Maui Beaches in North Kihei

We first talked about these beaches on The Aloha 360, a Maui travel podcast that is no longer running. North Kihei is less about postcard snorkeling and more about space: long, sandy shoreline with views of the West Maui Mountains and Haleakalā, paddlers and windsurfers, and seabirds over the wetlands.

Sugar Beach (Keālia Beach)

Sugar Beach is a long, sandy stretch of shoreline between North Kihei and Māʻalaea, with several miles of beach to walk. It's a local favorite for sunrise walks, and in winter you may see humpback whales offshore. Access points and parking are scattered along the road, from North Kihei to Haycraft Park at the Māʻalaea end.

• Go early. The trade winds usually pick up by afternoon, especially toward Māʻalaea, and blowing sand isn't fun.
• Treat it as a walking beach. It's great for walking and wading, but there are no lifeguards.

Keālia Coastal Boardwalk

Across the road from the beach, Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge protects one of Maui's important wetlands. Its coastal boardwalk, off North Kihei Road, has interpretive signs and views over the pond. The refuge is home to endangered Hawaiian waterbirds such as the aeʻo (Hawaiian stilt) and ʻalae keʻokeʻo (Hawaiian coot), and birding is generally best from about August through April. The boardwalk has set daily hours and a small parking lot. Pets, drones, bikes and jogging aren't allowed. Check the refuge page for current hours.

Mai Poina ʻOe Iaʻu Beach Park

The name means "Do Not Forget Me." This grassy oceanfront park has a picnic pavilion, barbecue grills, restrooms and outdoor showers, and it's known for good windsurfing access. It's a nice place for a picnic, a sunset or whale watching in winter. There's a small paved lot, a gravel area and street parking. There's no lifeguard. Details are on the county park page.

Kalepolepo Beach Park & Koʻieʻie Fishpond

This small park on South Kihei Road sits beside Koʻieʻie Fishpond, a traditional Hawaiian fishpond and an important cultural site. Its shallow, usually calm water is popular with families with little kids on calm days. Please treat the fishpond walls with respect: don't climb on them or move the stones. The parking lot is small and has portable toilets and a shower. Check the county park page for hours and any storm-related closures.

Learn about the whales

Nearby on South Kihei Road, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary visitor center has free exhibits about humpbacks and Hawaiʻi's ocean. It's usually open on weekdays; check the sanctuary page for hours. Humpbacks usually visit Hawaiʻi in the winter months. By law, you must stay at least 100 yards away on the water.

A simple North Kihei morning

1. Sunrise: walk a stretch of Sugar Beach while the wind is still light.
2. Mid-morning: stroll the Keālia Coastal Boardwalk and look for stilts and coots on the pond.
3. Late morning: on a weekday, stop at the whale sanctuary visitor center, then let the kids splash at Kalepolepo if it's calm.
4. Afternoon: head back to the condo for lunch and a nap. Come back to Mai Poina ʻOe Iaʻu for a sunset picnic if you like.

North Kihei vs. the beaches by the condo

The beaches across the street from the condo, Charley Young and Kamaʻole I, have softer sand, a lifeguard tower at Kamaʻole I and easy swimming on calm days. They're also busier, and non-residents pay for county beach parking at the Kamaʻole lots. From the condo, you can just walk. Save North Kihei for a quiet morning walk, a birding stop or a picnic with a view.

Last reviewed October 2026. Conditions, fees and rules on Maui change often. Always check the official sources linked above before you go.