Maui offers several family-friendly beaches whichever side of the island you’re on. These beaches are perfect for kids, thanks to their calm waters, soft sand, and convenient amenities.
Feature image: John Bell
North Shore/East Side
Baby Beach
Baby beach is located on the West end of of Baldwin beach. Protected from the ocean swells by a reef, this beach is ideal at low or mid-tide. A wide sloping beach provides lots of space to set up for a few hours. Small schools of fish dart in the shallows, and you may even see a turtle resting on the Eastern point of the beach. There is a small parking lot, with the majority of parking in the residential neighborhood of Spreckelsville, but no showers or restrooms.
Hana Bay
Hana Bay is a protected cove in the heart of Hana town. This is a black sand beach with the calmest waters on this side of the island. Many Hana families spend the day down at this beach. If you have courageous kids, jumping off the pier is a favorite pastime of locals. Parking is easy and there are showers, restrooms, and picnic benches with barbeque pits.
West Side
Kapalua Bay
Kapalua Bay is a small, crescent shaped beach with white sand and a gently sloping shoreline that makes is perfect for small kids to find their comfort in the ocean. Turtles will often swim in this bay and there is excellent snorkeling close to shore. There is parking, restrooms, and showers.
Napili Bay
Napili Bay is one of those beaches you see in postcards. It can get quite busy, but the white sand and sparkling blue of the water will relax the entire family. The north end of the beach has better access for small children and is a little more protected. Parking can be scarce, especially on the weekends, so plan to come early in the day. Restrooms and showers are near the parking lot.
NOTE: Baby Beach in Lahaina, arguably the best spot on the island for very small children to play in the water is currently not accessible due to the fire of 8/8/23 and its proximity to the burn zone.
South Shore
Keawekapu
Keawekapu is a long stretch of beach that has a gently sloping shore into the ocean. This long white sand beach is perfect for practicing boogie boarding or simply splashing around. It can get crowded right at the entrances, but you can usually walk a little ways down the beach and it clears out quickly. There are showers at each of the three access points and portable toilets at the South end.
Charley Young
Charley Young is a sweet little beach just past the Kihei cove. There is easy access to the water, along with many rock formations and tidepools for kids of all ages to explore. Parking is somewhat limited and you have to walk down a set of stairs to the beach, but it’s worth it. There is a shower at the top of the stairs and a portable toilet..
