The Best Family Friendly Beaches in Maui, Hawaii
With all the islands in Hawaii, it’s hard to decide which one to visit and which beaches to visit on each island. Whether you’re traveling alone or with family, these are the best beaches to visit and spend the day on the islands of Maui and Kauai.
Maui, also known as the Valley Isle of Hawaii, is a perfect family-friendly destination with beautiful beaches and breathtaking locations. If you’re not sure which island to see first, start in Maui and make your way to the other islands if you have time since they’re a short flight away. As with any location, be respectful of the locals and travel responsibly.
Wailea Beach
Located in South Maui, this was a 10 minute drive from our hotel and the perfect beach surrounded by high-end luxury resorts, greenery and calm waters. If you choose to stay in one of the hotels in front of the beach, it is the perfect walking distance and a short drive if you choose to stay in any hotels in South Maui. This beach is great for both couples and families with calm waters and is close to restaurants to grab a quick bite. The calm waters are also great for swimming but be sure to come early to avoid crowds as this beach can get crowded fairly quickly.
Kapalua Bay
A smaller beach, Kapalua Bay was one of the beaches we spent the most time in and had the most beautiful sunset. This is the best beach for families and kids of all ages and has calm waters with views of both the Molokai and Lanai Islands. This is an ideal beach for swimming, snorkeling, and paddleboarding and you can rent the gear to do these activities in multiple places but we rented our gear from Boss Frog’s and it was such smooth experience from pickup to dropoff.
Black Sand Beach
Located inside Waianapanapa State Park, this is the best beach to see as a last stop on the road to Hana. This is famous for, as the name states, its black sand beach with beautiful trails, and waters. This is a beach that has activities for all ages but the trails are not recommended for those with smaller children. This beach also is not safe all year around so be cautious getting in the water and there will be signs throughout to let you know if it’s safe to swim. Since this is part of a state park, you will need a permit and pick a timeslot to visit and this is to avoid large crowds. Whatever you do, do NOT take any of the sand with you as there have been stories of people having bad luck after taking souvenirs off the beaches and having to come back to drop them off.
If you’re planning on visiting Maui, be sure to add these beaches to your list! And check out this post on the best beaches to visit in Kauai.