around the world is typically the best between 10 am in the morning and 2 pm in the afternoon. This is due to the sun being higher in the sky. The sun angle being more above the surface of the earth allows more light to penetrate the water.
If the water is sleek, Napili Bay is one of Maui's safest places to enjoy ocean activities for keikis and adults who prefer calm waters, thanks to its crescent shape protecting it from the wind, and a reef about thirty yards out that stops waves from entering the bay.
If you think snorkeling off Maui is exotic, try snorkeling off uninhabited Molokini Islet, just off the coast of Maui. Only reachable by boat, the crystal clear waters found in the island's remote cove offer snorkelers a glassy window into Maui's underwater world.
Maui is the best Hawaiian Island for snorkeling. Maui offers the most protected bays, calm seas, translucent waters, year-round snorkeling, and vibrant sea life. Maui snorkeling allows one to snorkel a crater, travel to nearby islands, and the best opportunities to swim with sea turtles.
Which Island Has the Best Snorkeling? This is pretty easy to answer. The Big Island and Maui far exceed Oahu and Kauai in terms of the amount of snorkeling locations and the quality and quantity of healthy reefs, fish and other sea life. But if you really love snorkeling with Green Sea Turtles, then Maui has the edge.
Check the Maui snorkeling conditions before you drive there. Both sides of the bay boast a well established coral reef with great Hawaiian marine life. You are likely to see peacock groupers, butterflyfish, yellow tang, Moorish idols, and occasionally a manta ray or octopus! Turtles are seen here occasionally, as well.
Snorkeling in Maui is very safe, though, because of how many beaches on the island offer protected waters. As long as you're vigilant to keep an eye on the surrounding environment and the behavior of the water, snorkeling in Maui is very safe for the entire family!
Baby Beach is the perfect saltwater spot for your little ones. A long reef offshore protects this area from breaking waves, so the water is usually very shallow and very gentle – not to mention warm! View Maui's quick beach guide and Maui's top 25 snorkeling beaches.
Snorkeling is hands-down much better on Maui. Oahu does have some great snorkel spots, but if you want to get into the water, snorkel easily, and not have the ocean too over-crowded, Maui is your place. Plus, you'll see turtles everywhere. Related read: The 17 best beaches on Maui and the best beaches for kids on Maui.
The best place for beginner-level snorkeling in Makena is Maluaka Beach in front of the Makena Beach and Golf Resort. There's a rocky point that wraps around the north end of the beach, and the entry from the sand into the water is gentle and forgiving.
Just how much of a danger are sharks to tourists?! Well, sharks attacks in Hawaii are said to be rare, but they do happen. As of June 2021, the last fatality from a shark attack in Hawaii was in December 2020. That shark attack death took place off of Maui, and it also caused an area surf competition to get postponed.
The reef really does come alive at night! Here in Maui differnt creatures come out at night that you hardly ever see during the day time, including: lobster, squid, ulua and many others. We use high end LED dive lights and wetsuits for snorkeling, so you can see more and be comfortable!
Black Rock juts out into the ocean and a lot of people are tempted to swim around the point to snorkel there. Please don't. That area is prone to rip currents and people have been known to get caught up in them and never be seen again.
Have you ever seen a beach with black sand? Because of constant volcanic activity, you'll find white sands and black sands on the island of Hawaii. Located on the southeastern Kau coast, Punaluu Black Sand Beach is one of the most famous black sand beaches in Hawaii.
Molokini is home to about 250 species of fish, many endemic (see Ecology below). The best conditions occur in early morning. The water depth is 20–50 feet in the majority of the allowed dive spots.
The best areas to snorkel at Honolua are further from the beach. That said, the west (left-hand) side is the best for snorkeling, follow the rocky shoreline all the way out and around Kalaepiha Point (see map below.) Diving is best on the east side which is deeper and contains many interesting coral formations.
Best places to view sea turtles on Maui
- Makena Landing (South Maui)
- Maluaka Beach (South Maui)
- Keawakapu Beach (South Maui)
- Ulua Beach (South Maui)
- Kaʻanapali Beach's Puu Kekaa (Black Rock) – (West Maui)
- The point between Napili Bay and Honokeana Cove (West Maui)
- Kapalua Bay (West Maui)
- Honolua Bay (West Maui)
There is a 750 foot long sidewalk, marked by a blue shoreline access sign (No. 213), that leads you to the beach. Once you reach the beach you need to walk to the right another 750 feet on the beach to get to the water entrance for snorkeling Black Rock.
Wondering how high is Black Rock Maui? There are a few jump off spots ranging from about 12 feet to as high as 18 feet depending on the tide.
Like all Maui beaches, this beach is open to the public. But public parking is woefully inadequate. There are five small partially-public lots scattered between the Ka'anapali Parkway and the beach. Look for the (sometimes hidden) “Beach Access†signs to discover them.
To get here, head north on the Honoapiilani Highway. Keep driving past the main Kapalua resort area. Once you pass Lower Honoapiilani Road (the turn-off for D. T. Fleming Beach), it's only about another minute before you'll see cars parked along the makai (ocean) side of the road in front of some chain link fencing.
Olowalu Reef, located in Lahaina, Maui, is a popular snorkel destination and you can often spot green sea turtles swimming through the beautiful coral or hanging out in cleaning stations allowing little fish to clean the algae from their shells.
Summary: . 7 mile long sandy beach, runs to the end of Kihei, where the road departs from the shoreline. Good for swimming, laying out, boogie boarding, snorkeling or just lazing in the sun.
From the northern part of Front Street in Lahaina, turn your car toward the ocean onto Ala Moana Street. Bear left at the fork. Pass the Lahaina Jodo Mission (with giant Buddha) on your left, and park on this street near the ocean, then walk to the adjacent beach. Baby Beach begins here and continues to the left.
In the actual town of Lahaina, the best snorkeling spot is Mala Wharf, and since this is a functioning small boat harbor, you need to keep an eye out for boat traffic. The reward, however, is a snorkeling site where legions of sea turtles and numerous reef sharks live under the pilings littering the ocean floor.
Snorkeling Kapalua Beach is very popular. This small crescent bay on the north shore has a gorgeous sandy beach. The snorkeling here is good as long as you swim to the right along the rocky point. This is where the corals are healthiest and where the fish hang out.
