Best Keawanaku Beach Snorkeling

South of Kihei and Makena in the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve, there is good snorkeling at the remote Keawanaku Beach. When snorkeling at Keawanaku Beach, you may encounter a pod of spinner dolphins that frequent the waters here. There is an underwater artificial reef which was created in the 1960's from old cars.

This a challenging place to snorkel, even when the usually high winds are calm. There is no lifeguard at this beach and be aware that the surf can be unpredictable.

To reach Keawanaku Beach snorkeling from Wailea-Makena, head south from Wailea along the coast on Makena Road to the very end. There are two dirt parking areas. From the parking area, you will need to hike about a mile to the Keawanaku Beach snorkeling. To reach the snorkeling on Maui by air, you will need to fly into Kahului Airport (OGG) which is located in the middle of the north coast of Maui. It is served by direct flights from the mainland US and also by inter-island flights from several other Hawaiian Islands by regional carriers. When planning a trip to the Hawaiian islands, be aware that the State Of Hawaii has banned all sunscreens that oxybenzone, which has been proven to kill coral reefs.

Note: When snorkeling in the ‘Ahihi-Kina'u Natural Area Reserve, keep in mind that there are seasons where the reef sharks come near shore to birth their pups. This event tends to attract numerous tiger sharks to the area. For example, in 2018, this marine reserve was closed for several weeks during the month of April. It is recommended to call the reserve before heading out.

Overall, Keawanaku Beach is the 18th most popular snorkel dive spot of all 22 snorkeling dives in Maui. Several of the better snorkeling spots are nearby Keawanaku Beach including Molokini Crater, Maluaka Beach Park, Kanahena Cove, La Perouse Bay, Five Caves and Makena Landing Park.