Makena Beach, Maui
Travel > Makena Beach - More in this Category > Haleakala National Park > Hana > Iao Needle > Kaanapali > Kahului > Kihei > Lahaina > Molokini Island > Napili Bay > Paia > Seven Sacred Pools > Tedeschi Vineyard > Wailea > Wailuku
Makena Beach can be found just a few miles down south of Wailea. But the problem is that it goes by so many other names - Big Beach, Oneloa Beach or Maluaka Beach, they are all however all synonymous with each other. Enough of these minor technicalities lets get down to the good stuff.
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This shoreline is very gently sloping and is a visual feast - with thick soft sand, palm trees and the beautiful Maui Prince Hotel rising out of the background. This is the beach that everyone pictures in their head when they think " Maui." The waters are calm here, making a real swimming beach that is ideal for a day out with the whole family. The popularity of this stretch of shoreline means it is never really empty! One good thing about the beach's popularity is that it also means it has restrooms, picnic areas and showers on site.
Now here is real treat - if you walk along the rock wall that hides all those affluent beach homes you will come to a small opening (apparently it is near telephone pole #E2-3.) Anyway stepping through (which is legal by the way!) your eyes will be confronted with amazing views of Kahoolawe and Molokini. The soft sand that inhabits this secret cove, combined with the stunning views makes it a favorite place for many weddings.
All that said you would never have guessed this Makena was riddled with frequent drug users, unsanitary living conditions that prompted epidemics to develop and contaminated water supplies. All this sprung from the "hippie" settlements in the 60s. Realizing they had a serious problem the authorities cleared the area out and now it is a state park.
Just down from the beach is Makena Bay which contains the Makena Landing that has become a favored place for kayakers to launch their kayaks. Not far form this is the Makena's first historical site - a church built half way through the 19 th century surrounded by ti leaves. The Keawali Congregational Church even has its own little cove!
Down the coast is La Pérouse Monumnent that was erected to mark the place were one of Maui's first westerners, Admiral Comte de la Pérouse, first moored on the island in 1786. The monument itself is a pyramid of ancient lava rocks.
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