Makena Beach
4.7(2.1K)google
4.9(25)yelp
BeachCoastOcean ViewSummer RetreatPhoto Spot
Overview
Mākena State Park is a 165-acre (0.7 km2) beachside park in Makena on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Located just south of Wailea, it contains three separate beaches and a dormant volcanic cinder cone. Big Beach, also known as "Oneloa Beach" and "Mākena Beach", is a popular spot for sunbathing and bodyboarding by both tourists and locals.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration2-4 hours
Best TimeKnown widely as 'Big Beach,' this vast golden-sand expanse is famous for powerful shorebreaks, making an early morning visit between 7:30 AM and 10:00 AM from June to August best. The early hours feature calmer surf conditions, and you beat the blistering midday sun on a shoreline that completely lacks shaded structures.
Getting ThereTucked far south on Maui's coastline along Makena Rd. Access requires a private vehicle; travel south out of the Wailea resort zone for several miles. The state park incorporates two massive, dedicated free public dirt-and-gravel lots (First and Second Beach entrances) staffed by full-time county ocean lifeguards.
Travel Tips
- Makena is infamous for lethal shorebreaks that smash directly into dry hardpacked sand with immense hydraulic power; this mechanical force routinely causes neck fractures and paralysis, making water entry during high surf a strict hazard.
- A steep, unmaintained basalt ridge separates Big Beach from Little Beach; scaling this wind-eroded volcanic rock formation in unstable footwear or post-dusk is highly hazardous and carries extreme slip-and-fall skeletal injury risks.
- The on-site municipal lifeguard towers permanently close at 4:30 PM daily; tidal undercurrent velocity amplifies aggressively instantly following their exit, requiring all recreational bodyboarders to clear the impact zone immediately.
Reviews
Positive
- The famous 'Big Beach' completely lives up to its name; the massive, wide golden sand is free from high-rises, offering intense views.
- The sand is as fine as powder with zero rocky patches, making it the highest value free public beach when driving South Maui.
- The beach packs a spacious free lot, well-maintained public restrooms, outdoor showers, and shaded picnic tables under giant trees.
- Free from high-rise resorts, it retains its raw, uncommercialized coastal charm, making it a perfect sanctuary for sunset viewing.
Heads up
- The shorebreak here is notoriously violent; powerful waves slam directly onto the sand, easily causing severe injuries and high risk.
- Due to violent undertones, it is completely unsafe for casual swimmers and toddlers, limiting the activity depth for families.
- As one of Maui's hottest beaches, afternoon crowds are heavily saturated, and shaded rest areas get packed and noisy.
- There are absolutely no food or beverage vendors inside, forcing you to drive miles back to commercial zones just to buy water.