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 Makena Beach is located at the south side of East Maui several miles past the Maui Prince Hotel along Makena Ala Nui road. It is along a stretch of area with 4 beaches, another large one being Big Beach.
Highlights:
Makena Beach is a beautiful, undeveloped, wide sandy beach that is largely shielded from the regular Trade Winds. The weather at this location tends to be sunny and dry most of the time.
Because it is one of the last large beaches that is undeveloped in Hawaii, Makena Beach is a jewel of a beach. The scenery along the beach is exceptional with the cinder cone, Pu'u Ola'i, surrounded by green kiawe trees, dominating the middle ground with Haleakala in the background.
The water at this location is usually quite clear, with visibility often in excess of 100 feet. There is an abundance of coral and fish at the west end of the beach. It is here where you can climb over some rocks and pay a visit to Little Beach, an un-official "clothing optional" beach.
Little Beach is even more isolated than Makena Beach and about one quarter the size. It also has one of the best body surfing breaks on this side of the island.
This beach area, including Oneuli Beach, closes in the evenings. This wasn't always so (and hopefully can be changed in the future). It is the same reason several other official campgrounds were closed (Baldwin Beach in Paia). People began living in these locations. Camping, where it is allowed, can only be done for 3 days at a time, and a permit is required. At one point, at Makena Beach, the number of people became so great, there began to be sanitation and crime problems. The county decided to restrict access to specific shoreline areas and campgrounds.
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Makena Beach has restrooms but no fresh water for drinking or showers. There used to be a life guard station with both jet ski rescue and a beach "all terrain vehicle" during daylight hours. They were pulled away because of a liability problem (makes sense doesn't it) with the state. There are no shops nearby. There is often a mobile refreshment stand at the entrance of the first parking lot or a little further up toward the cinder cone. This is a great picnic beach so bring plenty of food and drink if you're thinking of spending the day here.
The beach park closes in the evening, the parking lot gates get locked.
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