Honolua Bay

Great snorkeling not much currents calm and a relatively easy launch from the rocky beach. Adequate free parking along the road but beware of No Parking / Tow Away signs if you don't park in one of the designated shoulder strip lots. We saw lots of different fish. No turtles on the day we went. The bay can get a little crowded. Short 0.3 mile walk from the road to the bay.

Snorkeling heaven. Somewhat challenging park & hike access. Not for sun bathers ~ no sand, all large rocks. All which make it more a seclusive experience for snorkeling. The occasional tour boat filled with snorkelers will come by midway but they usually stay less than an hour. Mornings are best to find parking and calm waters. *Be wary of the wind & tide conditions before attempting.

Honolua-Mokuleia Bay is an ABSOLUTE GEM that is definitely worth a visit. Surprisingly, it wasn't initially included in my itinerary, but I stumbled upon it while en route to Nakalele Blowhole. We noticed that people were parking their vehicles near an entrance that resembled a lush jungle. Fortunately, as we returned from the blowhole, we were lucky enough to find a spot available in the limited parking area. The walk from the entrance to the bay takes approximately five to ten minutes, but it is a beautiful journey surrounded by vibrant green leaves from banyan and coconut trees. As you approach the bay, there is a sign advising the use of MINERAL-BASED SUNBLOCK to protect the delicate reefs. Please be conscious and adhere to this recommendation. For those who prefer not to swim, there are shaded areas by the bay where you can relax. The water itself is calm, however, it's important to exercise caution as the rocks near the water can be slippery. While snorkeling, I had the pleasure of encountering various marine creatures such as triggerfish, butterfly fish, sea urchins, and corals. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to spot any sea turtles in the bay.

What a nice snorkeling beach! It's not a same beach so be prepared to walk on some rocks to get your snorkel on. The path to the beach itself is beautiful. Will be back again!

This was my favorite activity on my trip to Maui. Not only do you get some quality exercise in a swim, but you get to see some beautiful wildlife in the water. I got to see a bunch of fish and some turtles. I absolutely love this place! In terms of the utility you get out of cost for touristy activities, this is prob the best value you can get. I went to a nearby store, can't remember which one, and rented snorkel gear for less than $15 for the day. My family and I then drove to this location and parked. The walk or hike is about a quarter mile until you get to the actual bay. It's a little rocky near the water, so make sure you bring proper footwear before you go out there. If I ever find myself back in Maui, this is on my list of things to do for sure.

12/1/2022: I'm out of breath~the ocean's surf is too hard core! Low tide is high tide despite, waiting five hours for the ocean's angry surf abating . . . It didn't dissipate its angry, turbulent surf: I'm absolutely beaten up. Time packing up and forget snorkeling . . . Maui Beer burning my brain coming up!

Absolutely gorgeous and easy trail - such a special place. So happy we were told about this wonderful stop

Not an easy entrance to the bay. Very rocky to enter the water. Absolutely would do it again. Easy to snorkel and saw a number of sea turtles which was the goal.

A nice historical site, now most prominent for being part of the Marine Conservation program with no fishing or removal of natural resources allowed and for being a spot for snorkeling and scuba diving. The old chief of Maui used to come here to relax and fish. Kihaapiilani his son was purported to have surfed at this pay. In more modern times it was used to load and unload supplies onto ships by Honolulu Ranch. A hint at the history is a sign that says stay on the trail "many unmarked graves in this area". The walk to the bay was the most fun for us. Huge tropical trees and foliage, you'll see vine covered giant trees and leaves that are so big you can use them as umbrellas. Mosquitos will also attack you so be prepared especially if you are O blood type. There are also truly wild Maui chickens in this area. If you come at the right time you can see a local man feeding them with dried corn making them more fearless around other humans. Bay itself is not a beach for relaxing at. It's covered in stones and there's a stream emptying into the ocean carrying all sorts of dirty water and runoff from the still functioning farms next to it. There's also the inevitable tour boats for snorkeling and diving that park here, if you came for snorkeling you can watch the boats to see how far you have to swim out to for better visibility and sea life.

Out of all the places we visited in Maui, Honolua Bay is by far the best for snorkeling if you're willing to work a bit more. It's not the easiest to reach, as it's right beside private property and you'll need to mind the warning signs. You should also wake up early (7-7:30am) to avoid the massive crowds/tours and get a rare parking spot (it's by the highway so you need to park on the side of the road). If you're unable to find parking closest to the entrance of the forest, there should be much more road parking at the nearby Honolua Farms up the road. You'll go through a "magical enchanted forest" (which is indeed quite unique) to reach the bay, and also navigate through a LOT of rocks to get to the water. (There's no sandy shore). Be careful as many of the rocks can shift, especially the sheer, moss covered rocks by the water. Hiking or swim shoes are recommended before donning your snorkel fins at the edge of the water. Lots of little skittering bugs around the water, but they shouldn't bother you. Water is fairly calm but slightly cold. I'd highly recommend the North side of the bay (to the far right of the bay entrance). The diversity of sea animals is incredible; the further you go out, the more things you see (we reached open water at the very edge of the bay). However, don't go out further than you can swim back! We saw so many different kinds of fish, from huge parrotfish to Hawaii's state fish, an enormous barracuda-like fish, a white-tipped reef shark (don't worry, they don't bother humans much), and a bunch of sea turtles, including a mother and child (most were nesting on a large rock at the mid-point of the bay). At one point, we thought we saw a whale in the bay, but it turned out to be an endless school of fish. Again, getting to the bay and the water isn't east, but it's definitely worthwhile. Make sure to bring your waterproof GoPro and take lots of video and pictures!

I try to visit Honolula Bay anytime I am in Maui. It is a bay, so you are protected from the waves. It is rocky & difficult to enter the water if you have any disabilities. There is tons of marine life. You can spend a lot of time here. It is a little walk from the parking.

I've written a few reviews about this beautiful easy 1/4 mile bush walk leading to a serene rocky marine sanctuary that is heaven on earth. It is privately owned and the owner shares it with everyone, which is amazing. If it were mine I would keep it to myself! So, when you visit, PLEASE DONATE even if it is just a $1, or hopefully more, to cover the owners expenses. He provides toilets and landscapes and collects the trash people leave. Expensive business keeping the are pristine for locals and tourists alike. Also please cover up with rash shirts not sunscreen. Sunscreen kills the coral reefs and pollutes the water. It is a major problem on Maui. If you cover up you don't get sunburned ("tourist camo") and remember sunscreen causes cancer too. Keep it green, clean and pristine :)

This gem is one of the best snorkeling beach/Bay. There's no sand to rest on, just bunch of different size river rocks so wear thick water sandals. Had many different types of fishes and sizes. It was great.

AMAZING SNORKELING! If you love snorkeling this is the spot!!! The walk is about 5 minutes down and is completely worth it, very safe for kids, getting in can be kinda difficult but it is totally awesome.

This is, easily, the best snorkeling spot on Maui. There is limited parking, but it's free. There isn't a beach either. There are large round rocks leading down to the water. The morning time is the best because a lot of tour boats come dock in the bay and let out hoards of snorkelers. Either side of the bay is equally amazing also.

One of the best spots on Maui to go snorkeling without having to book something by boat. Super easy access through a cool enchanted forest/burial site and soooooo much life in the water! We saw lots of different fish, an octopus, plenty of turtles and even a reef shark! We even spotted a hidden treasure.....the entire rear differential and wheels from a vehicle at the bottom of the ocean floor (hint....its in off the right side of the bay about half way out between some coral)! Some advice....get there EARLY! There's not a lot of parking and it can fill up fast. The catamarans usually come in after 10 and so do their passengers in the water, so if you want less bodies in the water, again....get there early. There's no sandy area at this beach, so it can challenging for kids to walk on, but if they can make it, they WILL NOT regret it!

This was a popular smoking spot! The path to get down to the water is not well identified; so hard to find. And there is private property that needs to be avoided. The beach is rocky without much sand. We were there mid week and there were a lot of people there. My husband went out and snorkeled; he felt there are better locations. But it's still a pretty spot!

This place will hold a special memory... because in all the years I've gone to the Hawaiian islands, this was the first area I was able to swim with sea turtles. The snorkeling here is superb! There was a Northern AND Southern swell that was making snorkeling conditions difficult on the islands... so we took our chances going here. We lucked out because the water was pretty calm and it made it easy for us to enter the water and swim a far distance with our fins. The funny thing I had considered chartering a boat to take us snorkeling due to the conditions - it turns out all the snorkel tours came here. We were able to swim all the way out to where the snorkel tour groups were without having to pay. Getting into the water couldn't have been easier. While the rocks can be slippy and difficult to walk on, I found it easier to enter and exit the water. Why? Because even if there were waves pushing and pulling you, at least you didn't get sand in your pants. I hate that feeling. You also get a better control with your hands on rocks than you would on sand that's moving around a lot. We saw a wide variety of colorful coral and fish, like wrasse, butterfly fish, tangs, and sea urchins. The Snorkel Store gave the area of rating of 6.5 for the the day, but we had good visibility and calm waters in the bay. It made us wonder what a 7+ rating looked like! During our 3 hours of snorkeling we even saw 3 sea turtles at different times - I was so happy as my last times snorkeling in Hawaii did not allow me to see these wonderful creatures. We kept our distance but enjoyed watching them glide in the water and come up for air. We did have to go out pretty far to get them - basically where the boats were... which I think was past 50 ft from the shore? Fins help get you around when snorkeling, so use them! I have to hand it to Maui, unlike the places I went snorkeling in Oahu... people, even tourists, were a lot more respective of the coral. It's not as dead as there is still some color, and people aren't as stupid as to step on it. Keep in mind you need to use reef friendly sunblock here - there's a lot of information on the websites on what kind of sunblock should be used. No facilities either - the only bathrooms here are porto potties. We also lucked out with parking here - it's very limited. Come really early to beat the crowds! We got here around 8:45 am on a Thursday and parking was already limited. Some folks had to park far and walk. We were able to get a spot right in front of the porto potties because a lady let us know she was leaving and made it so that the other car coming in the other direction wouldn't just grab it. Just be patient and plan ahead. The other thing to note about this place - there is a short trail from the main road to the actual beach. It's REALLY short, like maybe 5-10 minutes one way? And the walk is pleasant because it's through a rainforest with wild chickens and wild papaya trees (they're right on the trail and hard to miss). If I have any complaints at all... it's that the limited parking situation gets people a little competitive on the road. That and the beach is rocky so it's hard to just lay down a towel to sit on when you're taking a break from snorkeling. But given the snorkel situation and how easy it is to enter the water, I can overlook these minor things.

On Maui, the Honolua name is shared by a store, clothing company, and this bay which is located just north of Kapalua. PARKING: A few stalls are located along Honoapiilani Highway (30) though they're quite far from access to the bay. THE BAY: There is no sand here, just a rocky shore surrounded by high cliffs and lots of trees. That being said, snorkeling is good as there are two huge reefs on either side of the bay, about 20 feet down, with adequate protection from wind and currents. Multiple catamarans full of ready-to-be-sunburnt tourists can be found here daily depending on conditions. There are no comfort facilities available. I am not into snorkeling or SCUBA but tagged along with my spouse and friends for a snorkel sail on which we ended up here. On the way over, another boat captain radioed to our captain saying conditions here were "green". What that meant was visibility at the bay was unfavorable. From the surface, the water was a cloudy green like the ocean's floor got churned-up by some massive force. We anchored anyway along with two other boats. I didn't go in but others did and reported "okay" snorkeling conditions with not only fish-spotting but turtles too. TIP: There is a lookout area along Honoapiilani Highway (30) if you want to see the bay but don't want to walk in or are not on a boat. OVERALL: Great for snorkeling, not for beaching.

Chose this place based on a snorkeling site's recommendation as its top choice on Maui. Yes, we saw a good variety of fish, but the slippery rocks make it VERY difficult to get to the water's edge and to get in and out of the water. And, the fish were not quite as abundant as at Kahekili ("Airport") beach which has more parking, no long damp hike, was less crowded, and comfy sand adjoining the water.

Initially my friends and I were trying to go to kapalua bay to snorkel but couldn't find parking so we decided to drive to honolua bay. Best decision ever!!! The drive to the bay was beautiful. I didn't realize we had to go through a trail. It was tropical. Lots of trees and wild roosters. I felt like I was in the Amazon or a Jurassic park movie. It was awesome. Definitely in Hawaii. Once you get to the water there's a lot rocks where you can put your stuff. It wasn't a typical beach where you lay near the shore and tan. Not ideal for kids to play in either. Lots of cool fishes, sea urchins and octopus! We spent hours here.

What a beautiful hike, but a little muddy so bring some burner shoes. It's like walking through the jungle and yes there are mosquitoes. Honolua Bay is so beautiful and if you go early there will be no one so you can hear the babbling creek, birds and chickens. Great little hike and parking can be a challenge if you don't go early.

This is the best spot for snorkeling. Numerous varieties of fish to see. We also saw a turtle. Be sure to go our far enough and to the north side of bay. There is a lot of coral and the fish gather in great numbers there. Water is pretty clear and smooth. The walk from the road to the bay is private property that the owner is generous enough to allow people access through his property to the bay. It's beautiful. The walk is very easy. Be sure to take your trash etc. out with you. It's important to take good care of his property so he continues to let the public on it. You can also give a donation to help cover the cost of upkeep and he also provides outhouses. This is my 2nd most favorite place to snorkel after Molokini and we didn't have to pay for a tour. Only had to rent snorkel gear.

Beautiful access trail through the trees and a great area for snorkeling Clear water, cool fish and coral. Lots of chickens running around, too.

My husbands favorite spot in Maui to snorkel! Very pretty walk down to beach! We got lucky with a parking spot but it can be a hike.

My PSA before my review - 1. Don't step or touch the coral - it is alive! And home to fishes! 2. Wear reef safe sunblock pls 3. Keep your distance from the amazing sea turtles 4. Pick up your trash and only leave footprints 5. Keep off the private property and respect the signs Anyways! This place is great! There is a small hike/walk to get to the bay. Be prepared for lots of rocks. There isn't much sand at this beach or a place for you to roll our your towel to beach yourself. But why would you come here to do that? Come here to snorkel for your heart's content! You'll really feel like a small fish in big water here and appreciate the beauty of Maui. Warning - the rocks along the beach do get very hot! So wear some sort of footwear or slipper. And take your time making your way into the water. Also! There is very little shade. So in conclusion- cut your can plastic rings before recycling. Save the coral reefs, save the fishes.

Best place to snorkel in Maui! Pristine waters with huge columns of coral that are vibrant and colorful - it's like swimming through an underwater garden. Lots of variety of fish. It's a rocky beach so make sure you watch your step getting into the water. The rocks can be slippery (I found out the hard way). Swim towards the right mid-way into the bay where the water is clear and aquamarine. A few tourist snorkeling boats around but you get to enjoy this place for free if you drive there. Please use reef safe sunscreen or a rash guard so that we can preserve the beautiful coral (unlike other parts of Maui where the coral is seen dying from non-reef safe sunscreen).

07.27.2018 Stopped here after making a trip to Nakalele Blowhole. It's not a sandy beach but has a rock shore. It's a short 1/4 mike (or less) walk from the road to the water through the trees. Look out for the chickens and roosters that come out to greet you. They've chopped down some trees and made a more open path for people to walk. It was a nice place to snorkel but not the most comfortable to sit unless you bring a chair or find a bigger rock that your okole can sit on. But you have to learn how to balance the chair on and between the rocks. Water was clear and you were able to see fish even near the shore.

The snorkeling is so nice here, there is a short hike from the parking lot to the snorkel entrance, remember it's private property so read the rules on the way down to the beach.

Super cool walk through the thick greenery and grand trees to get to the beautiful cove with clear water and rocky shore. Often has sailboats.

This is one of the best snorkeling spots on the west side of Maui. Parking on the road can be a bit tough but we arrived about 10 AM and were able to secure a spot. There's a short walk to get to the water but it's through a peaceful forest. There was lots a sign saying you should stay on the path. Along the shore there isn't a smooth sandy to beach to sit on but are rocks. It can be challenging if your balance isn't that good. It's helpful to wear your flip-flops and kick them off right near the shore. Once in the water it's beautiful. The snorkeling is best on the north and south sides; in the middle there isn't much to see.

One of the highlights of my trip. No doubt. Not much signage or parking. I had this on my must do list and just happened upon it while driving back from Olivine and Blowhole. I was drawn in by the Tarzan like jungle off the side of the road. Had to do 3 loops before getting a parking spot. Don't give up, I almost did but then lucked out. The jungle small hike in was incredible. Perhaps the coolest mini jungle hike I've even been on. If I had a better Tarzan call, it would have been the perfect setting. Got to the rocky beach which wasn't too crowded. You're really only dealing with fellow snorkelers, loungers would it to go to one of the many nearby sandy beaches instead. I got on my gear and went straight to the water. It is pretty shallow all the way out. Very clear and easy to see the bottom. Supposedly the best snorkelling in Maui, I could see why. Coral, lots of fish variety and a couple sea turtles. Be sure to head northeast up the coast, especially to where the big boats are anchored. There is a reason so many people are over there! I saw a lot of people only snorkel by the rocky beach entrance and they truly are missing out!

This is one of the best places to snorkel in Maui. The hike or stroll getting to the bay is quite picturesque. You have this lush, tropical forest you walk through to get there. We got there later in the afternoon and there were only few other snorkelers. The stands were closed for fresh coconut juice. Getting into the water was a bit tricky, there isn't a sandy beach but lots of rocks and slippery boulders. Although there are some deterrents, it's still a great place to snorkel.

This is always my go to snorkel spot, EPIC. Unfortunately, after a big rain there are waterways that flow into the bay, causing visibility challenges near the shore. Once you park, and there are multiple parking locations that feed into the bay, you will make a 10-minute walk from your car through a lush canopy of a beautiful jungle. My kids had a blast chasing the wild chickens, and pretending like they were on the movie set of Tarzan. There is no ideal sandy beach here, rather you will find a rocky entry point, which can be dangerous for people who have sensitive feet and lack dexterity - use caution upon your entry and exit, I saw a few people fall. But, see the rocky beach as a benefit, no sandy mess in your car afterward. Once you enter the water you are in for a beautiful adventure, filled with sea turtles, eels, octopus, parrot fish, trigger fish, yellow tang, puffers, etc. Pro tip - Come early if you want to avoid the crowd! The best water clarity, with calm winds is between 7am - 9am. Overall, beautiful!

This was one of our favorite beaches in Maui. It was a little hard to find and perhaps that's why it was not crowded when we were there. The snorkeling was awesome. Tip - take some water shoes or other shoes which you can use to walk on rocks, this is not a sandy beach.

If you're coming to Maui, Honolua Bay is a must visit! Located on the west side of the island, north of Kapalua, I highly recommend coming early to the bay if you're interested in snorkeling. Parking is limited. There's space for 8-10 cars near the trailhead, some other parking spaces along the road, but not much else. If you enter through the trailhead, it's a .5 mile walk through the jungle to get to the rocky edge of the bay. When snorkeling, it's best to swim out along the edge of the bay ( i recommend to the right ). Swimming out straight leads to a large empty space with little sea life, but along the edges are overflowing with sea life.

Second time in Maui and a favorite spot! Tips: Wear water shoes, there is no beach, just shores with lots of rocks so plan accordingly Slippery rocks once you get to waters edge There is a port o potty by one of the little parking areas Parking is not easy, but out of the 4 times I've been we have always found a spot Really beautiful mini adventure for snorkeling

Top notch snorkeling! A lot of the local snorkeling tours take you here, but if you have a rental car you can simply drive here. It's sometimes called Chicken-Beach because there is a lot of wild chickens running around. You will see a lot of fish.

Parking was tough, so come early if possible. Gratefully a spot opened up on the side of the road . The easy hike down to the water was out of a movie, breathtaking tropical jungle, enormous Banyan trees, and plants of all kinds! And of course, chickens! Make sure to wear water shoes!! not only for the hike down, but also for the shore. Nope, no sandy beach here. All rocks! We brought some chairs, glad we did. Also be prepared for a lot of people! Honestly the water by the shoreline was murky and kind of gross. But after you get past that, the waters in the Bay clear up and snorkeling is wonderful. Lots of different fish, also saw a couple turtles! (Note: We were told later on, when at the shore, we should have kept walking to the far right where water is not so murky) Molokini is by far the best snorkeling, but if you don't want to fork out money for the boat trip, Honolua Bay is a pretty good spot for seeing sea-life!

Great spot for snorkeling. No beach but a bunch of big rocks! I brought a phone holder but nobody touched our stuff. A lot of people just sitting on a rock so they kind of know it's your stuff. The water was murky and actually brown when we entered. But as we snorkeled to the right it got clearer and there was lots of fish. In fact, there was a giant school of gray fishes. The further you are away from shore the clearer they water is. The fish are hanging by the coral on the bottom. We had a great time!

This is my preferred snorkeling destination on the island. Serene waters, an otherworldly hike from the road, and kaleidoscopic sights of vibrant sea life even fairly close to shore. We always seem to encounter international visitors here, too, which is a nice relief from the homogenous resort areas. I recommend arriving before 8 a.m. for parking, and water shoes if possible to make the very rocky trek more bearable.

Why 5 stars? Because I'm no snorkeling pro but this was amazing. --- --- --- Months after my trip to Maui, my wife and I were talking about our experience, when I realized that I forgot to review Honolua Bay! This was my first time ever snorkeling, and I think it spoiled me rotten. The coral and the fish here made me seriously feel like I was on a ride at Disney World, not actually living out real life. My wife was 5 months pregnant at the time, so she tired out much quicker than she normally would have, but if it wasn't for that, we would have stayed out here all day. It's seriously a marvel of the universe that these fish and coral turn out to be such incredibly vibrant colors. We rented the snorkel gear from our hotel and drove here based on some recommendations from locals. We found a place to park on the side of the road, and after a short walk, found ourselves at the water. From that vantage point, it just looked like the hundreds of other coves around Maui, but apparently this is one of the best places to snorkel! We didn't see many turtles, but everything else was so breath taking that it didn't matter. This is definitely one of the more memorable things we did between our three trips to Hawaii!

If there is one place to snorkel without a charter, this place is it! Imagine sticking your head underwater and seeing tons of fishes! This is the place! Details: 1. A bit hidden, you need to park on the side of the road and walk in about 1/4 mile 2. Very rocky, on land and at the entering the water 3. The insects really comes out in force at dusk

On a calm day, this is a gorgeous place to snorkel. If you are facing the water, snorkel out towards the right and get as close to the rocks as you can for the biggest coral heads. Lots of fish and turtles. This is a rocky entrance, incredibly rocky. Round and also jagged rocks from egg size to microwave size in the entrance and exit to the bay. This is not suitable for folks who need to be on a flat surface for stability. For folks like me with previous ankle fractures, this is a proceed with caution adventure. There are outhouses for toilets but no shower.

Maui's best kept secret for all things snorkeling. A highly preserved bay/cove where high priced boating permits and restrictions protected underwater ecosystem pristine. Take care of the bay, don't harm marine life, be a preservationist and bring coral safe sunblock if none at all! Enjoy with the eyes and not the hands! Aloha abs mahalo!

Swim instructor recommended the spot for snorkeling in Maui. She was right it is amazing park on the street and walk a few minutes to the beach and enjoy amazing snorkeling in a beautiful, calm bay! we saw tons of fish and even a turtle enjoyed it with my seven-year-old and eight-year-old it was the perfect day highly recommend

-Went to Honolua Bay (not calm enough to snorkel the time we went) but gorgeous nonetheless, watched the surfers and the chickens , large waves and jungle-like trees (I'm rating it compared to other beaches on Maui, not compared to the average beach, in which I'd give it 10 out of 10 stars.)

Awesome spot to see some of Maui's most colorful fish!! Some days parking can be a nightmare on the side of the road, but eventually you'll find something. The best time to go would be mid morning to early afternoon before the tide comes in. To see some amazing coral reefs you do have to swim out pretty far, but there are excursion boats in the area to kind of help you know where good snorkeling is. This a ROCKY beach so come prepared to be walking and sliding on rocks (flip flops might not be the best option).

Easily our favorite snorkel spot on the trip. We could not get reservations on a boat for snorkeling and funny enough saw the same boat we were trying to go on in this bay. Tons of people, but there's lots of space to swim around. We saw so many types of fish and swam next to a sea turtle. My husband could have snorkeled all day here.