Best Things to Do in Mākena

Mākena in Order

If you’re staying at a resort or condo on the beach, the beach right out front is often the best one for you; try the others when you want a change.

Maluaka Beach and Turtle Town

Best for: beach time, morning snorkeling, families and couples. The catch: limited parking, no lifeguard, and turtles are never guaranteed.

Maluaka is our best all-around Mākena recommendation because the morning still works if the snorkeling doesn’t. Enter from the sand and explore the rocky edges only when the water is calm. The broader reef between Maluaka and Mākena Landing is commonly called Turtle Town; it is a coastal zone, not one marked snorkel site. The south end has one of our favorite shady grassy areas overlooking a South Maui beach; expect a walk depending on which lot you use.

Turtle Town, Mākena. Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)

Mākena Landing

Best for: kayak, paddleboard and guided Turtle Town trips. The catch: a small parking area and regular commercial launching.

The protected cove, grassy shade and close reef access make Mākena Landing one of the easiest places to begin a guided ocean activity. We prefer it as a launch point or short morning stop, not as the place to spread out for a whole beach day. The shaded lawn over the water, with parking close by, is a good setup for anyone who wants the view without a full sand day.

Big Beach (Oneloa)

Best for: scenery, sand, walking and watching experienced bodyboarders. Swim verdict: swim only when the shorebreak is genuinely small.

Big Beach has three commonly used access areas. The first two serve the main state-park lots and have portable toilets; the third relies more on limited roadside parking and reaches the stronger bodyboarding end. The beach is lifeguarded, but its steep shorebreak can cause serious injuries. When it’s breaking, the third entrance is one of the stronger bodyboard breaks on the island: a place to watch experienced riders, not to join them.

Mākena State Park is open 5 a.m.–7 p.m., to 7:45 p.m. in May, June and July. Non-residents pay $10 per vehicle plus $5 per person; children three and younger are free (checked Oct 2026). At the north end, confident walkers can scramble up the rocks for a broad overlook across Big Beach; go early, and only continue if the footing and the ocean feel comfortable. Not a casual walk for young kids.

Big Beach, Mākena. Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)

Little Beach (Puʻu Ōlaʻi)

Best for: adults specifically looking for its clothing-optional atmosphere. Not ideal for: families expecting another conventional beach park.

Little Beach is reached by walking over the north-end rise from Big Beach. Nudity is common but not formally authorised, and the Sunday drum gathering can draw a larger crowd. The Little Beach area closes at 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. We explain it so you know what it is; it is not a family extension of Big Beach.

Pāʻako (Secret Cove)

Best for: couples, portraits and a short sunset stop. The catch: tiny roadside parking pockets and very little room.

Pāʻako is photogenic but small. It works when you arrive early or find a legitimate space without blocking the road. It doesn’t work as a guaranteed beach-day plan during weddings, sunset portraits or busy holiday periods.

Maluaka vs Pāʻako

Choose Maluaka when you want to swim, snorkel and stay awhile. Choose Pāʻako when the photograph or the quiet cove matters more than facilities and dependable parking.

Maluaka Beach over a wooden fence. Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)

ʻĀhihi-Kīnaʻu Natural Area Reserve

Best for: confident snorkelers comfortable with a rocky entry. Skip it if: you need sand, a lifeguard or an easy first snorkel.

Use only the designated parking and posted shoreline access. The reserve is open 5:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; parking costs $10 per vehicle, card only (checked Oct 2026). Anchialine pools and other posted closed areas stay off-limits.

MauiBookIt take: The reef is worth protecting more than it is worth checking off your list. If the entry, wind or water gives you pause, go back to Ulua or Maluaka.

La Pérouse Bay and the Hoapili Trail

Best for: lava-coast scenery, history and a dry morning walk. Not for: midday heat, strollers or anyone expecting a swimming beach.

Drive slowly beyond Big Beach; the paved road becomes rougher and narrower near its end. Park only in established areas and never drive onto lava or around barriers. For most visitors, walking to the Hānamanioa Lighthouse gives enough of the Hoapili Trail. Continue farther only if you deliberately want a longer, hotter lava hike. Carry more water than the mileage suggests and start early. It’s about 1.5 miles each way to the lighthouse along part of the old King’s Trail; the lava and heat make it much harder than the mileage suggests. Wear closed shoes and stay off archaeological rock structures.

Every beach with parking: Best Beaches in South Maui → Shore snorkeling ranked: South Maui snorkeling guide → Turtles: Where to See Turtles in South Maui →

Where to Eat

Mākena has very little dependable dining once you pass the resorts.

• Mākena Grill: a useful casual food-truck stop when it’s operating; check the day and location.
• Monkeypod Kitchen, Wailea: the easiest dependable sit-down meal heading north.
• Gather on Maui: better for a planned lunch, a sunset drink or a couples dinner.
• Maluaka picnic: often the best move. Bring food and water from Wailea or Kīhei.

That contrast is part of why Mākena works: spend the morning somewhere wild, then go back to Wailea for shopping, spas, resort beaches and dinner when you’re ready.

Kīhei and Wailea by meal: Best Restaurants in South Maui →

What People Get Wrong

• Big Beach is not automatically a swimming beach.
• Turtle Town is not one exact pin. It’s a reef zone; boats pick among several reefs that morning.
• ʻĀhihi-Kīnaʻu is not an unregulated “secret spot.” Hours, a fee and closed areas apply.
• There is little food or fuel beyond Wailea.
• The road ending at La Pérouse does not authorise driving onto lava or through closed land.
• Turtles: Give honu room: the commonly quoted minimum is 10 feet; our rule is 20 feet / 6 meters. Never touch, chase or feed them.

Turtle Town by boat, as a second stop: Molokini Snorkeling Guide →

One Last Tip

Keep the day small and easy. Mākena is kindest to the first car in the lot and hardest on the last one at the water, so go early, choose one thing and bring everything. Maluaka or Mākena Landing in the morning, Big Beach for the look of it, then either ʻĀhihi-Kīnaʻu or the lighthouse walk, not both. Doing less usually makes the better Mākena day.

Check before you go: Maui State Parks alerts (DLNR) · Weather warnings (NWS) · Brown-water advisories (DOH)

Is Big Beach safe to swim?

Only when the shorebreak is genuinely small. Big Beach (Oneloa) is lifeguarded, but its steep shorebreak can cause serious injuries and changes quickly. If people are being thrown forward in the waves, watch from the sand instead.

Where is Turtle Town?

It’s the reef zone between Maluaka and Mākena Landing, not one pin. From shore, start at Maluaka in calm morning water; snorkel boats pick among several reefs along the Mākena coast depending on that morning’s conditions.

Do you need a reservation for Mākena State Park?

No. Non-residents pay $10 per vehicle plus $5 per person; children three and under are free. The park is open 5 a.m.–7 p.m., to 7:45 p.m. in May, June and July, and the Little Beach area closes at 4 p.m. on weekends (checked Oct 2026).