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All 456 Maui Attractions »

Makena Beach

South of Wailea, Maui, HI
Ranked #21 of 247 attractions in Maui
4.5 of 5 stars 70 Reviews
Type: Beaches
Activities: Sunbathing, Snorkelling
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70 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
    53
    11
    4
    1
    1
Date Rating
Sayville, New York
Top Contributor
64 reviews 64 reviews
Reviews in 22 cities Reviews in 22 cities
21 helpful votes 21 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 21 May 2012 NEW

This beach was big - plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the sun. We did go swimming but wouldn't have ventured in with kiddies. It's a great beach to check out for a switch from the more Northern beaches. More

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2 reviews
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 15 May 2012

I have vacationed in Maui for 20+ years. Big back and Little beach have been my all-time favorite beaches to visit while I'm here. It's not commercialized like the beaches in Kaanapali, and the locals are so friendly there. If you wait a taste of a true Hawaiian beach without an overwhelming amount of tourists, this is the beach to... More

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leiston suffolk
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
15 helpful votes 15 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 5 May 2012
3
people found this review helpful

Great beach but beware of the ocean. Not for children or poor swimmers. Apparantly more accidents happen to bathers on this beach than any other. More

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Kihei, Hawaii
Senior Contributor
22 reviews 22 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
6 helpful votes 6 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 4 May 2012
2
people found this review helpful

there are at least 3 beaches known as makena beach this is one of them tho it is really Big Beach, I live here in Kihei and use this beach all the time, it is not the best swimming beach especially when the south swells come in as the surf can be very dangerous, but in my opinion this is... More

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San Jose, California
Senior Contributor
49 reviews 49 reviews
Reviews in 21 cities Reviews in 21 cities
59 helpful votes 59 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 3 May 2012
1
person found this review helpful

I've body-surfed from Southern California to Santa Cruz, and Big Beach scares me. There isn't a curl, just big, powerful waves that break all at once. Great sand, with trees higher up on the beach, if you want to roll out a mat or towel, but be careful of the water. My husband loved it, but he's a strong swimmer,... More

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tempe, az
Senior Contributor
25 reviews 25 reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 3 May 2012

This is a very large, clean beach. Lots of locals go here. Not much snorkeling, but great if you just want to hang out. Boogie boarding is also fun. Port a Potties near the large parking lot. More

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Edgewater, New Jersey
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 19 April 2012
1
person found this review helpful

We came here based on some recommendations and could not be more pleased. The beach had its own parking lot free of charge. The views were beautiful and it wasn't very crowded. This beach is not commercialized, which is nice and more peaceful; however just come prepared with your own snacks, drinks, boogie board (a must - the waves are... More

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Boston, Massachusetts
Senior Contributor
37 reviews 37 reviews
Reviews in 23 cities Reviews in 23 cities
43 helpful votes 43 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 10 April 2012

This beach was beautiful. I would recommend going early for snorkelling though. We went at around 11am, but the waves were too high for comfortable snorkelling. Also go early to get a parking space. More

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Kelowna, Canada
Senior Contributor
25 reviews 25 reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 5 April 2012

I read the negative review, so should you. Apart from that, we parked in the lot North of the beach about 250 meters. It has a WC and a shower to rinse off. The beach is great, and we enjoyed our snorkeling there. We found the water here warmer than anywhere else in Kihei, not sure why. Snorkeling was OK,... More

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Medford, Oregon
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
6 helpful votes 6 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 1 April 2012
1
person found this review helpful

Beautiful beach for lounging and stunning for snorkeling. Water was clear and abundant with Honu! Will definitely return.... More

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