Hookipa Beach Park - Paia, Maui

The beach itself is not that large, but it is large enough for the main activity, which is mostly watching the windsurfers, kite surfers, and surfers. The Ho'okipa Lookout is a small parking lot on a bluff overlooking the beach. The consistent trade winds and seasonally large surf make the Aloha Classic the most popular destination of the windsurfing media, spectators and athletes. This event is the crown-jewel of wave sailing. Be aware that access to windsurfing is denied at many beaches and certain restrictions may prevail at accessible beaches. Find out about the reef, tide and wave conditions before you go into the water.

Paia is also the unofficial hang town for most of the serious windsurfing contingent – legendary Ho’okipa Beach is among the sport's elite playgrounds. It's been the second home to some of the world's best windsurfing, surfing, and kite surfing athletes and even a few Hollywood stars! This beautiful property is the place to stay and relax on Maui's low key North Shore. When the winds pick up in the afternoon, you'll see the windsurfers flying across the water, doing aerials and putting on a spectacular show for all to enjoy. Kite boarders also come out when the winds are piping.

As such, Maui is considered the birthplace of kite boarding and its older cousin, windsurfing. Hundreds come to this "Wind Mecca" to experience the consistent side-shore trade winds, warm water and designated kite boarding areas. The reason is to keep kite surfers away from the swimming areas and the crowded windsurfing access. Please take care when launching at these areas because this beach is a very popular one and gets very busy especially on weekends. This beach has been called the windsurfing capital of the world and is popular with daredevil surfers as well. However, it is not recommended that you swim here.

Favorable surfing and wind surfing conditions here year-round makes it first-rate for visitors and local residents alike and it is home to the world-wide windsurfing competitions. A short coral reef nearby helps make the waters calm enough for excellent swimming in the mornings and the coconut trees here provide shade and relaxation - so swim in that area. By the 1980's windsurfing was an international sport and the world discovered the winds and waves on Maui and especially at Ho'okipa. The rest, as they say, is history.

As word got out to the international windsurfing community about the unbelievable windsurfing to be had in Maui, and Ho'okipa in particular, Maui became the premier vacation destination for windsurfers world wide, and Paia became their headquarters. Today, Paia is blessed with thriving boutiques and restaurants, and has a very enjoyable international atmosphere.

World-class windsurfing events are held here annually. After you're done at the lookout, your best bet is to get back on Highway 36 and continue your journey. For those new to the sport, do not fret - you can surf the way most non-surfers do - by body surfing or boogie boarding. It is the most popular break for windsurfing, and generally breaks as a right. With the prevailing trade wind direction being east to east-north-east, this is most frequently down-the-line sailing on starboard tack (wind from right when standing on the beach).

Grand Wailea and Wailea Beach - Maui

Located 17 miles south of Kahului Airport, 27 miles southeast of Lahaina, on Wailea's famous stretch of sand, next to the more extravagant Grand Wailea Resort, this is the livelier sister of the Four Seasons Resort at Hualalai. Michael Dell (Dell Computers) owns them both, and though they sit at opposite sides of the social scale, they both provide unerring service, world-class dining and gracious accommodations with extraordinary amenities that put them at the top of their class, that is to say, "world class."

Unlike many hotels of this ilk, care is taken very seriously. Grand Wailea offers a choice of six restaurants and a selection of distinctive cuisines. Humuhumunukunukuapua'a is an exotic oceanside restaurant where you can eat great seafood and enjoy a spectacular Hawaiian sunset. The Grand Wailea Resort offers 780 guest rooms with private balconies and sitting areas. Rooms include fully stocked minibars.

The Resort does not confirm reservations to the individual in writing. Rooms can be found at all five resorts for $300 to $400 a night. Some guests do nothing but relax at the resorts all day, which makes their stay relatively affordable because they have few other expenses for entertainment aside from food.

Golf courses, spas, shopping, restaurants, and all the wonders of this tropical paradise surround Wailea Beach Villas. Crescent-shaped and protected on each end by black lava points, the waters of Wailea Beach are exceptionally calm, with light waves that are perfect for swimming and snorkeling (and gentle enough for children). A nearby paved boardwalk offers a lovely stroll, and restrooms and showers are available. This strand was considered part of Wailea Beach by old-timers and never was given a Hawaiian name. Horses and cattle sauntered down the mountain from Ulupalakua Ranch to drink from the natural spring that emerged from the sand near the rocks.

This means that many of the most expensive resorts are in this area, and that includes the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel and Spa (part of the Waldorf Astoria family), which stakes out the primo beach location at Wailea Beach. This resort is shaped something like a crab or octopus - check out the aerial video. Wailea Beach is a large, wide, crescent, graced with lovely fine, golden sand. The beach is protected at both ends by large, black lava points, making the calm waters ideal for swimming.

If you're OK eating at hotel restaurants, there are plenty of places both at the hotel and in walking distance. Otherwise you'll need a car for eating out. You can stay either in a resort condominium with all the resort features like a pool and BBQ or you can stay at a luxury resort hotel with all the services you might expect.

The sprawling Grand Wailea Resort is known for its long arcade of shops and galleries tailored to hefty pocketbooks. However, gift items in all price ranges can be found at Lahaina Printsellers (for old maps and prints), Dolphin Galleries. We made our reservation about 10 months prior to checking in to the Grand Wailea. When we made our reservation, we specifically requested a king room. If you are expecting glamor, plush accommodation and a setting that you will not want to leave consider the Grand Wailea in south Maui. Lush grounds, fantastic facilities.

Ulua Beach Park - Wailea - Maui

Once the surf (and sand) begins to rise, body surfing is the attraction at Ulua Beach. The facilities at this beach include: parking, showers and restrooms. Huge mounds of multi-colored coral stretch along the northern portion of Ulua Beach. The variety of sea life is amazing. Two beaches are accessed by the same path - the one on the right is Mokapu which fronts the Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort and the one on the left is Ulua Beach. Ulua is the most popular of the two and was named one of the Top 10 Most Beautiful Beaches in America.

Ulua beach is less crowded than Wailea beach but there are no chairs. On Wailea beach we took chairs what belonged to the Grand Wailea resort and so did a lot of other Marriott guests. Ulua beach is only short stroll from the main part of this hotel and it is FABULOUS. It is not as crowded as the beach in front of Four Seasons, etc. Ulua beach is an alright spot, but it is dove frequently and the signs of diving pressure are evident in the fish behavior. Not sure if you are merely looking to free dive, or spear, but it still a good spot.

Ulua Beach is fine for snorkeling and introductory dives. You may see foot-long puffer fish, schools of goatfish, reef fish, shrimp (look under ledges).

Wailea Elua Village is a deluxe property located on the beach in Wailea and boasts 152 condos on 24 acres of lush tropical landscapes, luxury accommodations and breath-taking ocean views from low-rise clustered buildings. Located in the heart of Wailea, on Maui's sunny south shore, Wailea Elua is located on white sandy Ulua Beach, one of Wailea's premier snorkeling and dive beaches and is adjacent to Wailea's award winning Blue Golf Course just east of the Shops at Wailea . Wailea, an extensive resort complex, is a creation of Wailea Development Company (a subsidiary of Alexander and Baldwin Company) and covers 1,500 acres, including almost two miles of beaches and lava points. Begun in 1971 and still actively growing, it is comprised of home sites, condominiums and luxury hotels and a variety of recreational facilities, shops and restaurants.

Maui has Hawaii's best windsurfing beaches, thanks to brisk winds and dependable waves. In winter, windsurfers from around the world flock to Paia to ride the waves. Maui has 42 miles of sandy beaches along its 120 miles sunny coastline. With climate varies with average temperatures from 72F to 79F, Maui is a perfect place for outdoor sports and beach activities. Maui has 42 miles of uncrowded sandy beaches along its 120 miles sunny coastline.

Condominiums are a short walk away from the pristine waters of Ulua Beach, one of the best snorkeling beaches on Maui. Beautifully appointed two-bedroom condominiums are perfect for families, couples and friends. Beautiful Ulua Beach fronting properties is a well-known snorkeling destination and is great for watching dramatic sunsets, swimming, sunning and whale watching in the winter months. Wailea Elua is a gated centrally air-conditioned property that includes two swimming pools, Jacuzzi, beachfront pavilion with barbeques, putting green, paddle tennis court and free private parking.

The outer reef is home to a large green sea turtle colony, sometimes caller "turtle town". The offshore reef may be sharp and dangerous and should be approached with care. The beach provides parking and a boat ramp, and is also used by a canoe club. The reef is lively and really clear. Where you would normally enter doesn't have a sand beach, but rock and boulders that are great for enjoying the view.

Polo Beach Review - Wailea - Maui

Polo Beach is that nice secluded beach. To get there allow about 45 minutes. Polo Beach is at the south end of a wooden beach side path that starts at Mokapu Beach. The path meanders past five Wailea resorts. Polo Beach is at the bottom of the road.

Polo Beach is a conglomerate of all the beaches of Wailea. Backed by resorts and private homes, with covered lounge chairs scattered over the sand, Polo is the less glamorous sister of the resort beach Wailea.

Swimming and snorkeling are great here and it's a good place to whale-watch. As at Wailea Beach, private cabanas occupy prime sandy real estate, but there's plenty of room for you and your towel, and even a nice grass picnic area. Swimming and sunbathing are popular here. There is usually little or no wind and the wide beach quickly drops off shore to overhead depths.

Maui's diversity will amaze and delight you. You'll marvel at cascading waterfalls, the remote village called heavenly Hana, the picturesque Lahaina, a National Historic District, where history and fun combine to create a 'must see'. Maui was beautiful, the unit we stayed in was anything but. The carpets were stained and the unit was filthy.

Maui beaches are some of the finest beaches in the world. Maui beaches are infinitely varied, endlessly photographed and rightfully famous. There are white sand beaches, black sand beaches, red sand beaches, and golden sand beaches, small and large, open and protected.

South Maui can be considered the driest and hottest area on Maui. So, it’s very popular with sun lovers. South Maui's beaches are wonderful for beach walking, trails, swimming, boogie boarding, swimming, paddle boarding, fishing and even kite surfing and surfing when the big storm swells and wind are cooperating. South Maui Beaches are family friendly and sunny most of the year, making Maui's sunny south shore the perfect place for your vacation! You will see Kihei and Wailea rental homes located in the best areas of Maui.

South Maui beaches are much drier and appropriately less windy for your wedding. Spring is off-season, and less crowded, with the exception of Easter and Spring Break.

Kihei is the home of the Maui Research & Technology Center and the surrounding high-tech industrial park. Its purpose is to provide business assistance to technology-oriented businesses through business assistance programs, shared resources, and reasonably priced office space. Kihei and Wailea boast some of the best beaches in the world. Some are miles long, like Maui's Sugar Beach, which is also graced by gestating sea turtles (Honu we call them).

Mokapu Beach - Wailea - Maui

Mokapu Beach is a place where at the resorts you can watch spectacular Maui sunsets right from your room. View humpback whales breeching and spouting with their calves when they return to the warm waters of Maalaea Bay. A fantastic experience and a beautiful hotels - no others like it. "We booked the Renaissance because we had two extra days in Maui after our stay in a favorite condo in the same area in Wailea. We upgraded the room to an ocean view on the 4th floor. One of Maui's best snorkel or scuba spots. Abundant marine life including many turtles".

Nestled along Maui's spectacular southern coastline, Wailea is home to world-class resorts, nationally acclaimed beaches like Mokapu Beach, challenging golf courses and first-rate dining and shopping venues. The Wendy's Champions Skins Game is held in beautiful Wailea and brings together some of today's top golfers. Hotel rooms with air-conditioning are remarkably affordable for the location. A pretty Maui wedding location with a lush grassy area, located at the South end of the Maui Prince Hotel beach. Most ceremonies take place on the lawn area, which has some palm trees, and various tropical vegetation.

We prefer South Maui over West Maui because it is drier and less windy, and also because West Maui is too remote and crowded for our tastes.

Haleakala crater creates an exotic landscape at the resorts. And most resorts amenities include championship golf on five 18-hole courses, tennis on two courts, and access to five beaches. There are water sports, hot tubs, swimming pools, and four restaurants and lounges on site. Fronting the resort, the soft sands of Mokapu Beach offer a safe haven for swimming, sunbathing and a variety of water activities.

Continue straight to the parking lot. Facilities include restrooms and an outdoor shower. Sparkling white crescent beaches, brilliant sunsets and some of nature's most breathtaking natural wonders create the unforgettable setting for the Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort. This 345-room deluxe resort is located on more than fifteen acres of tropical paradise on pristine Mokapu Beach.

The beautiful arboretum is to display and identify tropical trees in a natural setting. The climate is warm and humid with frequent showers. The water teams with tropical fish and other marine life. No kayak launching is permitted here. This 345-room resort is located on more than 15 acres of tropical paradise, on pristine Mokapu Beach. Lush gardens, waterfalls, and a view of the soaring, 10,000-foot-high Mt. Haleakala.

On calm days, the snorkeling here can rival that of Ulua and Keawakapu, and when the surf is up the offshore body boarding can be as good as anywhere in the area. Facilities here are top notch, with shaded parking and paved walkways. At Ulua/Mokapu Beach you can enter on either side of the rocky point and snorkel along the reef. The dive is good for both beginner snorkeling or scuba diving. The area around the rocky point at the south end of Ulua is the best.

Maui Beach Vacation Recommendations

Who wants the most spectacular beach vacation in America? OK, close your eyes and dream of the base of the Waianae Mountain range. See the Pacific Ocean in the distance? You're barefoot in well manicured gardens. And this quiet area along with the spectacular mountain and ocean views makes this an ideal place to unwind.

Welcome to Maui.

But there's too much to do here. The beach is where we always start on a Maui Beach Vacation. Then there's the art and garden tours, hula lessons, lei making, and catamaran sailing - just some of the daily activities. And if you're in the mood to explore, Hana is hands down the best drive on the island and unique for small weddings, honeymoons, and romantic getaways.

But we're going too fast. Take it slow and enjoy the "buffet" of choices - then design your Maui Beach Vacation how you want it. Start at the nearby resort area of Kapalua. It has the top resorts in the United States and some of the most challenging golf courses in Hawaii.

This island has everything. There's a rugged area on West Maui's back end. Rental car agencies will tell you it's a supposed no-go-area for tourist due to the dangerous narrow and winding road. As you travel, don't miss the concession stand right off the beach, run by the Westin Maui Prince Resort. As you enjoy the beach in this area, you can rent all sorts of beach equipment. This beach is absolutely beautiful has incredible sand just asking to be walked in bare foot.

And did we mention this is a very cool family beach? We spent the day here and even took in a Maui Sunset. These resort areas are on the western, or leeward shore so, guess what - that's where a lot of the spectacular beaches are. On this special island surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling and spectacular sunsets create a serenely gorgeous way of life.

We also drove to lush, green and meticulously manicured, Wailea. A premier resort area on Maui, with splendid weather, five heavenly beaches, clear water and outstanding views of Molokini and Kaho'olawe - who found this place? Breathtaking!

Wailea is the perfect destination for your Maui Beach Vacation in Hawaii. Many of the Maui condo accommodations are owner occupied or managed "by owner." What this means is that you can negotiate a great deal - especially in today's market - for a beach side vacation in Maui.