Wailea

A line of crescent beaches on Maui’s south shore, separated by black lava, joined by a path along the top, and with turtles on the reef a short swim out.

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Where

Maui’s south shore, about 40 minutes from Kahului

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The Path

About a mile and a half, paved, free

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Turtles

Honu feed on the reef. Keep your distance

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Faces

West. Sunset over the water

A Line of Crescents

Wailea is a run of beaches along the dry south shore, each one a crescent of pale sand between shelves of black lava. Wailea Beach is the middle of it, Polo sits a few hundred metres south and Ulua a little north, and there is a small unnamed cove at the stream outlet that most people walk past. The lava is the reason they are separate beaches at all, and it is worth as much attention as the sand.

The Path

A paved path runs along the top of the shore for about a mile and a half, linking the beaches and passing the fronts of the resorts. It is the best thing here and it costs nothing. Walk it in the early morning for the birds and the light, or in the last hour of the day when the torches go on along the lawns and everyone else is at dinner.

In the Water

Green turtles feed on the reef off these beaches and you will meet them snorkelling without going looking. Give them room and let them come to you. You do not need a boat or a tour: the reef is close enough to swim to from the sand, and the water on this side is calm enough that it is easy swimming rather than an expedition.

Where to stay nearby

Wailea Beach Resort, a Marriott Resort

On the sand at Wailea with the coastal path passing the front, the lawn running down to the beach, and the pool…

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The beaches

The Beaches

Wailea Beach itself, Polo to the south, Ulua from the gardens above, and one unnamed cove at the stream outlet.

Polo Beach with outrigger canoes on the sand, blue umbrellas and swimmers in the shallows — **Polo Beach**Polo Beach on a December morning, with the outrigger canoes pulled up on the sand and the umbrellas already out.

Bank of green naupaka above the sand at Polo Beach with the ocean beyond — **Naupaka Above Polo**A bank of naupaka runs along the top of Polo Beach, with the sand and the open water below it.

Elevated view over palms and gardens to Ulua Beach with mountains across the bay — **Ulua From the Gardens**Ulua Beach seen from above the gardens, the crescent of sand running out to the point with the mountains across the channel.

Small sandy cove between a green slope and dark rocks — **The Sand Cove**A pocket of sand sits between a green slope and the rocks at either end.

Small sandy cove between lava outcrops with mountains across the water beyond — **The Unnamed Cove**A small unnamed cove at the Wailea Stream outlet, held between two arms of lava with the mountains across the channel.

Seawater washing into a small cove between lava rock outcrops — **Rock and Sand**Water pushes into a narrow cove between two arms of lava.

Dark volcanic rock overhang above pale sand at the shoreline — **The Overhang**A dark rock overhang shelters a strip of pale sand at the edge of the shore.

Small waves breaking onto a sandy beach under a bright sky — **The Break**Small surf turns over onto the sand in the middle of the day.

Wet sand reflecting palms with mountains across the bay beyond — **Wet Sand**Wet sand holds the reflection of the palms and the mountains across the water.

Thin sheet of seawater spreading over wet sand — **Shallow Water**The last of a wave spreads over the sand in a thin sheet.

Hala tree above a lawn overlooking the ocean — **Hala Above the Beach**A hala tree stands over the clipped lawn where the ground drops away to the water.

The lava shore

The Lava Shore

Black rock between one crescent and the next, which is what makes them crescents.

Low lava shelf along the shoreline with calm pale water beyond — **The Lava Shore**The shore runs out in a low shelf of lava, the water beyond it flat and pale in the early light.

Rough lava rock ridge along the shoreline with ocean beyond — **Where the Rock Meets the Sand**A rough spine of lava divides the water from the shore.

Dark lava boulders on sand at the edge of the shore — **Lava at Evening**Lava boulders sit where the sand gives out, worn smooth on the seaward side.

Green naupaka leaves growing among dark broken lava rock — **Close to the Rock**Naupaka takes root directly in the broken lava, one of the few plants that will hold this close to the salt.

White water breaking against dark lava rock beside sand — **Surf on Black Rock**A wave breaks white against the lava at the end of the beach.

Sandy beach meeting a rocky headland with palms and houses above — **From the Headland**A short beach ends against a low headland, with houses set back among the palms above it.

The coastal path

The Coastal Path

A mile and a half of paved path along the top of the shore, linking the beaches and the resorts.

Coastal path beside a lava rock shoreline with palms and grass — **The Path**The coastal path runs along the top of the lava shore, palms leaning over the grass beside it.

Curving road under a canopy of large trees with a footpath alongside — **Under the Trees**The road in runs under a long tunnel of mature trees, with a footpath alongside it.

Palms and unlit torches on a lawn beside a coastal path — **Palms and Torches**Unlit torches stand along the lawn where it meets the coastal path, palms leaning toward the water.

White egret standing in low green coastal shrub near the shore — **An Egret on the Path**A white egret picks its way through the low coastal shrub above the shore.

Two red crested cardinals with red heads and grey backs foraging on a dappled green lawn — **Red Crested Cardinals**Red crested cardinals work the lawn in the late afternoon, in and out of the shade the trees throw across it.

In the water

In the Water

Snorkelling off the beach. Green turtles over the reef, and a moorish idol that held still long enough.

Green sea turtle swimming over a shallow coral reef in clear water — **A Honu Over the Reef**A green sea turtle works along the reef in the shallows off Wailea Beach.

Green sea turtle over a reef with a snorkeller's arm and hand nearby — **Alongside**The turtles here are used to company and will let you swim alongside without hurrying off.

Moorish idol with black, white and yellow bands and a long trailing dorsal fin over coral — **Moorish Idol**A Moorish idol, kihikihi, picking over the coral with its dorsal filament streaming behind it.

Evening

The sun goes down over the water here, and the torches go on along the lawns. Six evenings across two Decembers.

Sun setting over the ocean seen from a lawn with a tree at the edge — **Sunset Over the Water**The sun drops into the water off the lawn, which is where most of Wailea watches it from.

Lit torches and wind blown palms silhouetted against a sunset — **The Torches Go On**Lit torches bend in the evening wind while the sun goes down behind the palms.

Coconut palm silhouetted against a pink and violet sky after sunset — **One Palm on Hot Pink**A single palm against the last of the colour, with the pink still burning under the blue.

Palm silhouettes against a pastel pink and blue sky at dusk — **Pastel Dusk**Two palms over the lawn while the sky goes to pastel and the cloud breaks up.

Dark cloud bank over the ocean with a coral and gold sky at sunset — **The Cloud Bank**A bank of cloud sits out over the water and takes the colour before the sun is properly down.

Palms against a blue and gold dusk sky over the ocean with an island on the horizon — **Blue Hour**Later the sky goes blue and the gold drops to a band on the horizon, with an island out beyond the point.

Live Prices & Availability

Where We Stay on Maui

Wailea Beach Resort, a Marriott Resort

On the sand at Wailea with the coastal path passing the front, the lawn running down to the beach, and the pool going orange at the end of the day. We stayed here on both trips.

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Walk the coastal path at first light. The birds are out, the beaches are empty and the light is on the mountains across the channel
Polo is a few hundred metres south of Wailea Beach and noticeably quieter. Worth the walk if the main crescent is busy
Stay out fifteen minutes after the sun goes. The torches come on along the lawns and the sky keeps working
Look at the lava, not just the sand. The rock between the beaches is the most interesting thing on this shore

Frequently Asked Questions

How many beaches are there?

Five crescents are usually counted along this stretch: Keawakapu, Mokapu, Ulua, Wailea and Polo. Our photographs reach three of them, Wailea, Polo and Ulua, plus a small unnamed cove at the stream outlet.

Is the coastal path worth it?

It is the best free thing in Wailea. About a mile and a half, paved, along the top of the shore, and it connects the beaches so you can walk between them rather than drive.

Will I see turtles?

Often, and from the beach. Green turtles feed on the reef a short swim out, and the snorkelling here needs nothing more than a mask. Keep well back and never touch them.

When should I go?

We went in December both times and it was warm, bright and dry, which is the south shore in winter while the windward side gets the rain. It is also the busiest and most expensive time on Maui, so that is the trade.

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Wailea

Where

The Path

Turtles

Faces

A Line of Crescents

The Path

In the Water

Wailea Beach Resort, a Marriott Resort

The Beaches

The Lava Shore

The Coastal Path

In the Water

Evening

Live Prices & Availability

Where We Stay on Maui

Wailea Beach Resort, a Marriott Resort

Frequently Asked Questions

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