Our beautiful island of Maui has a magical way of making everyone feel like family during their visit. If you’re arriving with your ohana, we’ve picked out the best beaches in Maui for families to check out. Explore unique beaches around the island featuring kid-friendly swimming conditions, family-oriented atmospheres, and plenty of space for your keiki to run around.
Prep for the perfect day at the beach with beach essentials provided for guests at our One-of-a-Kind Getaway Rental, a luxury Maui vacation home just a few minutes from the nearest beach . From beach towels to beach toys, you’ll have everything you need when you arrive to drop off your bags and head directly to the beach.
Here are the best sandy shores to scurry off to!
Wailea Beach
- Wailea-Makena
- Best beach for first-time visitors.
You won’t have to venture too far around the island to find one of the best beaches in Maui for families. Your first taste of the Hawaiian beach life will be the sugary white sands at Wailea Beach, just a 13-minute drive from our One-of-a-Kind Getaway.
It’s a resort-style beach bordered by the Four Seasons and Grand Wailea that’s open to the public. It’s the perfect place to rent umbrellas and beach loungers to relax and watch the kids build sandcastles in the soft sands. Get changed in the public restrooms and bring a snack for the family to enjoy on the picnic tables.
Ka’anapali Beach
- West Shore
- Best for a beach day
Bring lots of sunscreen because you’ll log plenty of hours at Ka’anapali Beach. It’s more than just a sliver of sandy shoreline. It was developed as the island’s first beach resort area, featuring plenty of family-friendly activities to fill your day at the beach.
This three-mile-long beach has shallow water for the kiddies and snorkeling spots just off-shore. Dry off with a stroll on the Kaanapali Beach Boardwalk, then grab a bite to eat at Whalers Village, an open-air shopping complex with 90+ stores set right on the beach!
Ulua Beach
- Wailea-Makena
- Best family beach for snorkeling
A family that snorkels together stays together, and Ulua Beach ensures everybody gets a chance to explore the local underwater world. The calm waters offer the perfect conditions for beginners and experts to explore the ocean together.
The north side of the beach features a popular rocky outcrop to witness the vibrant marine life. Spot colorful tropical fish lurking in the coral reef, see large schools of fish swimming by, and even encounter our majestic sea turtles (remember to keep your distance!).
Kapalua Bay Beach
- West Maui
- Best protected bay for water fun
Voted America’s Best Beach, Kapalua Bay Beach lives up to its global reputation. You’ll have plenty of peace of mind splashing around in this protected bay. Rocky outcrops on either side of this crescent-shaped beach keep the waters calm and clear. It’s a great option if swimming with little currents and small waves. The calm water also gives excellent visibility for spotting tropical fish and other marine life swimming by your feet.
Kamaole Beach Park 3
- S Kihei Rd, Kihei, HI
- Best beach with family-friendly amenities
You only need your swimsuits and the playful spirit of Aloha when you visit Kam III because it has everything else for you onsite! Thanks to its long list of guest facilities, it’s one of the best beaches in Maui for families.
Lifeguards are on duty at the beach to safely play in the ocean and beach chair rentals to relax on the shore. Play tag on the beach playground and fuel up for more fun with a picnic lunch. This beach also has restrooms, showers, and a water fountain to stay hydrated. Take advantage of the 80+ car parking lot. It provides an ADA-accessible ramp onto the beach.
Baby Beach (Sprecklesville Beach)
- North Shore
- Quiet beach for families
Located in a residential area near Paia on the North Shore, Baby Beach is a far cry from the busy tourist beaches. This beach feels more secluded, with palm trees backing the beach and two miles of uninterrupted shoreline.
A large barrier reef protects this bay from large ocean waves and currents, making it safer for kids to swim. There are also tide pools along the coast during low tide. Relax on this pristine beach, where you’ll only hear the sounds of the water and your kids playing cheerfully.
Big Beach (Makena Beach)
- 6600 Makena Alanui, Kihei, HI
- Biggest beach for families
Imagine ten football fields lined together, and you can start to see why Big Beach is considered the largest on the island of Maui. Located in Makena Beach State Park, this expansive stretch of sand extends 2/3 of a mile and measures 100 feet wide. You won’t have any trouble finding a spot in the sand for you and your family for the day.
This is the perfect spot for a siblings competition to see who can build the largest sandcastle. Run across the vast golden sands into the turquoise waters. Enjoy views of Kaho’olawe and Molokini from the shore.
Pa’iloa Beach
- Hana, HI
- Best black sand beach.
While you’re marking off points of interest to stop by along the Road to Hana Highway road trip with your family, be sure to include Pa’iloa Beach. This unique black sand beach is a defining landscape feature of the Wai’anapanapa State Park—it’s the only one on Maui!
olcanic eruptions formed this beach centuries ago to create nearby natural formations worth exploring. Wander this rugged coastline to see a sea cave, lava fields, and a blow hole. Swimming at this beach is not recommended due to the rough waters.
Kids under three (3) get into the park for free!
Black Rock Beach
- West Maui
- Best for cliff jumping with teens and grown kids.
Splash! It’s time to see if your teens have the courage to attempt the famous cliff jumping at Black Rock Beach. It’s a family-friendly atmosphere where jumpers take turns leaping off the cliffside into the ocean.
It’s high enough to make even the most macho man scream like a kid on the way down! If you’re unable to jump, there are plenty of kid-friendly waves and marine life swimming around at the foot of the cliff to keep everyone entertained in between jumpers.
Napili Beach
- Northwest Shore
- Best beach for spotting sea turtles.
Seeing sea turtles always excites the kids. Napili Bay is a choice habitat for sea turtles, so it’s one of the best beaches in Maui for families to see them. The best time to spot sea turtles is during the morning, at sunrise, or sunset in the evening. You can see them scooting along the golden sand beach or swimming gracefully in the bay. Go on a snorkeling tour to Hidden Turtle Cove for even more turtle action. It’s illegal to touch or disturb sea turtles in Hawai’i.
Visit Napili Beach during the winter months for whale watching right from shore.
Baldwin Beach Park
- Paia, HI
- Best undeveloped beach.
Reconnect to the natural side of Maui while visiting Baldwin Beach Park. Escape the popular tourist beaches in Kihei for undisturbed shores. You won’t find any oceanfront resorts or vacation villas on this sandy beach. Instead, it’s a place to find more natural beauty and fewer crowds. Take in views of the West Maui Mountains while hanging out on the beach. Kids will love the shore breaks for body surfing and boogie boarding. Use the outdoor showers to rinse off the golden sand before returning to your rental car.
Kahekili Beach Park
- West Maui
- Best beach for swimming.
The good times fly by while having fun at Kahekili Beach Park, nicknamed Airport Beach. Maui’s airport used to be located here before the current Kahului Airport (OGG). You won’t find too many sunbathers on the beach because most people will be in the water having fun. The gently sloping beach into shallow waters makes it great for the little ones. It has calm waters for swimmers of all skill levels. There is also a reef for snorkeling.
Charley Young Beach
- South Kihei, HI
- Best hidden gem Maui beach for families.
While most Maui visitors beach hop between the Kamaole beaches, slip away to the northern end to see why Charley Young Beach is one of the island’s hidden gems. And the best part is that you can enjoy many of the same beach activities as the other hotspots.
Charley Young Beach is a laid-back spot away from the tourist crowds. The ocean water here is excellent for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and more. Mornings are popular to join the locals in admiring the tranquil scenery. It has an outdoor shower and restroom.
Family-friendly Accommodations Near the Best Maui Beaches
Spend more time enjoying the beach than traveling to it when staying in a convenient area like Kihei. Our One-of-a-Kind Getaway Maui vacation home is ideally located within minutes of many of the island’s top beaches—Ulua Beach Park, Keawakapu Beach, and Wailea Beach.
