Ho'okipa Beach Park

Cool beach to watch the surfers and the wind surfers. Less so for swimming. The bonus as you get to see lots of sea turtles. Nobody follows the rules and doesn’t keep a 10 foot distance as they should even though the section is cordoned off. So sad to see that people can not read simple instructions. Well worth going to this cool beach. Free parking and lots of locals so it must be good right?!

Good parking, easy to walk down. We went just to see the turtles resting on the beach which was easy because there are a ton just laying there plain to see. Photos are good to take and the beach looked clean although we didn’t go on it. Not much else to say, but it is cool to see all the turtles just hanging out if you’re in the area.

Great beach and lots of turtles. Don’t go near them since they are exhausted after a day long of swimming in the ocean. Please maintain 10 feet distance

Mom and I arrived here around 930am... and we were able to find a beautiful spot right in front of the park for the car. Mom was blown away by the waves, water and the entire atmosphere. We stayed around 2 hours...just enjoying the sun, seeing a few turtles, and being lulled into relaxation by the waves. This is definately a beach to not miss when You come to Maui!!!

A very nice and clean Beach Park. Seems to be a very popular spot for surfing. There were a bunch of green turtles relaxing in the sand. Never seen them before. Parking spots are limited.

We loved this beach on the trip out to RTH, but stopped here a couple more times on our own to check out the green sea turtles. Also a lot of surfers in the morning and more wind surfing activities in the afternoon as the wind picks up.

This place is awesome, you can sit and watch surfers but also get to see sea turtles... A LOT OF THEM. I would classify this as more of a local hangout spot due to the surf crowd so be respectful. The sea turtle viewing is 2nd to none. Late afternoon, early evening was when we had the best turtle experience but it's also very crowded. Parking is at a premium and can be challenging but we'll worth the wait if you circle around a few times.

Very busy beach park! People doing all activities here. Said to be a great surfing point. As a tourist, I just care for the turtle and found them!

We stumbled upon this during our road to hana trip. Absolutely beautiful! I wish I was more prepared for it and brought bathing suits. The view was breath taking. They had restrooms and everything. Beach was clean and they had life guards. Plenty of people were swimming and surfing. Highly recommended. Plenty of parking and shaded areas where you could have your lunch.

Ho'Okipa Beach is one of the coolest beaches I've been to, because it's inhabited by TURTLES! They're giant and sit there basking in the sun in a large pack, with some sliding along the sand leaving little paths in their wake. There are barriers/chains up around where they come to sunbathe, so you can't get too close (and you wouldn't want to, lest you bother them!). But you can definitely see them pretty well from behind the barriers, there are so many of them. Aside from the beautiful turtles, there are also great views at Ho'Okipa Beach, with gorgeous blue water crashing against black volcanic rocks that pepper the shoreline. We saw lots of folks swimming, surfing, and relaxing on the beach, because it's such a nice clean area that's well maintained (probably because of the turtle population). This is definitely a stop you should make in Maui for a nice day at the beach, or to see the adorable turtles and beautiful landscapes!

TURTLES! If you want to see and swim with a ton of sea turtles, this is the place. There's also free parking up on the hill. At any given time there seem to be at least a dozen on the beach, and who knows how many in the water

Oh Turtles, they wanna have fun Oh Turtles just wanna have fun... Tide will definitely take you for a ride here. Maybe that's why the turtles love it here. My wife had some close encounters with Turtles swimming right next to her. All I could think is Crush from Finding Nemo saying Whoa as they passed her by. It's a prime spot for surfers and snorkeling. Just respect the turtles and their; there's a sign (most people ignore probably like when they drive) that says stop. The lifeguard had to say something to a group of people standing next to the turtles trying to get back in the water. There's plenty of parking unless it's a busy day you may have to park up top and walk down. Bathrooms and shower right by the lifeguard tower. There's also covered benches if you want to eat and enjoy the view. By far one of the most beautiful beaches we were blessed to visit. Mahalo

Means hospitality. Turtles are plentiful when the waters allow it ~ rope to hold back humans but a great viewing distance. Pretty amazing to watch the turtles overcome the waves & rocks to swim to beach shore to sunbathe. Do not come for snorkeling ~ waves are consistently intense for incredible windsurfing & surfing to watch. Bathrooms, rinsing showers, parking is crowded. Upper lot for panoramic view ;)

If you like, looking at sea turtles, this is the place to go when you are in Maui. There are so many turtles on the beach. You will absolutely crap your pants. This is worth stopping in for a few minutes if you were driving that Hannah highway!

TURTLES! So my kids are currently too young for us to go snorkeling with them, so one of my goals to see turtles lying on the beach and this is definitely the spot! By law, you have to be at least 10 feet away from the turtles, but they roped off the area as well, so you can't get too close to them, but they're certainly all visible basking on the sun, and coming in and out of the water. They hang out near big rocks, so you can easily mistake them for rocks initially! I assume this is one of the best places to ensure seeing a turtle, since the staff at the Maui Ocean Center also told me that this beach would be a guaranteed sighting. Otherwise, the waves are a bit too rough to play in the water. For that reason, it's also a popular site for local surfers. Sand was soft though, and my kids played for a while. They do have bathrooms and rinse off areas.

My Dad passed away on the mainland last night. So to honor his memory, we brought a yellow lei to the sea to set it free on the waves in the surf. Another way to say Goodbye.

We stopped here on our first night to watch the sunset and it was amazing. Parking was easy and there were lots of families with little kids wading in the water. The waves were lapping softly and the night turned beautiful golds to blues to purples. It was the perfect way to start off our vacation. Several days later we stopped here on our road to Hana and the whole beach was speckled with TURTLES! We had thought they were rocks! It was fun to watch the surfers as well. Great beach with lots of activity.

Ho'okipa Beach Park is renowned for its world-class windsurfing conditions, attracting professional windsurfers from all corners of the globe. Here's what you need to know: Windsurfing Paradise: If you're a windsurfing enthusiast, this beach is your playground. The waves here can be dramatic and impressive, providing an epic experience for both riders and spectators. Picture colorful sails catching the trade winds against a backdrop of azure waters. Turtle Encounters: Keep your eyes peeled for Hawaii's green sea turtles (honu). They often make appearances near the shore. These gentle creatures are a symbol of good luck and longevity. Tide Pools: For families with curious kids, the tide pools at Ho'okipa are a delight. Little explorers can discover a world of marine life, including tiny fish darting about. It's an educational and fun experience. Swimming Considerations: While Ho'okipa's waves are exhilarating for windsurfers, they make swimming challenging. The water can be rough, so it's not ideal for leisurely dips. However, the beach's natural beauty compensates for this limitation. Local Vibe: The park area attracts friendly locals who hang out and enjoy the scenery. They won't bother you but might share a smile or a nod. In summary, Ho'okipa Beach sets the windsurfing stage with its epic waves, offers glimpses of sea turtles, and invites families to explore its tide pools. While it may not be the most tranquil swimming spot, its unique features make it a must-visit on Maui's coastline. ‍

We had missed this one in our last trip 7 years back. Worth coming here. Folks who love surfing, this is possibly one of the best spot for surfers ( boards/ wind / kite) , you name it and there was all kind of surfing we saw. The waves looked amazing. Another biggest crowd puller is turtle landing ashore. It's super famous for it. There is plenty of parking in the upper parking lot and on the way to beach downhill cards were parked along the road. There were probably hundreds of them. Loved watching their flapping/ entering in and out of water and sunbathing session. 5there are showers and restrooms. And benches in shades which are very convenient! The beach itself is not sprawling big and waves were crashing pretty close to But overall one of the best locations to stop by and watch the famous Hawaiian leatherbacks!

Beautiful beach but the thoughtless rude tourists ruined my day. How do you not see the ropes and signs telling you to stay on your side and not harass the resting turtles?! They need to post someone there to issue fines and tickets for these horrible tourists. No wonder the turtle population there is a small fraction of what we saw when we came here for the first time more than 10 years ago. Each year we see fewer and fewer turtles. So sad.

There are many turtles lying on the beach to enjoy sunshine. It was interesting and fun to watch them! Good park with clean bathroom, water service to rinse off sand, and cute shades to do bbq.

Beautiful beach park with a lot of turtles on the beach. It is one of the earlier stops on the road to Hana if you're starting off on the west side near Kihei. Definitely well worth the stop as there are nice photo spots of the beach and cliff sides as well as lots of turtles lounging and coming from the sea. We came on a slightly windy and cloudy day and it was still very nice. Highly recommend making this stop.

Very nice area to see sea turtles! Parking is limited and locals can get defensive about spots so our driver suggested parking up top and walking down on the side of the road to get to beach access. Keep your space from the turtles! Everyone kept a good space from them and took pictures/enjoyed the view.

SO MANY TURTLES! I am not a beach goer. I do not like sitting on the sand while the sun dehydrates me. I do not like going into the water because it is always too cold. But I came because I was promised turtles and there were SO MANY TURTLES. The turtles all lay in an area that is roped off on the sand. I made sure to stay behind the ropes (my photos make it look like I am super close, but that is because my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has a zoom strong enough to peer into your soul) Parking is free and seemed pretty plentiful when we arrived on a Saturday around noon. There are bathrooms and showers but I didn't check those out. We literally drove all the way here, stomped across the sand in running shoes, spent 10min taking pictures and videos of the turtles, then left.

TURTLES!!! A stop along the Road to Hana, the first for many tours. There is lots of parking, but given the fact that it is used for surfing, swimming, and lots of tours stop here it does fill up pretty fast. Ok back to turtles. Once you go down the stairs to the beach go to your right and there at the end of the beach will be turtles. Note: it is roped off so do not cross it. Though it does get crowded most are just there for a quick stop for Road to Hana so if you are staying to enjoy the beach you should have plenty of room to yourself to relax and enjoy. There are lifeguards on station. There is an outdoor shower and bathrooms up the stairs and pavilions to sit down and just enjoy the view.

Do it for the turtles! We were simply taking in the view when another beachgoer leaned over to us and pointed the turtles out among the rocks. Easy to miss as they camouflage right into the tide pool, but once you see them, you see ALL of them... Everywhere. Parking available on the side lot beyond the actual beach, near the cliffside above the rocks. We actually enjoyed the cliff area more than the beach. No swimming here, only sightseeing and turtle-watching. May need hiking sandals or sneakers as the dirt path can be crumbly. The beach side has ample parking, but is packed with families and surfers. Large gazebo with benches for get-togethers and a restroom along the side. The stretch of sand is small, and the shore is dotted with rocks. More ideal for surfers and bodyboarders who are going further into the ocean. We decided against swimming here but enjoyed watching various athletes perform tricks on the waves.

Beautiful. Not a lot of turtles right now but maybe I should of come not as early. I think they come out late during the day.

How I dreamed of meeting turtles . This park perfect place to meet this beautiful turtles!

After hearing about my brother's amazing sea turtle adventures at the lagoon in Honolulu, I nearly lost hope to see a sea turtle since I can't swim and won't take the risk to wade out into the ocean to try to find a swimming sea turtle. When all hope seemed lost, boy was I glad I researched Yelp in advance for THE best place to see nearly guaranteed sea turtles!!! Apparently hoards of sea turtles faithfully come to beach out EVERY day 1-2 hrs before sunset to this exact location! What a treat! We came around 5 pm and sure enough, the sea turtles were hanging out just waiting to be seen by us! They look like giant rocks until you look a little closer or until one of them starts to move! It's too bad that you can't get closer to see them since they have made a line of no crossing and have a turtle staff member present to protect the turtles, but it's understood that it is important to make sure the turtles are safe and happy. There were probably about 100 turtles beaching themselves out! There is a view on the beach level and one on the upper level to view. I felt like it was easier to see the turtles from on top bc you can get a tad closer from that angle. This is definitely a must see stop and on the road to Hana (which we didn't do). It's great because you can avoid the long drive and windy areas of the hana road if all you want to do is see the turtles. It's also super duper close to mamas fish house so we were able to stop by after we ate there!

Surfers and turtles galore! This isn't a beach you want to go swimming at, but there are generally lots of sea turtles sunning on the beach and the waves are HUGE. It's a great spot to watch surfers catch a wave.

Hookipa Beach is also known as the turtle beach, and the mornings are the optimal time to enjoy its beauty. Keep an eye out for Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles that bask in the morning on the shoreline, I've encountered a few dozens and they look like rocks from far away.

Turtles!! If you want to see turtles then this is the spot for you! Sunbathing and enjoying themselves we saw maybe 30 turtles just laying in the sand

On the way to Paia and Mama's Fish House, we stopped by Hookipa Beach Park to see the waves and enjoy why Maui is No Ka Oi. It was definitely nice to see the ocean and why we do live in Hawaii. Hookipa Beach Park is known for its priceless beauty and a prime surf spot known to locals. My friend and I drove up here to quickly see the action. The waves hitting the beach let me know that Maui is home away from home, even though home was on Oahu. With that said, we arrived here around 11:15am and probably sat on the beach for around 30 minutes before heading to Paia for a birthday lunch reservation. It was nice to be outside and on Maui, even if it was just a weekend. It felt like a mini vacation of sorts, away from home. The parking was crowded and finding parking was tough, but we found one on the end of the parking lot row. We ended up finding a spot to sit down, but the sun was relentless that day, and we tried to find shade instead of sitting in the car. Finding some shade was tough, but we did by the entrance of the parking lot. Not much in terms of people watching and seeing the breaking waves, but there was some scenery involved. It was beautiful to hear the waves crashing against the beach over and over. It was cool to see people coming and going. It was a nice day to go to the beach on Maui for sure. The overall experience here at the Hookipa Beach Park on Maui was quite exquisite and soul enriching. Any time I get to be near the water's edge is quite awesome. My friend actually had some beach towels in the trunk of her car, so we used that to sit on as we killed time. Nature as its finest. Quite therapeutic and awesome at the same time. The best thing was that public beaches are generally free of admission, which is always a good thing. For the most part though, 30 minutes here at Hookipa Beach Park on Maui helped me put things into perspective and made me happy that I am born and raised in Hawaii. As I celebrate a new birthday in 2023, its quite nice to be able to sit here on the beach and think about what's certainly would be a great year ahead. We walked on the beach for a bit, even in street shoes, I got a bit of sand in my shoes. I had to get it out before getting back into the car, which wasn't too bad. Since this beach is a popular one, best thing to do is to come here early enough to get good parking. If you are in the area and love the beach life, consider coming to this one during your time on Maui. It might be the best thing you do while on vacation here on Maui. Hookipa Beach Park is situated near Paia, Maui. Great spectacular views for sure. As mentioned before, there's no admission charged here, so you can come and go as you please. Best bet would be to come before or after sunrise or sunset to catch Mother Nature's show. As far as parking goes, there's limited parking here, so you'd be wise to come here early enough to secure a good spot. Hookipa Beach park is awesome for many ocean sports, but best to be careful, so you don't end up in a situation where things can happen and then you're in trouble. Plenty of spots to post up an umbrella with chairs and make it a day on the beach. If you are like me, I am not sure if the Maui Bus stops near here, but there is route 35 that goes along Hana Hwy into Haiku, I think. Plan accordingly and you'll be in the ocean in no time. There's always Uber/Lyft available if you need the service. But rental cars are great too. 5.0 stars for the overall experience. Support local! A+

Ho'okipa Beach is the place to go if you're wanting too see some Sea Turtles on the beach. The turtles usually can be seen mid to late afternoons, on the far right side of the beach near the rocks. The area is roped off to allow space for the turtles, but still allows plenty of clear views for turtle watching. Waves at this beach are typically higher, which makes this not a good place to snorkel, but a great spot for surfing.

Great beach, very beautiful. Super rocky (which can be sharp and dangerous). Lots of locals. Some are nice, some less friendly. I was hoping to see turtles, but no luck. Parking less available. Bathrooms closed but porta potties available.

This is one of the spots that one of the apps told me I should stop at. There is a parking lot off the road with plenty of spaces in it, but I can imagine doing peak times it fills up. I enjoyed my stop here, I got out and stretched my legs, I took a couple of pictures. Watched the waves of the Pacific Ocean, very relaxing, it's a nice beach. I had a whole day to do and 14 other scenic stops. I didn't spend a whole lot of time here. I definitely recommend stopping here and snapping a couple of pictures for your photo album.

Best beach to see turtles! They're always some hanging out in the corner on the sand, even when it's midday. There's a rock barrier to give the turtles some space, but the tourists did not care, and walked right up to the turtles, which made me upset. They need a better system to protect the turtles. The beach is good for surfing, not so much swimming. The waves can get pretty scary. The bathrooms were closed and the closest bathrooms were nasty portable ones pretty far down the beach. But it's a beach so what can you expect.

I like turtles !!! Great beach with sea turtles everywhere...beautiful coral everywhere easy snorkeling close to shore

Great beach to check out when you are in Paia, the turtles are usually sunning themselves on the beach, especially in the hot afternoon sun. It's a beautiful area and you can enjoy the scene.

A tropical ocean view that will have your soul flying high! You have to stop here and watch the surfers, take in the waves crashing on the beach or rocks... feel the ocean mist against your face. The view is inspiring, relaxing and just filled with awe. You can stand on the hill and look out over the rocks and ocean, you can climb down into the cove and get up close and personal, or you can head over to the beach and enjoy life as a surfer. This is just one of those place that reminds you that nature is fantastic!

World famous for its waves, many come here to watch the surfers, wind surfers, body boarders..... and the turtles. You'll always find a big group of turtles basking in the sun here and it's quite the tourist attraction. Please, do not go near them. We come here for the tide pools. Further down the way the coral reef creates a protective barrier from the waves and forms large tide pools. The calm pools are perfect for the kiddos to enjoy and swim! Lots of families come here to bring their keiki and it's shallow enough to give you peace of mind as they enjoy the water. If you look close enough, you may even get lucky and find a pretty shell or two ;) The tables are closed off at the moment, but the showers are still available for use.

Came here for the turtles, and there are a few, but don't expect to be able to get close to them due to rocks and the law! This is a perfect surfing beach as the waves are pretty killer. Pretty busy and more of the locals come here. Overall, a pretty cool beach.

Absolute must if you want to have a chance at seeing sea turtles in their natural habitat. The lookout is also gorgeous. The beach is kinda busy but well worth the visit morning or afternoon.

What can I say? It's a beach so it gets 5 stars. Just kidding. This is an awesome beach with picnic table, wash stations, east hike down to the beach and you get to see sea turtles. Do I need to say anymore? We saw the turtles on the beach and occasionally you can see glimpse of them when they put their heads up while swimming in the water.

Such a nice beach to stop by when you're in the area. Plenty of parking at the viewpoint or down at the beach. It is a bit crowded and that's probably due to the turtles laying on the sand which brings in lots of tourist. There is a barrier in the sand which limits people from going to close to the turtles I haven't tried swimming but water is pretty calm which makes it great for all ages.

The place to go if you'd like to spot Sea Turtles in Maui. We drove up here after a somewhat disappointing drive the day prior from our attempt to drive to a Black sand and red sand beach through the famous (or infamous, depends on the way you see it) "road to hana"...which led to some exhausted and almost throwing up faces due to the 578 left and right turns to get there...we only did half the drive then turned around before the vomit meter filled over. So the next day, trying to be a bit more optimistic, we decided to venture out to Ho'okipa beach park after a few Googles and Trip Advisor reviews of spotting sea turtles on the said beach. The drive wasn't as winding as per Google maps, and wasn't as far...so we decided to give it another shot. We arrived at the beach park, and immediately were greeted by big waves, a nice beach, but no turtles...everyone in the car was about to ask me for a refund (my wife and kids), until a nice local who probably noticed our disappointment told us to just walk a little further up past the restrooms towards the end corner and we'll see a bunch of sea turtles hanging out. We're so glad someone actually said something because we would've driven back to our hotel defeated, and pissed off with Maui returning the heart of Te fiti... Just a short walk up towards the end of the view point are a bunch of sea turtles for our viewing pleasure...we counted atleast 30+. Some were blending in like rocks, and others fresh off the beach crawling in to relax, and the rest on just swimming in from the beach to join the gang...a pretty awesome experience! We stayed for a little and admired the view. I tried to help me kids name the turtles, but they didn't understand why I'd name it Michael Angelo and Donatello so I gave up. Nevertheless, we're so glad we got to see these fellas and had a blast!

What a great place to stop in to watch the surfers! What these surfers do I would drown, sure did enjoy the show! Before we knew it we where there watching the surfers for 3 hours! You can also see the sea turtles coming in to the beach to rest. Admire the sea turtles (honu)from a distance, fines can be very steep if caught getting to close. $5000 to $50,000 or higher depending on the severity of the offence. The sea turtles (honu) are a very protected on the Hawaiian Islands so show some respect and take pictures from a distance. We did and have some wonderful pictures to take home to show off back home. It's a must stop, parking lot is one way in and one way out, obey the signs life will be so much easier. Yes there was a white mustang coming in the exit, this guy must have just gotten his license and can't see the huge sign saying one way! LOL Local surfer with a big truck with a line of vehicles behind him would not let him go any further, was fun to watch. We had our entertainment for the day! Now off to our next adventure!!

What a nice spot to watch surfers surf big waves, and see sea turtles sun bathe, as well as cows chilling in the fields. The environment is not really conducive to family fun swimming even for the brave. Too many rocks and the environment is just not swim friendly but rather good for checking out the surfers who frequent and are familiar with the area. 5 stars for an excellent spot to come check out though. Aloha!

After the best meal at Mama's Fish house a mile away sits a small beach with such hidden local treasures! PLEASE PLEASE RESPECT the wildlife and STAY 6FT AWAY. As long as you respect the Hawaiian life these creatures and many more will pop up for every traveler. If your on a hunt for some sea turtles this is a hidden gem. With a parking lot with in a short walk you will stumble upon a beautiful beach and rocks... nope a mountain of turtles. If your lucky you will see them take a swim and a Hawaiian stroll to sun bathe on the beach.

A great spot for surfing and also to see turtles. First major tourist attraction on the road to Hana. Getting Parking is always difficult due to it's popularity an huge crowd. Restrooms were not so clean and same goes with the beach too. But a recommended place for some great ocean views.

Easy in and out, benches. great sunsets. Facilities and Lots of Honu. Please keep your distance!

We saw a million sea turtles camouflaging with the rocks on the beach! This was at about 4pm. We came back at 7am and there were still several turtles there. While we were enjoying the turtles, the life guards had people evacuate the water because there was a shark!

This was our first of many stops along the road to Hana and it was one of my favorites. We came just as the sun was rising to get an early start before the crowds which was a good idea. It was gorgeous at sunrise. I was memorized by the giant waves. I could have stayed to watch the waves all day, but there were so many more stops along the road to Hana. This was my favorite white sand beach we went to in Hawaii. If you like surfing, this would be a great place to do it. If not, just sit back, relax, and enjoy the waves.

This park was recommended by a local. He told us that this was the place to see turtles and it didn't disappoint. We stopped by on our way back from Hana. The parking was free and plenty of spots available. We saw what we were looking for, turtles! The park has a lot of shaded picnic tables and there are a number of lifeguards on duty. I don't recommend this to be a swimming or snorkel spot. It's more of a place for surfers and windsurfers. The waves can be very high and current strong. Highly recommended!

Cool spot where you can visit the overlook at the top and enjoy a stunning view. Then go down towards the beach and find the sea turtles hanging out on the sand. Make sure you don't cross the line marked by rocks! Besides that, great beach to swim in!

Popular spot for tourists to come and see sunbathing sea turtles. We got there in the early afternoon and while it was a little busy, it wasn't totally packed and got to see about a dozen turtles hanging out on the beach. There's a rock walling off where they bathe so you can only get so close but it was fun to see them. The area where the turtles are is pretty busy with people hanging out but if you want to stay awhile just go more west down the beach, it was basically vacant. Parking wasn't an issue, but there is plenty of it if you keep going down the lot (the turtles are on the east side near the entrance so most people park there). It was sprinkling on and off and mostly overcast so we decided to go back to the south part of the island where it was sunny. Had we stayed to lounge we would have definitely gone to the west part of the beach and basically have it to ourselves. There's some tide pools you can relax in. Lots of surfers just out where the turtles lay so you can watch them a bit too while you're here. Overall cool place to see plenty of turtles, watch some surfers and to relax pretty privately on the west end of the beach. Not sure if the weather is always a little more rainy/overcast but seemed like it from our experience and the rest of the 7 day forecast on the weather app.

Gates close around 7 so be mindful of that. When it hits that time, you can park at the nearby pullout headed west. This spot is beautiful though. You can stay on the cliff or go to the beach.