Best Things to Do in Wailea
At a Glance
Most popular on Maui
Central Maui
Maui Snorkeling Adventure to Molokini and Turtle Town
Visit Maui's famous snorkeling and diving destinations Molokini Crater and Turtle Town on a snorkeling catamaran, with visibility of 100 feet or more.
South Maui
Feast at Mokapu Luau in Wailea
Discover Hawai'i's most authentic luxury luau at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort — a curated cultural evening with a three-course plated dinner on Mokapu beach.
South Maui
Gilligans' Island Luau in Kihei
An intimate luau experience and the only luau in Kihei — less than a quarter the size of the average Maui luau, so every seat has a great view of the show.
Road to Hāna
Small-Group Road to Hana Adventure Tour with Pickup & Lunch
Watch the waterfalls, black-sand beaches and rainforest go by without anyone in your group behind the wheel.
Upcountry
Majestic Haleakalā Sunrise Tour with Pick-up
Ride to the summit for sunrise above the clouds, then unwind over a hot breakfast on the way back down.
West Maui
Original Sunset Cruise with Open Bar from Kaʻanapali
Sip an unlimited open bar while the sun drops behind Lānaʻi, with pupus and live music twice a week.
Central Maui
Small Group Waterfall and Rainforest Hiking Adventure
A guided rainforest hike to East Maui waterfalls, with time to swim beneath the falls and a trail lunch included.
South Maui
Two Hour Beginner Group Surf Lesson in Kihei
A two-hour beginner lesson in calm South Maui water — board, gear and instruction all included.
Upcountry
Maui Pineapple Farm Tour in Haliimaile
Tour a working pineapple farm and packing house upcountry, with tastings and a fresh pineapple to take home.
Walk the Wailea Beach Path
One of Wailea’s defining experiences — and you never need to walk the whole route.
- Best morning use — exercise + coffee
- Best evening use — sunset promenade
- Full out-and-back — about 3.2 miles
The paved path follows the resort shoreline from around the Andaz south toward the Fairmont Kea Lani. A twenty-minute section is just as valid as the full walk.
Morning is better for exercise. Sunset is better if the point is the view. It is also the reason a Wailea stay can realistically go car-free for a day.
Use the Beaches as Stops on the Walk
Every Wailea beach is public, and each one works a little differently.
- Best snorkel stop — Ulua + Mōkapu
- Best classic beach — Wailea Beach
- Best quieter south end — Polo Beach
- Best long beach just north — Keawakapu
Ulua and Mōkapu give you public parking, restrooms, showers and reef close to shore. Wailea Beach is the broad resort-front beach between Grand Wailea and Four Seasons. Polo is quieter at the south end. Keawakapu, just north of the resort core, is our all-around South Maui beach when you want more room and a real walk.
None of these beaches has a lifeguard. Resort surroundings do not change that.
Wailea Beach, Wailea. Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)
Snorkel Early
Ulua and Mōkapu first — then let the wind tell you when to stop.
The sandy entry and nearby reef make these our first Wailea recommendation for beginners and experienced snorkelers alike when the ocean is calm. The public lots can fill by mid-morning on a strong beach day, so this is worth doing early.
If you want the offshore version, take a Molokini trip from Kīhei Boat Ramp or Māʻalaea. Many trips pair the crater with Turtle Town along the Mākena coast.
Ulua Beach, Wailea. Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)
Get on the Water
Wailea gives you more than snorkeling from shore.
- Best cultural ocean experience — outrigger canoe
- Best offshore snorkel — Molokini
- Best venture-south paddle — kayak from Mākena Landing
Several Wailea resorts offer outrigger canoe experiences directly from the beach, and private canoe outings are also available. It is one of the easiest ways to add Hawaiian ocean culture without turning the day into a long excursion.
For a more active morning, Mākena Landing is a short drive south and a natural launch for kayak-and-snorkel trips along Turtle Town.
Let Midday Be Midday
When the wind rises, use the resort you are already paying for.
Pool, spa, golf, shopping or a long lunch all fit naturally here. Wailea is one of the few places on Maui where resort infrastructure is itself part of the value — if you actually use it.
The Shops at Wailea gives you enough shopping and dining that errands never need to become their own trip.
Stay Local for the Evening
Sunset, dinner and a lūʻau are all easier when you do not need to drive far afterward.
Wailea has multiple resort lūʻau, including the intimate Feast at Mōkapu and the larger Grand Wailea experience. Choose based on atmosphere and your group rather than trying to rank the fire-knife photos.
Feast at Mōkapu luau, Wailea. Photo: MauiBookIt
Explore Kīhei + Mākena
Wailea sits in the middle of South Maui, which makes both directions easy.
Go North to Kīhei
For a surf lesson, park time or something more local.
The Cove at Kalama Park is the standard beginner surf lesson spot. Kalama Park gives families playground and skate / roller areas, while South Maui Gardens adds a shaded local hangout, food trucks and a Thursday market.
Go South to Mākena
For the wilder coast.
Maluaka and Mākena Landing give you Turtle Town access, Big Beach gives you scale, ʻĀhihi-Kīnaʻu gives confident snorkelers a protected reserve, and the Hoapili Trail from La Pérouse Bay gives you the real South Maui lava walk.
Practical Tips
- No Wailea beach has a lifeguard.
- Ulua and Mōkapu can fill by mid-morning. Go early if snorkeling matters.
- The beach path is exposed. Morning and sunset are far more comfortable than midday.
- Every Wailea beach is public. Access and parking vary, not your right to use the beach.
- Use the car selectively. Kīhei and Mākena are close enough for half-day additions; another coast rarely improves a normal beach day.
- If you spend a Wailea week driving away every morning, you are not using what you paid for.
One Last Tip
Build the day around the coast and let everything else hang off it.
Snorkel early, walk a section of the path, use midday for the resort, then come back out for sunset. The luxury is how little effort that takes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Wailea Beach Path, and when should I walk it?
About 3.2 miles as a full out-and-back, following the resort shoreline from around the Andaz south toward the Fairmont Kea Lani. A twenty-minute section is just as valid as the full walk. Morning is better for exercise and sunset is better if the point is the view — the path is exposed, and both are far more comfortable than midday.
Are the beaches in Wailea public?
Every Wailea beach is public. Access and parking vary, not your right to use the beach. None of them has a lifeguard, and resort surroundings do not change that.
Where should I snorkel in Wailea?
Ulua and Mōkapu, early. The sandy entry and nearby reef make them our first Wailea recommendation for beginners and experienced snorkelers alike when the ocean is calm. The public lots can fill by mid-morning on a strong beach day, so this is worth doing early.
Which Wailea beach is the quietest?
Polo Beach, at the south end. Wailea Beach is the broad resort-front beach between Grand Wailea and Four Seasons, and Keawakapu, just north of the resort core, is our all-around South Maui beach when you want more room and a real walk.
Which lūʻau should I choose in Wailea?
Wailea has multiple resort lūʻau, including the intimate Feast at Mōkapu and the larger Grand Wailea experience. Choose based on atmosphere and your group rather than trying to rank the fire-knife photos. Staying local makes the evening easier, since you do not need to drive far afterward.
What should I do with the middle of the day in Wailea?
Use the resort you are already paying for. Pool, spa, golf, shopping or a long lunch all fit naturally here, and the Shops at Wailea gives you enough shopping and dining that errands never need to become their own trip. Wailea is one of the few places on Maui where resort infrastructure is itself part of the value — if you actually use it.
