Maui region
South Maui (Kīhei, Wailea & Mākena)
Sunny, dry and close to the best south-shore snorkeling
The leeward south shore: busy, condo-lined Kīhei with its string of county beach parks, the manicured resort community of Wailea with five crescent beaches and a coastal path, and wilder Mākena, where Big Beach and the ʻĀhihi-Kīnaʻu reserve sit on young lava.
Stay here if…
You want reliable sun, morning snorkeling straight from shore, boat departures to Molokini from nearby Māʻalaea, and a choice from budget condos to top-tier resorts.
The trade-off
Kīhei is car-dependent and its main road gets congested. Since July 15, 2026, non-residents pay $10 a day to park at Kamaʻole I and III (residents only before 10 a.m. on weekends). March 2026 Kona-low damage closed Kamaʻole II until Aug. 11, and Lowell’s coastal flooding briefly closed the Kamaʻole and Keawakapu parks on Sept. 8, 2026. Afternoon trade winds chop up the water.
Hotels in South Maui
Sunny, dry and close to the best south-shore snorkeling
Search on Booking.com
Where to stay
Hotels in South Maui
Four Seasons Maui
Couples and families who want full-service luxury on a calm south-shore beach
Polished service on one of the south shore’s best swimming beaches, with snorkeling off the lava points at either end.
Hotel Wailea
Couples and honeymooners who want an intimate, adults-only stay
It’s small, quiet and grown-up, with serious food and none of the big-resort bustle.
Grand Wailea
Families who want a big pool scene on a good swimming beach
The pool complex is a full day out for kids, and Wailea Beach is right there when they’re ready for the real ocean.
Maui Coast Hotel
Families and budget-minded travelers who want walk-to-the-beach Kīhei
A hotel, not a condo, across the street from a lifeguarded beach, at Kīhei rather than Wailea prices.
Book from here
Tours leaving from South Maui
Things to do
Our picks in South Maui
South Maui
Kamaʻole Beach Parks I, II & III
Lifeguards, grass for a picnic and easy sand entries make these Kīhei’s most dependable family swimming beaches.
Read moreSouth Maui
Ulua Beach
Beginner-friendly snorkeling with restrooms and showers at the lot, in the middle of resort Wailea.
Read moreSouth Maui
Wailea Beach
Resort-quality sand and calm morning water, with a free public lot, showers and the coastal path to stroll at sunset.
Read moreSouth Maui
Mākena (Oneloa) Big Beach
Few beaches in Hawaiʻi this size are still undeveloped. Come for the sand, the views of Kahoʻolawe and Molokini, and the sunset.
Read moreSouth Maui
ʻĀhihi-Kīnaʻu Natural Area Reserve
DLNR says the open area holds the most diverse and abundant reef in the reserve, and clear water over lava makes it some of the best snorkeling on the south shore.
Read moreSouth Maui
Kīhei Caffe
It’s the classic Kīhei breakfast before a snorkel: generous plates, outdoor tables and the beach across the street.
Read more