The Tiny Beach Town In Hawaii You've Never Heard Of But Need To Visit

The Hawaiian Islands are ultimately known for one thing: the phenomenal beaches that stretch on for miles – Hawaii is home to 750 miles of stunning coastline, after all. Even better than world-class beaches? The charming beachside towns that have formed near these exceptional beaches. And while we love Haleiwa, Kailua-Kona, Paia, and Hanalei as much as the next person, there’s one tiny little beach town on the island of Maui that deserves a little recognition: Maalaea.

Located on Maui’s western coast between Lahaina and Kihei, Maalaea is home to a sleepy seaside community of just 350 residents, a dozen vacation rentals, and striking scenery. The one thing Maalaea doesn’t have: a ton of tourists or the hustle and bustle of nearby resort towns. Here are seven amazing places you’ll want to add to your Maalaea itinerary:

Mark Goebel/Flickr

Maalaea Beach might not be the prettiest beaches on Maui, or even the most swimmer-friendly, but they are perfect for long walks on the beach, sunset viewing, lounging, whale watching, and shell collecting. The beach is so secluded and quiet that the only thing you might hear are the sounds of crashing waves and heavy afternoon winds.

Beach Bums/Website

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Tamika G./Yelp

Often referred to as Maui's best oceanfront barbecue joint, Beach Bums serves up mouthwatering classics for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The casual oceanfront eatery features more than 1,000 feet of outdoor dining space, and an impressive selection of fresh fish and barbecued meats.

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James Darpinian/Flickr

Rated as a top family attraction by Zagat surveys, the Maui Ocean Center is home to an amazing exhibit called The Open Ocean, which is a 54-foot acrylic tunnel that offers 360-degree views of marine life, including manta rays, sharks, stingrays, and tropical fish. The 3-acre marine park is the largest tropical aquarium in the Western Hemisphere and features the largest collection of living corals in the United States, and more than 60 exhibits.

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Warren Antiola/Flickr

For some of the best sailing and whale watching tours in the world, head to Maalaea Harbor. Snorkeling and diving trips will bring you to nearby Molokini, or you can simply opt for a relaxing sunset sail and whale watching tour in the winter months.

Maui Island Sands Resort/Website

Maui Island Sands Resort rents out beautiful one and two bedroom condos for the ultimate Hawaii vacation - or staycation. All units have everything you need to feel right at home - ocean views, spacious lanais, fully equipped kitchens, a washer and dryer, and air conditioning.

Maria P./Yelp

This perfect little bakeshop serves up melt in your mouth cookies and scrumptious, locally-made ice cream, perfect for an afternoon snack. Experience the best of both worlds with one of their mouthwatering cookie ice cream sandwiches.

Crystal B./Yelp

This county beach park is the perfect place for an afternoon picnic or sunset stroll. The gorgeous stretch of sand serves as the access point to the "Freight Trains" surf break, and is great for relaxed swimming - as long as you watch out for sporadic rocks and reef.

If you love this beautiful little beach town, you’ll want to check out these 11 picturesque waterfront towns in Hawaii as well as these 10 beachside communities.