Keawakapu Beach

Beach Location: 2960 South Kihei Road, Kihei HI 96753
Amenities: Outdoor showers, portable toilets, and trash and recycle bins
Time to snorkel: Year round
Kid Friendly: 7 and up
Lifeguards: No
Parking: Going south on South Kihei Road, pass the Mana Kai Maui Resort and 5 Palms Restaurant, and turn right into the next driveway. Make a hard left and then another left to reach the gravel lot for the Keawakapu Beach parking.

Keawakapu Beach offers sweeping golden sands and beautiful views of West Maui, Molokini, and Kaho’olawe. Hop in the water on the right hand side to find a lovely little coral reef. It is common to sea turtles and many types of butterflyfish here. If you are lucky, you may see an eel! Swim the rest of the beach to check out the beautiful patterns on the sea floor. The lines formed by the interaction of waves and sand are a magnificent natural art form that we believe is under-appreciated underwater. Make sure to look for them. We hope you love them as much as we do!

When you find yourself becoming hungry, Keawakapu Beach is close to some great restaurants. One of the most notable is 5 Palms, in the Mana Kai Resort. 5 Palms sits on the beach itself, and serves all kinds of delicious dishes with locally grown and locally caught ingredients. If you decide to dine there, you are sure to remember your meal!

In the cool of the evening, the locals often bring their dogs here to play. And here’s an insider’s tip: Keawakapu Beach can be a fantastic place to watch the sunset. (Don’t tell anyone we told you, though. . .) Have a great time!