The Best Beaches in South Maui: Our Family’s Favorite Spots
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We’ve visited Maui a few times now, one trip was even 6 months long 'cause we love it so much, so when I think of the perfect Hawaiian vacation with little kids, South Maui always steals the show. Maybe it’s the calm waters and gentle slope of the beach entries, or maybe it’s the easy access to food trucks, free parking, and sandy shores that stretch out like the world’s best beaches. Either way, if you're planning your next vacation with small children in tow, this guide to the best South Maui beaches is for you—straight from a mom whose 3- and 5-year-olds built sandcastles, spotted green sea turtles, and had the time of their lives.
1. Kamaole Beach Parks (I, II, III) – Kid Paradise
Kam III Beach, Maui
When our kids were toddlers, we practically lived at the Kamaole Beach Parks—also called “Kam” beaches by locals. Located along the end of South Kihei Road, these beaches are broken into three sections—Kamaole I, II, and III—and each one offers something a little different while still being incredibly family-friendly. They're some of the best South Maui beaches if you're traveling with small children and want a low-stress beach day with easy access and built-in amenities.
Each section has a nearby parking lot or public parking areas, so hauling beach gear doesn’t turn into a hike. There are grassy areas with palm trees for shade, picnic tables for lunch breaks, and restrooms and showers that make life way easier when you’re sandy and trying to rinse off wiggly kids.
Kamaole I has a long sandy beach with a gentle slope into the water—perfect for timid swimmers and toddlers. On days when the waves were a little livelier, we’d grab the foam boogie boards and let the kids “ride” the smallest waves while holding our hands. The water here is usually clear and calm enough for great swimming, and it’s a great beach to introduce little ones to water activities without the stress of big surf.
Kamaole II is the smallest of the three and often the least crowded. It still has soft white sand and a beautiful view, making it a nice middle ground when the other two parks get busy. We often stopped here for a short walk before lunch or a quick shell-collecting adventure.
Kamaole III quickly became our favorite spot for low-tide exploring. The south end of the beach has rocky outcroppings and tide pools that reveal themselves in the morning hours. This was the highlight of many of our beach days. I still remember my son squealing, “Look, a crab!” as he crouched over a little pool of water, eyes wide with wonder. Meanwhile, my daughter—three years old and totally convinced she could make friends with fish—kept trying to feed a piece of pineapple to a curious wrasse. (Spoiler: the fish wasn’t impressed. But we sure were.)
Kam III also has a large grassy hill overlooking the beach, and we’d often finish the day with a little picnic as the sun began to dip. The kids would run up and down the hill while we kicked back with shave ice and a camera full of sandy-smile photos. It's one of those places that makes you feel like you've stepped into the Maui guidebook version of a perfect day.
These beaches may not be the most secluded, but when it comes to convenience, safety, and keeping young kids happy, they’re some of the best places we’ve found on the island. On our next vacation, we’ll definitely be back—boogie boards, beach chairs, and pineapple slices in hand.
2. Keawakapu Beach – Calm, Clear, and Cozy
Keawakapu Beach became our easygoing beach day staple. Tucked at the south end of Kihei, it’s a long, peaceful stretch of white sand with clear water and a gentle slope into the ocean—exactly what you hope for when you're traveling with small children. There’s a sense of calm here that we really appreciated, especially on mornings when we needed a slower start to the day.
The easy access from South Kihei Road and convenient parking make it a great beach to just roll up with minimal fuss. We’d pack up the wagon with beach chairs, snacks, boogie boards, and what felt like 200 sand toys. The kids loved jumping waves in the shallow water while we sipped coffee and stretched out under the palm trees. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a little patch of shade for those rare and magical moments when the kids fall asleep mid-beach day (we got one nap here… it was glorious).
Another thing we loved? It felt less crowded than other beaches in the area. Keawakapu is a great place to really feel like you’ve settled into your own little corner of the island. The water is typically calm enough for small kids to safely splash around, and if you walk a bit toward the north end of the beach, you’ll spot some rocky areas and tide pools that are fun to explore during low tide.
It’s not flashy or packed with amenities, but Keawakapu is the kind of beach that sneaks into your heart. It’s where we read books, built drippy sandcastles, and even had a spontaneous picnic dinner one night as the sun set behind a row of leaning palms.
3. Wailea Beach & Ulua Beach – Fancy Meets Family-Friendly
Ulua Beach, Maui
If you're dreaming of a Hawaiian vacation that includes resort-style beauty with family-friendly vibes, Wailea Beach delivers. It sits just behind the Grand Wailea and Four Seasons, so the landscaping is pristine, the sand is perfectly raked, and everything feels straight out of a postcard. But don’t let the upscale hotels intimidate you—Wailea Beach is fully public, with a parking lot and paved path that leads you to one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.
The beach has an expansive sandy shore with gentle waves and great swimming conditions, especially in the morning hours. Our kids spent a full afternoon just chasing waves and digging “rivers” down to the shoreline. Stand-up paddleboards and snorkel gear are available to rent nearby, and even though we stuck mostly to building castles and floating on pool noodles, it was fun to watch others out enjoying the water activities.
Just a short walk north along the coastal path, Ulua Beach quickly became our favorite place for snorkeling. The coral reefs near the north end of the beach are home to colorful tropical fish, and if you’re lucky, you might spot a green sea turtle. (We did—once! And our daughter practically levitated with joy.)
The water here is clearest in the early morning, and while our kids didn’t last long in the snorkel masks, they loved floating with their goggles and spotting “rainbow fish” from above. The beach has a mix of sand and lava rock, and we often found a shady spot under a tree for snacks between swims.
Wailea and Ulua give you the best of both worlds—beautiful, resort-adjacent beaches that still feel accessible and relaxed enough for families with little ones.
4. Maluaka Beach (a.k.a. Turtle Town) – Hello, Honu!
If you only have time for one magical marine experience with your kids, Maluaka Beach—lovingly nicknamed Turtle Town—is it. Located just south of Wailea, this beach has all the ingredients for a perfect family day: clear shallow water, soft white sand, and (most importantly, if you're a 5-year-old obsessed with animals) a strong chance of spotting green sea turtles.
The small cove at the south end of the beach has calm waters ideal for small children, especially in the morning hours. We arrived early one day—before 8 a.m.—and the reward was priceless. The sun was rising, the beach was nearly empty, and the water was so clear we could see straight to the bottom. My husband went out with our son on a floaty, and within minutes, they were pointing excitedly toward a large turtle slowly gliding by the coral reef.
Meanwhile, our daughter kept yelling, “I see another one!” every time a rock even vaguely resembled a shell. She eventually did spot the real deal and named it Honu Henry. We’ve been hearing about Henry ever since.
There’s good snorkeling here, even for beginners, and the reef near the south end of the beach is vibrant with marine life. If you go in the early morning, you’ll avoid the crowds and increase your chances of a peaceful turtle encounter. Just remember to keep your distance—Hawaiian green sea turtles are protected, and watching them from afar is the best way to preserve their beauty for the next curious kid.
5. Po’olenalena Beach – Peaceful and Perfect
Po’olenalena Beach might be the most underrated of all the South Maui beaches we visited—and we kind of loved it that way. Nestled between more developed areas near Wailea, it somehow manages to feel tucked away and quiet, even during peak season. This wide beach has soft white sand and shallow areas that make it ideal for families with young kids, especially those who prefer space to roam without bumping elbows with other beachgoers.
There’s free parking, and while the lot is small, we never had trouble finding a spot in the early morning or late afternoon. The short walk down a lava rock path opens up to an expansive beach with views in every direction. We usually set up camp near the middle, close to the grassy area by the entrance—perfect for post-swim snacks and shade.
One of my favorite memories from this beach was watching the kids pretend they were on a treasure hunt, using driftwood sticks to “dig up pirate gold” near the dunes. Meanwhile, I had 30 blissful minutes of reading time and a sandwich that wasn’t covered in sand—pure magic.
Po’olenalena doesn’t have many amenities (no food trucks or showers), so come prepared. But what it does offer is that rare sense of peaceful space where you feel like the island is yours for the day. If you’re looking for a cozy beach to unwind, this might just be your new favorite spot.
6. Makena Beach (Big Beach & Little Beach) – For the Adventurous Spirit
Big Beach, Maui, Hawaii
Makena is famous for Big Beach and its lesser-known sibling, Little Beach, and they absolutely deserve a spot on any list of the most beautiful beaches on the Hawaiian island of Maui. Big Beach (also known as Oneloa) boasts a long sandy beach with pristine white sand and dramatic rocky points that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a postcard. But while it’s breathtaking, this is not a beach we recommend for swimming with small children—or honestly, even for adults unless you're highly experienced in the water.
The shore break here is powerful and unpredictable. It looks deceptively calm at times, but the waves can slam you down hard with zero warning. We saw more than one visitor get knocked over just trying to wade in ankle-deep. It’s a popular spot for experienced boogie boarders, though—our kids were completely mesmerized watching them catch big, fast waves while we built sandcastles a safe distance from the water. It’s a great place to play on the beach and admire the ocean, but never turn your back on the water and keep a very close eye on little ones. If you do get in the water, dive under the wave, don’t try to jump over it.
There’s a gentle slope at the south end of the beach that we stuck to during the calmer morning hours, just for some splashy ankle-deep playtime. But even then, we kept our beach play above the high tide line and reminded the kids that Makena is more about admiring than swimming.
Little Beach is accessible via a short hike over a rocky outcropping from Big Beach—something we saved for a parents-only adventure while Grandma babysat. It’s known for its relaxed vibe, sunset drum circles, and clothing-optional crowd, so keep that in mind before taking the kids.
7. Charley Young Beach – A Local Favorite
Just north of Kamaole I is Charley Young Beach. This great spot offers easy access, a free parking area, and fewer crowds. There’s a mix of sand and rocky areas, which made it one of the best places for my kids to try “snorkeling” in shallow water. I’ll admit, the mask stayed on for all of five minutes before they decided digging a hole was way more fun.
But the views? Stunning. Especially in the morning hours when the beach glows and the waves are gentle.
8. Polo Beach & Mokapu Beach – Hidden Gems with Amenities
Polo Beach, near the Fairmont Kea Lani, and Mokapu Beach near Andaz Maui both offer a quieter beach day without sacrificing convenience. Polo Beach has public parking, picnic areas, and a mix of sand and lava rocks that makes for fun tide pool exploration. Mokapu Beach is more open and great for swimming.
These were great spots for when we wanted a bit of structure to our beach day—a place to sit with a smoothie from nearby food vendors and watch the kids dig, splash, and chase birds.
A Few More Family Tips:
Baby Beach in Lahaina is technically on the West Side, but worth a mention for toddlers—it has shallow water and no waves, and is an ideal swimming beach for little ones.
La Perouse Bay is scenic and dramatic, but not the best for little swimmers. Still, it’s a cool stop for spotting manta rays and lava fields.
Sugar Beach runs for miles and is great for morning walks and watching outrigger canoes launch into the ocean.
Best Time to Visit South Maui Beaches?
Early morning! It’s cooler, calmer, and easier to find parking. Plus, if your kids wake up at sunrise like mine do, you’ll have the whole beach to yourself by 7 AM.
If you’re dreaming of panoramic views, soft white sand, and plenty of beach time, South Maui delivers. From cozy coves to wide beaches with all the amenities, you’ll find more than a few favorite beaches to call your own.
And maybe—just maybe—you’ll see a sea turtle up close while your kids shout, “This is the best day EVER!”
Happy Beach Day!
Jen
