Kapalua Bay Beach

This was by far the nicest beach for us. It was beyond beautiful. The snorkeling was safe and rewarding. Lots of sea life like eels, turtles, and a variety of fish. The water was warm and turquoise blue. Plenty of sand to call home for the day. Close bathrooms, showers. There are some paid parking spots available close by. There is also paid parking across the street @ $10 for 3 hours or $15/day. You pay with your smartphone.

Great beach! Seemed like parking could be tight but never had a problem because we got there in the morning. I swam a couple of times out here with my 8 y/o son and the waves never got very big compared to other beaches we went to. Saw a lot of fish especially along the one side of the bay where there was a lot of coral that hadn't been trampled on

A pristine beach with breathtaking views! There are day use rentals & great shore snorkeling with a variety of fish, coral and several large sea turtles. Parking ranges from $18-$20 if there’s no free street parking-it’s a paved five minute path to the beach with nice permanent restrooms with outdoor running water to clean your Sandals etc Definitely check it out!

Very nice beach with excellent snorkeling. Decent amount of parking, but it can fill up toward the middle of the day so I’d recommend coming earlier rather than later. Street parking is free if you can find a spot, and the parking lot is pretty expensive at $33 for a day pass (the only option). The Kapalua Coastal Trail starts here as well and is an extremely nice out-and-back trail that follows the pacific coast. Very nice bathroom that is well-maintained and clean. This is a must-visit spot if you are in the area.

Beautiful little beach, easy access, expensive parking. You have to pay for a day pass, with tax is over $30. We hung out for several hours and had a great time, felt like it was worth it. I snorkeled the whole bay, saw several turtles, a ton of fish, an eel, and supposedly someone saw an octopus. My kids played in the sand and the waves. Plenty of nice beach for them without coral or lava rock too close to tear them up. Just out from the beach there is lots of coral for exploring. Really cool spot. It was pretty crowded when we go there, but it cleared out when it rained (I didn’t even know it was raining because I was snorkeling lol). We will probably go back here if in the area.

We got a condo down in Kihei - about 40 minute drive to this beach - and ended up on this beach 3 out of the 8 days we were here as this is the best beach we've gone to! It being a bay is very safe, the beach is great for kids to play in, and snorkeling is phenomenal. We recommend that you don't park in the lot by the beach - 40.00 bucks I think, but try to find a spot along the road right next to the lot OR park at the tennis courts above the road where parking is 15 for the whole day. Definitely a beach worth a try!

Beautiful location. Snorkeling is awesome hear. Swim with the fishes, the eels and the turtles! Please take care of the coral and treat the area, land and ocean with respect! It rained all morning at this visit! Still amazing Snorkeling!!!

Further north along the coast of Maui sits Kapalua Bay, a beautiful bay with a nice but small beach and decent snorkeling options. The journey to the beach was a bit long as parking is a bit of a walk out and even more so if you choose not to pay for parking (we are cheap so we didn’t). The walk itself is pretty and the path is nice with a wash off area included at the entrance point where there are bathrooms as well. The beach itself is on the smaller side than others so finding a spot may take an early arrival or patience as a whole. The water is clear although when we went further out the visibility was not as good as it was the days prior at Black Rock Beach. As for snorkeling specifically, the fish variety was alright and the lower visibility, although not terrible, certainly didn’t grant as much fun as we had hoped. Unfortunately as mentioned before, if the snorkeling isn’t good then there isn’t much else going for the beach as it is a bit smaller and crowded. If we had to label it as something we would call it more of a lounging beach, a relaxing place to enjoy the view and waves. We could have just had bad luck with snorkeling that day so that’s something to note as others may have had a different experience. Nevertheless, it’s a beach. Go out and enjoy the waves!

Kapalua beach is fantastic. So so with the snorkeling, awesome vibe. Parking is a bit of a hassle but manageable.

Further north along the coast of Maui sits Kapalua Bay, a beautiful bay with a nice but small beach and decent snorkeling options. The journey to the beach was a bit long as parking is a bit of a walk out and even more so if you choose not to pay for parking (we are cheap so we didn't). The walk itself is pretty and the path is nice with a wash off area included at the entrance point where there are bathrooms as well. The beach itself is on the smaller side than others so finding a spot may take an early arrival or patience as a whole. The water is clear although when we went further out the visibility was not as good as it was the days prior at Black Rock Beach. As for snorkeling specifically, the fish variety was alright and the lower visibility, although not terrible, certainly didn't grant as much fun as we had hoped. Unfortunately as mentioned before, if the snorkeling isn't good then there isn't much else going for the beach as it is a bit smaller and crowded. If we had to label it as something we would call it more of a lounging beach, a relaxing place to enjoy the view and waves. We could have just had bad luck with snorkeling that day so that's something to note as others may have had a different experience. Nevertheless, it's a beach. Go out and enjoy the waves!

We found the beach when walking the Kapalua Coastal Trail and my husband was determined to come back to snorkel. The beach was packed! Definitely a busy spot. We were able to snag a spot for two on the beach. My husband found the water here to be great for snorkeling. I didn't like the amount of rocks you have to navigate entering from the beach. It's definitely a well-maintained area though. Tons of rental options if you're looking for umbrellas or ocean gear. There is parking you can pay for nearby or try and find a space on the street.

Beautiful beach which is accessible from the walking path all along the resorts! If the weather was nice, this path way is awesome as well as those beach spots are just amazing!! For swimming, snorkeling, chilling or sunbathing! All are good in this beach! Highly recommended! ;) Cheers

Even though there was limited parking in the lot, there was places to park along the road, which gave us easy access to the beach with a short walk. At the beach, there was plenty of snorkeling and a bountiful of fish. Saw all different kinds of species and was also able to see a lot of anemone and two sea turtles! Would come back to this beautiful beach. Also, if you're a parent with a toddler, this beach is great. The waves are minimal and there are shallow sections that won't totally destroy them. Have fun!

Great mellow beach! Beautiful sand. Semi secluded alcove type shape. Turtles!! Lots of fish to see whilst snorkeling. And if you do it right you can find a shady spot on the north end (which by the way is where we saw the turtles). They have paddle board rentals and outdoor shower to clean off the sea water. Very easy to walk to from the parking lot. Here's the thing... if you don't come super early, it's quite difficult to find parking in the lot. We ended up parking a block or so south of the beach lot on the main drag.

We walked the Kapalua Bay trail which crosses flat volcanic rock. Majestic points and views. At one end we stopped by this beach.

A few days ago, my party went on a snorkeling trip to lanai, ultimately the snorkeling out there didn't turn out to be very great. There didn't seem to be a large variety of fish, and the ocean that day was not very clear. So today, we thought we would find a random beach and try some more snorkeling. Boy did we pick right! Kapuloa beach was perfect. It's in a little cove so the waves aren't too crazy, allowing for snorkeling. The water was very clear, there were tons of fish, and we even saw three sea turtles! The beach itself is also quite nice. The sand itself wasn't actually sand. It was more like really thin gravel, made up of black, white, and sand colored rocks. It was beautiful Next time I come to Hawaii I'm going to skip the expensive boat trip and just come snorkeling here

Still love this beach 25 plus years later after getting Maui's on the point above the beach. Spent 3 of 6 days there middle of August. Still as beautiful, worth a trip or two. No sure why the closed notice...gaslighting???

I have lots of love for Maui but this beach wasn't it for us. The cons: - the parking lot is tiny (only has 20 spots or so), always full, and everyone is circling waiting for someone to leave. you can try to find parking on the main road before the parking lot but those were all taken as well. you can park at the golf course across the street but they charge you $10 per car. if you come on a weekend or during peak hours, be prepared to add an extra 30 minutes of wasting your time looking for parking, actually parking, then walking over. - Unless you are staying in a hotel or condo nearby, it's difficult to get to. From the parking lot, you have to walk about 5-7 minutes to get to the start of the beach. Add more minutes, depending on where you want to settle down on the beach. Not convenient if you have young kids, strollers, or a ton of stuff to carry. - the beach barely has any shade so be prepared to bring your own umbrella and chairs. the sand gets hot in the sun. - there is no bathroom on the beach so make sure to pee before you head over. only a small bathroom at the entrance of the parking lot. It's a beach, nothing special. Would not return unless staying nearby.

This beach hits several great marks. I think everyone should visit this beach at some point if you come to Maui!! -Snorkeling - decent number of fish, and my husband and I were able to see 2 sea turtles within the 20 mins we snorkeled!!! Amazing!!!! We were located in a cove, so the current was not very strong, and wind not strong either. Great conditions for snorkeling. However the water was quite cold in my opinion (we came in December), not an easy jump in the water if you know what I mean. -Beach - the beach is on the smaller side, felt a little crowded, but we were able to find a good spot on a Sunday, and we arrived around 10am. There were still lots of other spots available too. Sand is also very soft, and on the slightly damper side, so comfortable! The views were great too, with Merriman's restaurant on your left, nice palm trees to your right, and a nice modern 5 star hotel to your backside. It's a great place to relax, even if you're not into snorkeling. -Parking - they had a pretty convenient parking lot, which is $10/day, and you pay through a QR code. However, I guess Sundays are free, so take advantage of this! -Bathrooms - pretty close on site, and pretty clean considering. There was no soap in the dispenser, but I'd honestly rather have no soap than no toilet paper and liners!!! Overall beautiful beach, loved it, and you will too.

This beach is wide and well maintained, and it's connected to few resorts. It's very convenient for travelers to go straight from room to beach, and the water is shallow and clear, good condition for swimming and snorkeling.

Such a hidden gem for snorkelers. I was so glad that the employee at Auntie Snorkel recommended this spot. The waters here are calm and protected since it is in a cove. Such a perfect spot. 20 parking spots, means less people on the beach! Not really. Everyone staying nearby and parking along the golf course tends to draw lots of people to this lovely cove. Everyone is respectful of the space since there isn't much shoreline. I brought my own equipment, but they have a tent for rentals.

My goal for Maui was to snorkel a bunch, and this was my favorite beach I found on this trip. Great variety of fish and depths, easily accessible from shore. I wouldn't call it the best family beach, for the same reason. More rock and coral than sandy.

This was my first trip to Hawaii and I was impressed with the local beaches. There are so many beautiful places on the island of Maui, one of which is just off Kapalua. This beach has a rich marine world starting from the shore. Personally, that was a plus for me, as I'm pretty wary of the water and everything inside of it. But on Kapalua Beach, I felt at ease. The area itself looks nice and clean. They have some facilities that you can rent. It's a great addition to a good vacation!

Nice little beach with restrooms. In a cove so the waves were not bad. Many people snorkeling. Rental shark had anything you could want on the beach to rent. wonderful walking trail to "dragons tooth"

One of the most beautiful beaches I've been able to experience while traveling. The sands are clean, the walk down to the beach is easy for all ages, and the view is just amazing. Be careful getting into the water as there are a lot of rocks and the tide can be strong. I would recommend this beach for anyone spending time in Maui.

One of my favorite beaches on Maui. The snorkeling here is great and you can snorkel right off the beach. There is a snorkel gear rental or you can bring your own. There are often times sea turtles here as well. I didn't see any this time around, but the last trip I took here I saw them almost immediately. The parking fills up quickly. My husband and I arrived at 8am and there was still plenty of parking, but the longer you wait the harder it will be. The beach also gets quite busy and it can be difficult to find a spot away from others especially the later you come.

The shop, Aqualani, warrants attention from city officials or the government due to concerns about the perceived sneakiness in their profit-making strategies. The beach is beautiful, with a great atmosphere perfect for spending time with my family. We enjoyed six hours on the beach and even spotted turtles. However, at a small shop, there were individuals, possibly from nearby hotels, charging a whopping 75 dollars for an umbrella and two chairs. There were no signs or displayed prices, so be cautious as these people might take advantage of unsuspecting tourists and engage in dishonest pricing for rentals. Despite this, I did meet some wonderful people in Hawaii, but it's important to stay alert to avoid potential rip-offs

Beautiful area to swim, snorkel, and enjoy the beach in Maui. Parking is difficult but you can try the parking lot or park on the street if you get lucky. There are lots of things to see if you are snorkeling, especially fish and reefs. A great place to enjoy what you came to Maui for - sun, sand and fun!

One of my favorite beaches in Maui! If you're not staying within the Kapalua Resort good luck finding parking. The small parking lot was full at 7am on a Tuesday in July.Thankfully we were able to take the shuttle to and from so we never had to fight traffic. The beach can get smaller depending on the tide and some people camp out in the grass in front of the Montage. It's very rocky so be careful getting in and out of the water. Once you're in the water it's like a whole new world. There is such much sea life under water! We saw turtles everyday for a week. Small turtles, big turtles, swimming turtles, turtles on the beach. They were everywhere.

Fantastic beginner snorkeling! Lots of colorful fish and multiple sea turtle encounters. Parking isn't bad if you get there early (before 830 or so). Free parking just past the Merrimans pay parking, or can park on the street. Napili Bay is literally next door through the napili kai resort, same parking. Super easy coral to navigate. Loved the accessibility and wasn't super crowded while we were here. Public bathrooms available at the parking lot and also the access the coastal trail is there too

Nice place to swim A real family place lots of young family's Parking is free in some areas but there is $10 Parking as well 5 min walk too that bay

Best placed to get "Maui'D" at Kapalua Bay... beautiful beach and views are breath taken! can't wait to go visit again! Aloha!!

This beach was our favorite in all of Maui. Reefs are close to the beach (you can see tons of fish and turtles) and the beach is enclosed on both sides (so there isn't many high waves). Sand was very fine and wonderful. The only downside is really parking. Highly recommended for you to come here early in the morning.

Great place to snorkel with lots of colorful fish and a few turtles! Go early in the morning, before 8am to beat the crowds. There's a small parking lot with free parking and street parking near the tennis courts. They have bathrooms, showers, and a rental booth. The right side has more fish and the far end on the right side has the best reef.

Probably my favorite of Maui's westside beaches. The sand is soft and the water is calm and family friendly. Lots of snorkeling opportunities here! The sunset views could be one of the best on the westside here. Cons: Small free parking lot for its popularity. Main road parking is available (depending on timing) or you can pay $10 in an adjacent lot for convenience. Some areas are a bit rocky at the shoreline.

Kapalua beach is a nice sandy beach situated in a small tight bay, almost a cove. The waves break just out past the mouth of the bay making getting in snd out of the water pretty easy. After just a few feet of sand you are right away into reef with fish to see while snorkeling however the real treasure comes by swimming out a bit and along the right side of the bay. A virtual reef garden with even quite a bit of live coral to see and hundreds of fish. Nice visibility and pretty shallow. Had a few turtle encounters as well. This is a nice beach and an easy snorkeling spot sure to delight. There was a bit of a surge, not bad at all and not a deterrent. Parking around the beach access is not plentiful and fills up fast so plan to show up early.

I walk my dogs here everyday and have watched beautiful Kapalua beach slide from one of the top beaches in the country into a complete mess! There are 3, yes 3 different types of fencing all useless at keeping people off the dune planting; from blue wooden fencing, to rope strung ineffectually between poles and the worst offender the bright orange plastic fencing. This orange plastic is shedding into the sea causing havoc with the marine life. I pick it up off the sandy beach and when snorkeling in the water all the time and it is depressing and upsetting to see. I have had to swim out during storms when large sections of plastic fencing break free and are in the surf threatening wildlife (turtles, monk seals which are endangered, sharks, eels, fish, coral, so much marvelous marine life). Not only is it endangering marine animals it is also an eyesore on one of the most wonderfully scenic Maui beaches, which is off putting to tourists and locals alike. It won't win any places on a beautiful beach list now! Yes we have to save the dunes to stave off beach erosion, but a plastic fence isn't going to help, it makes it worse. Can whoever put the fences up please take the orange plastic one down before it causes any further damage. Take the fraying broken rope one down too and continue the blue wooden fence to protect the dunes. Stop littering the beach everyone enjoys so much! Let's turn Kapalua beach back into the beautiful place it was before!!

Kapalua Bay is one of the easier areas to snorkel on Maui IMO. If the ocean is calm (like early morning) other than a few rocks, entry is easy and the bay is protected. We almost always see turtles and an eel or two. Other than snorkeling I don't find it to be a beach I like to spend time at; too rocky. I like to walk the Kapalua trail, snorkel at Kapalua, then head on over the Napili Bay for a beach day. But for snorkeling Kapulua wins hands down.

In A Nutshell: -Kapalua Beach is okay due to the fact that it's very small & it can get very crowded fast. -It's highly recommended that you stake out a spot on the beach very early, like 8am or even earlier. -I enjoyed walking the trail along the water. -There are plenty of grass areas to do some HIIT workouts or burpees. -There is a small bathroom available, in addition to showers by the beach to rinse off. -Parking will be tough & you may need to pay $15 at Merriman's parking lot or the golf course parking lot across the road. Overall, this is a good place go to early in the morning to get some steps & exercise in while enjoying the beautiful view.

This was such a pretty beach to visit! Parking is a bit limited, so be warned. A lot of people were parking on the street. We went a bit later to catch the sunset, so I was able to get a spot on their lot as some people were already leaving. The current was pretty strong so we opted not to swim in the beach, but it was still a very pretty view! There's a hotel right by this and there's a walkway taking you to a grassy area up on top. It was super peaceful and the perfect spot to watch the sunset.

Speechless! The view is spectacular and great for snorkeling to see the sea turtles. Often a beautiful rainbow over the sea. Must visit!

This is a great accessible place to snorkel. The water aren't as crazy because it's a bay. I didn't go too far and was able to swim with sea turtles!

To be fair, I rate beaches on the five things I look for in a "perfect beach"...because let's be honest, any beach is a "good beach". 1. Parking/Walking Distance-There is a dedicated parking lot immediately after the entrance to Merriman's. The parking lot is small and it is shared by both beach-goers and trail hikers/walkers. If you wait too late into the morning, you likely won't find a spot and will have to try for somewhere on the road. It usually picks up around 10:30-11, so GET. THERE. EARLY. The walk to the beach is easy and short. Hop down a few stairs, go through the "tunnel" and there you are at the south end of the bay. (.5 point) 2. The Beach-There's a decent amount of "beach", but the area isn't very wide, which is a plus because there's not much chance of someone sitting in front of you blocking your view. But when there are 15-20 families sprawled out all over the place, the available space diminishes quickly...especially during "normal" times when the Montage has their guests chairs out as well. The sand is very soft, but does have a lot of debris (sticks, leaves, etc.) which is ultimately personal preference, but I don't particularly enjoy dodging them when walking to the water.(0 point) 3. Shoreline Entry/Exit-Because of the reef that fills most of the bay, the shoreline is typically calm and shore break isn't a problem. However, there are a lot of rocks spanning the entire area so it's best to choose to enter/exit the water where there's a sand patch. It can still be hard to get in and out safely due to the combo of soft sand and slippery rock. It's not dangerous, but not quite effortless either. (.5 point) 4. Activities-The bay offers some of the best snorkeling on the West Side. Because the reef doesn't drop off until the cove meets the ocean (which you can spot by the breaking waves), the water is typically flat. There are plenty of different types fish, some eels, always turtles...and if you're lucky, you may see one of the resident reef sharks that calls the bay "home". Enter the water on the north end and swim along the rocky edge for the best visibility. It's a safe and well protected area for swimming laps as well and, when the conditions allow for it, is an easy place to put in a SUP. (1 point) 5. Amenities-Are there restrooms and/or showers? Yep, both. Restrooms are clean and well maintained. The main shower (at the parking lot) has great pressure and is properly elevated for drainage (unlike some other area showers). There's also an additional shower at the south end of the beach if you need a quick rinse and don't want to walk up to the lot. (1 point) Overall, Kapalua Bay is a beautiful area offering great views of Moloka'i, excellent snorkeling, and clean amenities. With that said, this isn't a "beach day" beach. Between the small area of beach to sit and the abundance of people, it can be a little hectic. If you're not on the West Side, this is not the beach I would drive over for, but if you're in/near Kapalua then grab your gear, snorkel with the honu and humu's, then head next door to Napili with your chair to kick back and relax. Happy beachin'!

Amazing beach, it's like a giant swimming pool with sea life. A great spot for snorkeling and great for kids. We saw more colorful fish here than on our snorkel tour.

Probably the best snorkeling beach that I've (so far) visited on the western side of Maui. Once you get out there, its very easy to get around, even without fins (though I used a boogie board for floatation purposes). I am happy to report that the water level is safely much higher than the reefs, so as long as you're careful, you can avoid coming into contact with the gorgeous mini-reef here. The reef drops off just before the cove joins the rest of the ocean, and here, I found quite the gaggle of sea turtles. I even had to swim AWAY from them! This is a great place to go for novices, or those whose only experiences were as children, and a spectacular locale to carefully swim out solo in, as there is almost always plenty of others around if there's any trouble. As a person who hates silence, and constantly needs to be multitasking, the beauty at this reef is just astonishing enough to fully devote my attention to. I can't wait to return.

Stunning area in which to snorkle. UNFORTUNATELY a beach crew member was incredibly rude to us on March 17th. Posting a sign to block off a portion of the beach may have proven helpful rather than placing a beach chair on its side. My partner works for Fish and Game and is well educated in the area of protecting wildlife. For such a high profile beach on Maui, connected to the Montage, it appears noteworthy that crew members be polite to patrons. White privilge and ageism at its very highest. Some serious schooling in respect for others is seriously needed.

Best snorkeling experience of our entire trip. Parking is difficult and so if you can't find a spot in the parking lot or on the side of the road you can try the Kapalua golf and tennis parking lot across the street (you do have to pay $10 for 3 hours or $15 for the whole day). The water is really clear and you can see lots of fish, we even saw a few turtles! Entry in and out of the water is a breeze. We went back a second day and had a much different experience. Snorkeling report indicated rough water and a current. We watched the equipment rental employees rescue three snorkelers, the fire department took to long to get there on jet skis. Remember weather conditions can change at a moment's notice.

Kapalua Beach is wonderful Warm calm water with some of the best snorkeling you will ever see. Free beach of course next door to Merrimans The views are breathtaking There is a spot to rent snorkel gear, chairs, umbrellas etc Snorkel gear was $10 for 2 hours There is a parking lot but you must get there early to secure a parking spot. The coastal trail starts or finishes there Make it a priority if you love the beach The Ritz Carlton offers a free shuttle service

This place gets extremely crowded and I suggest you either come early, before 8 or later after 3? On our first attempt, there was no parking available. The second time, we arrived 8ish. There was plenty of parking and there was already a number of people on the beach but we had a good spot. I highly recommend this beach if you enjoy snorkeling as much as I do. On our last four days in Maui, the Hawaiian islands were hit with the King tide, meaning the currents were strong and there were huge waves all along Kanaapali. They did discourage swimming due to the rough conditions but we didn't think the waves were that strong here. I guess since this is a bay, the current wasn't as strong. We were elated to find that although there were some big waves, it was manageable, even for a novice swimmer, like myself. At first, I swam out more closer to shore. But after a few times out, I was in my element. We swam out really far, it must've been over fifty feet deep. It was so far out in fact, my fingers started stiffening from the current of cold water. We did get cut up from the rocks a bit from getting out of the when waves pushed us around. Needless to say, it was well worth it! We saw so many different corals, eels, snakes, Humuhumunukunukuapua`a, parrot fish, etc. This was one of our favorite places to snorkel, I'm certain that if it wasn't for the waves, the visibility would be better. If snorkeling isn't your thing, there's an outfitter on the beach where you can rent kayaks and SUP's, and other equipment.

This is by far my favorite beach in Maui. It's simply amazing. It's heaven for snorkeling, especially for beginners. It's super easy to enter the water from the soft sand beach and you can quickly see lots of fish near the rock area (on the right hand side of the beach). I mean, a lot of fish. I saw a lot more here than at Black Rock. It's also easy to spot sea turtles. We saw one right at the beach and swam with it for a while. I heard turtles usually come here between 11 am to 2 pm. There's not a lot of corals here. There's a beach shop where you can rent umbrellas, benches, snorkeling gears, and paddle boards. There are two showers. If parking is full, you can park across the street. $10 for three hours or $15 for the day.

Kapalua Beach, really calm, great for kids? Not in the winter time! This time we were staying in Kahana, 10 miles north of Lahaina and 4 miles north of Kaanapali, only about 3 miles from Kapalua Beach.   Packing the car for this snorkeling was a big task, including all of our snorkel gear, change of clothes, my water proof lock sack, towels to dry off, and towels for sitting on in the car.  My wife packed her wet suit as well. We drove up onto the highway at Kahana Gateway, and then took a left at the next highway exit at Napili, just before Kapalua.   Hardest part is finding the place, with all these unpronounceable street names, etc.   Once we hit Lower Honoapiilani Rd, we drove north.  Stretch of area with dozens of cars parked alongside the road, without a break.  You reach an area with the Kapalua Tennis court parking lot on the inland side, and Merrimans on the ocean side. Parking lot next to Merriman's restaurant. 845am on a Wednesday, we drive into the Kapalua Coastal Trail free public parking lot,  next to the restaurant, with only a few of the 44 parking spaces available No street parking on either side of Lower Honoapiilani road north of the parking lot for 2 miles toward Office Road, the next highway exit..   You can park in the Kapalua Tennis court parking lot, across the street, as it has over 200 spaces, and those spots closest to the beach are furthest from the courts, and never used by the tennis players, soon be filled with beach and trail visitors. We walk through the beach parking lot, to the small restrooms, and then over to the beach,  my electronic car key in my water tight lock sack in my in my zippered back swim suit pocket . Beautiful beach, in an isolated Bay, protected from the big waves, with plenty of rocks in the smooth shallows to watch the fish.  Water is green and blue, crystal clear. Classic semi circular shaped beach, broad enough for hundreds of visitors to lie down .   The wife and I head on in, and see colorful fish almost immediately.  Water is shallow enough to stand on the sand for a long distance.  Farther off the beach in the deeper waters, we see a giant Hawaiian turtle, as long as an adult human.  Now this is the time to  have had an underwater camera!   The turtle comes right up to me, takes a few sniffs of my 64 year old carcass, and goes elsewhere looking for fresher meat! An hour later, we wash off the sand in the outdoor showers, and head for the restrooms to change.  Only 1 stall for men and 2 stalls for women, and one guy rushes into the stall just before me to take a dump.   Even in paradise, the bathrooms stink! 5 minutes later I'm changing clothes out of my wet top and trunks. This time the lock sack bag works, and the electronic key is dry, with no aftereffects of being submerged in salt water for one hour. We would come here several times during our 10 day stay in mid January. However, there were high surf warnings the majority of days when we were here. Even sheltered Kapalua Beach was hit with powerful surfs, pounding the left hand edge closest to Merriman's restaurant, and making snorkeling difficult with the strong surf and swirling waters bringing up the sand from the bottom, and obscuring the waters.. We thought we could escape the effects of the Pineapple Express -a tropical river of storm after storm coming through Hawaii, and drenching California with the heaviest rainfall in over 20 years. We thought wrong.

We visited the beach located at the Montage. This is an AMAZING beach. There's literally a coral reef right when you step into the water. The sand and water are both clean and there are rental services for snorkels, chairs, etc. The water is a nice temperature and there are basically no waves, so it's a great place to bring your family! Don't forget your sunscreen!!

Was told to come out here as it was a must go to spot to check out in Maui. Parking - It is completely impossible to find parking but got lucky to catch someone leaving a ways down. Beach - Place is stunning and relaxing with amazing views, beautiful sunsets, and great area to snorkel. Its a small beach but offers plenty and very relaxing. Highly recommend checking it out and will be back on my next visit.

The beach gets crowded, but it is nice and sandy (not rocky like many in this area) and the water has been pretty calm and clear the times we have been here. We have only come in the afternoons. In the past, I had small kids with me and we stayed pretty close to the shore while swimming around for their first attempt at snorkeling. I was alone this time and had more freedom to explore. There is a lot of coral and many fish... and the calm water is pretty good for beginners. This trip, I searched most of the bay while snorkeling and found 3 sea turtles eating on the south side of the bay. I watched them eat, surface for air, eat, and play. For a long time, it was just me and the turtles swimming around. That's an automatic 5 stars from me! Parking can be a challenge, but we were staying about a mile away this time and gothere along the Kapalua Coastal Trail, which was a beautiful walk.

I love Kapalua Bay with it's sandy beach and easy access from my Napili Shores resort. It is perfect for swimming, paddle boarding or snorkeling. Sea turtles can be found swimming close to shore near the rocks on both sides. Public access to the beach is via the paved Kapalua Coastal Trail and it has a small public parking lot next door to Merriman's Restaurant which overlooks the bay. You can see the beautiful island of Molokai in the distance.

My family and I stopped by here after staying in a resort nearby. We loved discovering this beach. It was not too crowded, had great sand, and great snorkeling. As an added bonus, it had turtles all over the place. I also saw a reef shark when snorkeling out a bit further (dont worry they are not dangerous to humans)... This was one of the best beaches we went to in maui, and I would recommend this place. There is Free parking in the lot nearby. And also street parking, so we did not have trouble finding a space.

Love this bay....we stayed at the Montage and could access the bay easily. The beach is perfect and the bay is great for snorkeling. We looked into several catamaran day trips but the weather was windy and one of us gets sea sick so we opted for the bay - we were not disappointed. Got to see so many fish, all different types, sea turtles, Octopus! It was great! Highly recommend.