My family and I enjoyed a day at Keawakapu (pronounced Key-ahv-ahkah-pooh). This is a beautiful, long beach in South Maui, on the border of Kihei and Wailea. Sporadically along this coast, there's some rock outcroppings, but for the most part, it's a great beach to swim at. The North end, next to the Mana Kai has the most rock and most people. The rest of the beach is a bit less crowded.

In mornings it frequently is calm as a pool and is great for easy swimming and great for snorkeling. Most of beach is soft sand bottom and is great for gearing up your mask and fins for a short swim to the point where the lava flow entered the ocean. Great assortment of fish and turtles gather around the lava point. Some afternoons the trade winds pick up and provide great waves for jumping or diving under and boogie board or body surfing. Usually has plenty of room.

This is an all around great beach for just about any activity. We used it for jogging and walking in the morning, going all the way south to Mokapu/Ulua beaches. Came back for snorkeling a little later. The best snorkeling is just out from the lava points in the middle of the beach and then down by the Mana Kai resort. If the surf is up a little, you can bodyboard. Later, watch the sunset and see great views of West Maui. Like a lot of South Maui beaches, you can walk into the ocean on fine sand out about 20 or 30 feet and keep your head above water. This beach does get a lot of use but feels almost empty because of its tremendous length. Parking can be found at the corner of South Kihei Rd and Kilohana - walk across the street an a few houses north to the beach access sign. Showers located there. Access also at the dead end of South Kihei Rd.