The Little-Known Po'olenalena Beach Is One Of Our Favorite Hawaii Hangouts
By Megan Shute|Published February 17, 2020
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
With approximately 750 miles of stunning coastline and hundreds of breathtaking beaches, it’s hard to argue that the Hawaiian Islands aren’t home to some of the country’s — and the world’s — best beaches. And while we love the Aloha State’s most popular beaches, we absolutely love our little-known stretches of sand like this one. Tucked away on the southwestern shore of Maui, one of our favorite pieces of Hawaii coastline, is Po’olenalena Beach, a hidden gem we can’t wait to share with you.
It’s rare to find an unoccupied beach in south Maui, but Po’olenalena is one of them. Stretching approximately two-thirds of a mile from end to end, this golden crescent of sand sure is pretty.
A beach that goes by many names — including Po’olenalena Beach, Paipu Beach, Pepeiaolepo Beach, Keauhou Beach, Love Beach, and Makena Surf Beach — this spot is a haven for local families, snorkelers, and anyone who loves a sunset stroll.
Po’olenalena’s sandy shore slopes gently into the water and offers excellent swimming conditions and lava rocks positioned at either end of the beach make for epic snorkeling.
Ranging in depth from 5 to 25 feet in depth, the snorkeling here can’t be beat. From extensive coral reef systems and sea urchins to sea turtles and a wide variety of colorful, tropical fish, you never know what sort of sights you’ll see as you experience the underwater world at Po’olena.
When the surf picks up, young and beginner bodyboarders flock to the south end of the beach, but typically, you’ll find that families love making a splash at Po’olenalena on the weekends. If you seek solitude, visit on a weekday morning.
Two entrances — each with paved parking lots — can be found at Po’olenalena. The first is found on Makena Alanui just past Wailea Golf Culb Drive and the second is less than a mile down the road (it’s much smaller, but does have showers.)
Please note that you won’t find lifeguards on duty here.
If you love discovering Hawaii’s best hidden beaches for yourself, you’ll want to make it a point to visit Po’olenalena Beach for yourself. Whether you visit for a morning snorkel session or a sunset stroll, you won’t be disappointed.
Have you ever been to Po’olenalena Beach before? What did you think? Did it live up to your expectations? Would you recommend we include it on a Hawaiian Islands beach bucket list? Share your opinions and experiences in the comments below.
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