Hamoa Beach

Hamoa Beach is a stunning, crescent-shaped gem with soft sand and clear blue waters. The waves can be strong, making it great for body surfing but requiring caution for swimmers. Surrounded by lush greenery, it has a mix of locals and visitors, creating a welcoming vibe. Limited roadside parking means arriving early is best. There are porta potties and shaded areas set back from the beach. A must-visit for a peaceful and scenic beach day on the Hana side.

One of the best beaches on the island, wavy, but safe. When snorkeling, there was absolutely NOTHING in the water. Clear, warm, not too deep, waist height when pretty far in. Parking is on the side and you enter via steps going down.

It’s just beautiful!! The water is lovely, the surrounding are pure. This is a sacred beach to the local, so respect and keep it clean and peaceful

This review is based on our overall experience with all the beaches we’ve been to. We’re Florida beaches kind of fans as there is just no comparison. This beach was ok. They at least had relatively clean porta potties. The waves were strong but there were a few people swimming. The trees are nice but they shed all this junk that takes away from the beauty of the place. Black sand is different but not as nice as white sand. People are pretty good about not leaving trash everywhere too which is wonderful.

If you took the turn for Koki Beach you're on your way to Hamoa Beach. It is another popular beach due to being sheltered, having shade areas set back from the beach itself, and a restroom. The parking is along the main road overlooking the bay. It is limited and the locals don't like being blocked in. There is a sign asking you not to disturb the rock piles as they mark indigenous graves. We didn't see any, but there was a friendly orange cat guarding the stairway.

My favorite beach 🏝️ water so clear and clean.

BEWARE of the drive to get here! Beautiful beach! Lots to see and do. I was fortunate enough to go at an hour with less people. Warm water. Clear. Clean. Just be very cautious about driving yourself (in your car rental) bc it's a very long and winding road. Literally only one car can fit in some spots - there's a steep cliff on one side and a jagged volcanic rock wall on the other. Lots of blind turns. Also, the locals know the roads well so they drive FAST! They will seriously tailgate you until you let them pass. Nothing wrong with that, but beware. ALSO - I HAD NO CELL SIGNAL FOR MOST OF THE DRIVE! IF SOMETHING HAPPENS - YOURE SOL! The sun was setting so I trekked around the other way as to avoid that crazy road in complete darkness potentially damaging the car rental.

Beautiful and smooth beach popular with locals and tourists. Seems very good for families with children, as it has moderate waves and is somewhat protected from the sea. Parking is on the road above the beach, and access is via a path down from the road. Porta potties help keep the area clean.

My son and I took the back road to Hana and had a full day and still a bit of a drive back to our place. But, he really wanted to go to a beach after hiking and exploring all day. I literally pulled off the side as it was starting to get dark and let him know he had 30 minutes to play. I didn't really know quite what to expect when we got there. I was able to find street parking and then stairs leading down to the beach. When we walked down, we were in awe of the magic we had found. Huge blue waves like something out of a movie. We had the best time jumping waves together, enjoying the water and the gorgeous ocean scenery. The beach wasn't crowded at all for us and just a few families and surfers hanging out. Once we got splattered in the water and full of sand, we were able to rinse off in the outdoor shower and get back on our way. Would definitely come back to this heaven.

Stunningly beautiful. So so picturesque! It is one of the prettiest beaches on Maui. Like all beaches here, the waves can be a smidge intimidating one day and flat (ish) the next. It's fun to watch the surfers and dogs and families and mother nature at her finest. Definitely go when doing the Hana tour.

Probably one of my favorite beaches in Maui aside from the strong current, this stunning beach comes with the added perk of public bathrooms and showers, which is a luxury most Maui beaches don't come with. There is also a foot washing station at the base of the paved path up to your car to keep the sand out of your rental car, major plus! On the Road to Hana, this is Mike market 51, super easy to find. What I personally liked about this beach was the picturesque trees surrounding the area, lots of shade and perfect for relaxing if you don't want to go in the water. The family had a great time and it was absolutely beautiful for pictures!

An easily missed beach that was a bit beyond the Huli Huli Chicken Stand. Despite coming on a Sunday afternoon, it wasn't very busy and the atmosphere was serene. We nabbed a spot on the road to park and made our way down the stairs. There were picnic tables on the right with porter potties just beyond that. The coastline was gorgeous on the left. The sand was soft and we spent an hour peacefully tanning. Waves were large enough to surf and the water was clear enough to snorkel. There was also strong reception in which we indulged in. Nothing truly special but if you needed a chill beach that wasn't overcrowded with decent waves and sun--this is all you need. Better than Hana Bay but a bit less interesting than Black Sand Beach.

Lovely and scenic beach just south of Hana Town! Some strong currents, but wonderful stretch of sand and good place to relax. There is parking along the shoulders of the road opposite of the beach, plus there are restrooms and a shower area to wash yourself off. Also a good place to catch a sunrise during certain seasons of the year.

My favorite beach. The end point of our Road to Hana trip (back before it was a full loop), I was sad I couldn't spend more time here because the beach had reliable if not constant set of large but manageable waves, perfect for boogie boarding. I had read in a guidebook was generated due to a sudden dip in the bay shelf. We had the whole beach to ourselves in late July 2007, but I hear it's now super crowded. Ranked #72 of 408 things to do in Maui by a website that advises people on trips, the silky sand crescent-shaped beach has lots of lush green pockets of shade They also have toilets and foot washing station. In case my crude brother is reading this, they are two different things!

This might be my fav beach on the island or close second. True paradise and worth it to stay and Hana and take you time to enjoy this magical place!

Hamoa Beach is located on your road to Hana, between mile marker 49-50. Hamoa Beach is a beautiful and quiet beach. This beach is pretty popular with surfers and the currents are pretty strong. My husband and I stopped by this beach after we made a quick stop at Kiko Beach. We parked on the road and walked down the steps to the beach. My husband decided to snorkel a bit (the water isn't that clear but we had the snorkel gear in our car trunk) while I relaxed on one of the beach chairs. When we arrived (on a Wednesday, late afternoon) it was pretty quiet and pretty empty for the most part. There are restrooms at this beach (I did not use them so I cannot comment on the cleanliness) and swim goers are able to rinse the sand and salt water off (located at the bottom of the stairs to this beach). Hamoa Beach is a beautiful beach and a great scenic stop on your way to Hana or on your way back.

This is a kid-friendly beach that is about 2 miles south of Hana. Our two sons (12 yrs, 10 yrs) enjoyed the soft grey sand and calm waves on the left side. It's also a scenic beach that is surrounded by green trees and lava rock formations (on the right side). Although the Travaasa Resort has reserved its own chairs, umbrellas, and towels for its guests, the beach is open to the public. We arrived on a Tuesday morning before 10:00am and only saw a few people. By 11:00am, more guests from the Travaasa Resort had arrived, but it did not feel crowded. Yes, street parking on Haneoo Road (across from the shuttle bus stop) was available but I suppose it can be more challenging during peak visit times. If you're staying overnight in Hana and traveling with kids, this beach is a great morning activity.

Gorgeous scenic beach located in Hana. This was the perfect ending for us after doing the Road to Hana. We had some time to lay out and relax before making the trip back to Kaanapali. There's street parking above the beach, and stairs at the street level to get to the beach. The currents were pretty strong, but that didn't stop the many swimmers from having a good time. Definitely stop by to check out this beach before heading back to West Maui.

-Somehow missed exploring Hana Town, drove right through and arrived at our next destination Hamoa Beach (gorgeous but not near as impressive as the Garden of Eden and the State Park - the sun set as we headed back) (I'm giving four stars based on my comparison with other Maui Beaches, not in comparison to the average beach, in which case I'd give it 5 stars...)

This is one of nice beaches I'd recommend someone to go. We tried couple times during our stay in Maui and water was always nice to swim or snorkel. There was a turtule seems got his spot around the leftside curve rock. Theres a shower, good to have and wash sand and salt off your body!

As a visitor, we thoroughly enjoyed our beach day at Hamoa Beach off of Haneo'o Road. You search for street parking then take the steps down to the beach. We're staying at Travaasa so they have a stand for guests with towels, waters, chairs and umbrellas. It's a small cove with lots of families on the beach and in the water. (I didn't need a restroom so I don't know if they have bathroom facilities.)

Hāmoa has the title of being the top rated beach in the world. If you're like me, and you love to be in the ocean and not step on any rocks or reef this is the place for you! My best advice is to wait 15 minutes and watch what the ocean is doing before you get in. There's no life guard here and the waves can change quickly! What color is the sand here? Gray? It's like sugar sand. There are many options for shade here, the towel, beach chair and umbrella service is just for guests of the Travaasa hotel. But there's a public shower right below the stairway entrance. Already planning my next trip back to Hāna to spend lazy days at Hāmoa Beach.

Hamoa Beach alone makes driving the road to Hana worth it. They print postcards to feature places like Hamoa Beach. Whether you want to lay out and soak up the sun, bodysurf, boogie board or just splash around, this place is perfect. It is, without a doubt, one of the most spectacular beaches I've visited.

My favorite of the hidden gems of quiet beaches. Only one other couple on the whole beach. The best body surfing waves I've ever experienced.

This is a very picturesque beach with a sandy bottom and no rocks. It's good for body & boogie boarding but can be a little rough and choppy for swimming even on weather-perfect days. The sand seems like a mixture of white & black sand, and some dirt, and is very sticky compared to regular white sand. There is a very dirty and disgusting public restroom but no other beach & park facilities. You may see some lounge chairs with umbrellas but those are for guests of the Travaasa Hotel only. There are shady spots as the place is full of trees. Parking sucks as the tiny dirt lot fits maybe 6-8 cars, and there's no parking on the narrow road's shoulders. Be careful because idiots will block you in as they did to us. Luckily the car next to us was gone but we had to do some sharp turns and backing in and out. TIP: Its not a good beach for people with difficulty walking as you need to descend several steps from the cliff above. It can also be very touristy.

One of my favorite places on the island. I know, I know, I say that a LOT... but this beach, sigh.... it's so lovely. There is something special about this place. Maybe it's because we've had a lot of fun here and made a lot of memories. Parking can be a huge pain depending on what time of the day you come. Just be patient as everyone is just trying to get to the beach too. There are two ways to get down to the beach. A long, very steep path to the right, and a nice set of stairs to the left. The water is pretty shallow for a long way. The water changes throughout the year, so beware. If in doubt, don't go out. There are no lifeguards at this beach. Bathrooms are there for use but I think they are only open for limited hours. There are beach chairs but only for users of the resort. Limited shade here as well. Happy beaching ;)

Having grown up in Newport Beach you tend to get a little spoiled with gorgeous beaches, good surf, and nice weather. But the beaches get crowded with tourists, surfers get territorial, and it turns into a scene. This is why I can respect a place like Hamoa. We were part of a very small group on this amazing crescent beach with amazing sand, palm trees and phenomenal wave action. We all went bodysurfing and ran out into the surf like Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie "The Beach". It was paradise. There were maybe 10 others on the beach the whole time... one being Weird Al Yankovic who was passed out on the beach on something that probably wasn't over the counter. Best bodysurfing I have had in years, we were getting barrelled for hours. Finish it up with a nice Kona lager and pulled pork sandwich and you have had a great day.

Perfectly picturesque Hamoa Beach is tha shxt! This place is on my short list of favorite beaches in the world. Soft sand and palm trees in a beautiful, crescent-shaped cove. Delish waves make for great boogie boarding and it's not crowded like most of the spots in the tourist books. Sun or shade, pick your spot. There's even picnic tables if you want one. Weeks later and I'm still dreaming of this place. If you get a chance, go... It's like walking right into a postcard.

Most pristine beach on the east side of Maui. Warning: it does have a dangerous shore break that puts people in the hospital so watch your back. Great for swimming. Tip: stay on the left side of the bay, nice and calm. On the right there is a current that pulls out to sea.

Hamoa beach is hands down the best beach we've ever been to. The salt and pepper sand is powder and the water is unbelievably clear. The triangle patterns in the sand after the water reseeds is mezmurizeing. We don't think we ever want to visit a beach in California ever again! No matter what part of the island you live or visit you need to see this beach for yourself. 5 star! We would give it a 10 if we could! Such a beautiful beach. check out our maui video, you will see a clip of this place... http://vimeo.com/32505472

My favorite beach ever! It's a beautiful soft sand beach with some shaded spots for sitting. I don't enjoy sunbathing, but I love to boogie board (on baby waves... is that still considered boogie boarding?), or play around with the waves. To go into the ocean, I would enter on the left side where the waves are the gentlest... generally. You can swim around and even snorkel around if the waters aren't too choppy. Some days there are tons of larger waves. When a large wave crashes in front of me (I learned this tip from a sweet local), go under the wave. When you start feeling comfortable with that, when another crashing was comes to you, get low to the ground to prepare to go under the wave, and then look up at the wave passing. It's the most peaceful thing ever - I plan on bringing some goggles next time to see more clearly. I also love somersaulting over a wave that hasn't crashed yet or doing a superman pose over waves that haven't crashed. It just lifts you up so high!!! There is one private restroom in the big building on the right and a nice shower at the bottom of the steps. The treck down is about 40 steps or there is a driveway (marked for travaasa) that you can walk down as well.

Very pretty crescent of sand but the waves were too intense when we came. It's beautiful to see. Good lunch spot on road to Hana. Pretty with the trees. But there are no bathrooms... port a potties were terrible.

Aloha! Great clean beach! One of the best I saw! Truly amazing! When there are not big waves, you will be shocked of clarity of the water! Truly Hawaii. Beach is equipped with shower and bathroom. When you there early, you can find place for parking. I would definitely come back again and again and again! Mahalo for reading this.

We visited Hamoa beach on a Wednesday morning in September that happened to be our anniversary. We were delighted to have this piece of paradise to ourselves for nearly 2 hours. The water was a little rough but the sand was perfect for castle building and the friendly crabs kept us company!

If you make it this far on the Road to Hana, try to give yourself a break from driving and windy roads and waterfalls and just lay out here. Parking was okay when we came, but I bet it gets crazy offseason. Gorgeous, serene, peaceful, beautiful. DO IT.

It's a breakneck beach in bad conditions. Locals flipper 1/2 mile out, but unless you are skilled I would watch the shore break. I mean it. The problem is that its the most beautiful beach in the world... and there isn't a rock or twig to step on. No reef or anything to bother the toes for some distance. The days this beach is flat? Those are the days the locals call in sick. Other than that, James Michener was right.... it's the perfect crescent moon beach of all the Pacific. Volcanic spits on one side, volcanic rocks and tropical jungle like cliffs on the other that yield to views of rolling grassy ranges of happy cows on an island. It's easy to say this is the most romantic, special, epic beach

lovely sand beach. On the way there you first pass by Koki beach. There is a large area near the koki beach to sun bathe on the grass and sometimes they have chicken BBQ (look for signs) and music in the hut to the south of Koki beach. The beach itself is gorgeous, lined with trees and has a soft sand beach. I would very much recommend stopping by here for a quick dip prior to going a bit further to Hamoa beach. Hamoa itself is also a sandy beautiful beach with outdoor shower and bathroom. It does have the Travaasa Hana tourists which are there and they get free towels, access to the bathroom, and beach chairs with umbrellas. The beach itself may have a lot of boogie boarders or surfers. Sometimes it gets very crowded with tourists but generally before 11 am its not that busy. Very picturesque and worth going to. One last thing I should advise: BE NICE AND RESPECT THE LOCALS. I believe there have been incidences in which people block off the street, litter, or act as if all the locals are there to serve them. this is their home and they are sharing it with us :)

I'd heard a lot of rave reviews for this beach, some describing it as the best in the state. I have to say I didn't really find it to be as stunning as many other people. Don't get me wrong, it's a very nice beach and it's tucked in a secluded spot near Hana that prevents it from being too crowded or commercialized. But I wouldn't say it's the best beach on Maui, let alone the state. Nearby Koki beach is actually just as nice and is more beautiful, in my opinion. That being said, this is a great place to stop if you're doing the Road to Hana and continuing toward the Kipahulu part of Haleakala National Park. The sand isn't very clean but there is room to set up and do some bodyboarding or surfing. The waves are definitely choppy, so if you swim I wouldn't go out too far. Parking wasn't an issue for me as I was here during a weekday, but I can see how it would be a problem if there are larger weekend crowds. There isn't much roadside space near the stairway leading down to the beach. The restroom area next to the beach appeared to be closed for renovation while I was there. Overall, I don't consider this beach a "must see" as is the Kaihalulu red sand beach or the Waianapanapa black sand beach. I recommend working those into your Hana drive schedule and stopping at Hamoa only if time allows.

Unbelievable. Gorgeous. Pristine. We have been to a lot of beaches in Maui and this is one of our favorites. The water is so crystal clear, it is shallow quite a distance from shore is is partially protected on the left side of the beach. This, in addition to the public bathroom, makes it a great beach for kids and adults alike. Just an FYI- it is the snow covered mountains of the big island that you can see across the ocean. Pretty amazing sight! Be warned though, the parking sucks so plan accordingly.

For those who do not know there are no true white sand beaches on Maui. However on Maui there are several colors of sand. There are black sand beaches which come from the lava, green sand beaches, red sand, peach color, a few tan colored but not white. They claim this beach has red and black sand. I see the black the red is not as noticeable. The sand gets its red-black color from the crumbling cindercone hill that surrounds the bay. This beach is not protected by any fringing reefs, so surf is high and dangerous. The safest time to swim is during the summer and early fall. Closely monitor ocean conditions at all times. Obey all postings and warnings. No lifeguards Restrooms Picnic facilities Sandy beach Swimming, snorkeling, diving, bodysurfing Occasional high surf No parking by the beach - park on the road and take the stairs down to the beach. Of course when we went the surf was high and winds were strong so we did not get to swim like everyone else seems to have been able to. It has a nice ambiance. It is secluded because it is right off the Hana highway which most people don't drive to the very end and if they do they have to turn around to make sure they don't get on the road too late since there are no lights on it. The beach tends to get residents (which are few) or guests staying at the hotel Hana Maui. But it has the feeling of being secluded.

STUNNING!! Waikiki was like a children place, Hamoa rocked my entire trip to Hana, which also made the the 2 1/2 mountain drive X 4 somewhat more meaningful. Waving, clean, calm and relaxing at the same time. Hamoa was as good as I would wish to get. Simply soo much fun to hang with family there. If you ever take a chance to drive those darn curvy road into Hana, do NOT miss Hamoa beach!!

This beach looks like a Hawaiian post card, decorated with sugary soft sand and bright blue water. Gosh, I really wish I was there right now. We didn't spend too much time here because we didn't want to drive the Hana Highway back to our hotel with wet bathing suits on, but I saw lots of surfers & swimmers having fun in the water. There's plenty of warm sand to lay out on too, so this would be a great last stop to relax before you head back home from your Road to Hana drive.

Great secluded beach! Would never drive the road to Hana again but this made it somewhat worth it.

I recently returned from my first trip to Maui, and when I think back to the most dissapointing things on my trip (there weren't many! Maui is amazing!) Hamoa beach definitely comes to mind first. When I was planning my vacation, I read all the great reviews about how beautiful this beach was, both on Yelp and on other locations. I knew I had to stop there when we explored the Road to Hana. I was completely shocked because as you can see from my pictures, this beach is in no way spectacular.. I would say it was even kind of gross... I hope that doesn't offend any locals as that is certainly not my intention! But after spending days at the gorgeous Wailea beach and snorkeling at Kaanapali beach (and several other beautiful beaches on Maui) I just thought this was rather underwhelming and a complete waste of time. Also, the bathroom looked horrible! (See photo) I honestly wanted to give this 2 stars, but I am giving it three because I acknowledge its a public beach, and the beautiful, well-kept beaches on the other side of the island belong to resorts that take care of them.. But even still... I've been to many beautiful public beaches all over the globe, so I can't understand why there are so many rave reviews for this mediocre beach.

We were there last week. The pathway to the beach was under construction. The picnic area was littered with fallen leaves from tree surroundings. Parking is hard to find. We just took pictures of the place. Did not venture down.

This is part of Road to Hana and it's a MUST STOP!!! It has to be my favorite beach ever!!! I'm so glad we stopped here, and because of that it made my trip so much fun. Parking gets kinda packed, it depends what time you go. You just park along the street near the residents wherever you see available. The water here is freaking clean and blue!!! Not many people either even though it has a station for hotel guests which I don't even know where the hotel is at.

Hamoa Beach is gorgeous. Definitely spend a day here if you have the time-- I feel sorry for all the tourists who do the trip to Hana in one day and miss out on this amazing place. There are some good breaks for surfing or boogie boarding, and the crescent of white sand is perfect for lounging on. Unlike the West side beaches lined with rocks, Hamoa has a sandy bottom which allays those fears of wiping out and getting a gaping head wound as a souvenir. The Hotel Hana Maui has beach chairs, towels, and boogie boards here for guests, but access is public. Bring a picnic lunch to eat at one of their tables, enjoy the water, and lounge in the shade-- just beware of falling mangoes. =)

SHHHH this is not the best beach in the world. the sand is coarse. the water is not shallow but very deep. the waves are also very rough.

Beautiful, clear water, soft sandy clean beach. Perfect water to play in. There are shady spots to get out of sun for those of us not wanting the rays. We walked from our cottage rental so parking was not an issue for us. Great beach!!

All I can say is that I could not get my husband out of the water. He body surfed for days. It was so much fun. Small beach, bring your own boogie boards. The have some there but they are for hotel guests only. Overall a fun day. We were staying in Kihei so it is a long trip but make a day of it and it should be fun.

Beautiful Beach its a morning beach because the sun will not shine on this beach in the afternoon.

I LOVE living in Hana and Hamoa is one of the reasons. Just please please PLEASE be careful if you are not a strong swimmer... The currents can get very strong and the beach breaks can get very rough. I've seen too many tourists end up with knee, leg, foot injuries and struggling to get back in to shore. On a calm day though, you can swim all the way out to snorkel the lava point. It's a steep walk up and down to the beach via either steps or a steep driveway, so take that in to consideration if you are with elders.

Perfect beach! Not crowded at all and GORGEOUS! My BF and I came here on our way back after doing the whole Road to Hana thing. We didn't spend a whole lot of time there since we wanted to make it back to the other side of the island by dinner time, but boy, this is the kind of place where you can spend ALL DAY reading a book and just laying out on the sand. It's really easy to drive passed the road you need to turn on from the highway to get here. I forget what the mile marker it is, but the road is Haneo'o Road. Park anywhere you can find parking and you go down a flight of stairs to get to the beach.

I've traveled to many places in the world and have seen many beaches. This is by far my favorite beach. It's one of the most beautiful pieces of the world. With clear waters, soft sand and green stretches of land with pine trees and pastures lining the east and cattle roaming. I spent 9 days in Hamoa and will go back again. My favorite beach and not too crowded. A great mix of locals and tourists. Love hamoa and can't wait to go back.

Holy crap this is an AMAZING black sand beach that is a hidden jewel in the hana area. Not on the usual tourist path, but a must if you are in the area for a couple of days. No food for sale within walking distance of the beach, so pack a picnic- you aren't going to want to leave. Be careful playing in the ocean- mean undertow and a wicked "shorebreak." (whatever that means.)

Beautiful and rough..... North and east exposure gives it a lively personality. Locals are 95% sweet and friendly. Current is strongest at both margins Grimy toilets and now has a shower Great boogeyboarding

The most beautiful and crystal clear water beach I have ever seen in Maui. It can be compared to Kailua beach in Oahu. Easy access, soft sand, calm crystal clear water, perfect for swimming, and last but not least, it's not crowded at all. It's like having a private beach for yourself. A must-go beach in Hana, Maui.