Big Beach

When you think of a vast expanse of undeveloped beach, crystal clear water, and no crowds, you're dreaming of Big Beach. At 2/3 mile long, Big Beach has plenty of room for everyone, and is far from the hustle and bustle of normal life. In fact, it is even far from the hustle and bustle of vacationing! Easy to get to, undeveloped and wild, Big Beach is a must-see on Maui.

Hours of Operation

Big Beach is open from 5:00am to 9:00pm daily.

Weather

Big Beach (and the Makena area in general) has a curious weather pattern that produces a cloud over the beach most afternoons (some people call this the "Makena Cloud"). This is usually a blessing, since the beach can be very hot when the sun is beating down on you, but keep in mind that it might not be 100% clear skies all the time here, even if it is clear at your condo in Kihei. The forecast below is a general forecast for Kihei, so it may be cloudier at Makena than what is predicted here.

Weather Forecast

(As of 329 PM HST Wednesday July 11 2007)
Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows around 75 at the shore to around 55 at 5000 feet. East winds 10 to 15 mph.
Thursday: Sunny. Highs around 86 at the shore to around 71 at 5000 feet. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear. Lows around 76 at the shore to around 55 at 5000 feet. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph and gusty.
Friday: Sunny. Highs 67 to 88. East winds 10 to 15 mph with higher gusts.
Friday Night: Mostly clear. Lows 50 to 75. Northeast winds around 10 mph and gusty.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. Isolated showers in the afternoon. Highs 67 to 89. East winds around 10 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Lows 50 to 75. East winds around 10 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. Isolated showers in the afternoon. Highs 67 to 87. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear. Lows 50 to 75. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny. Isolated showers in the afternoon. Highs 67 to 87. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.
Monday Night: Mostly clear. Lows 50 to 75. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Isolated showers in the afternoon. Highs 67 to 87. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Lows 50 to 75. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
 
Sunrise: 5:50am Sunset: 7:08pm. Visit Maui Weather Today for a daily discussion of the current weather patterns affecting Maui. For the surf conditions, visit the Maui Surf Report.

See our Webcams page for up to the minute conditions all around Maui!

Getting There

To get to Big Beach, drive to Kihei, and then continue down the Pi'ilani Highway (State Route 31) all the way to the end. The road curves to the right and becomes Wailea Iki Drive. Follow this to the bottom of the hill and turn left onto Wailea Alanui Drive. This four land road becomes two lane and changes its name to Makena Alanui Drive. Stay on the road and it will become an even smaller two lane road with a few "No Sight Distance" hills. At this point you are close to Makena State Park. There are two parking lots of Big Beach, called "Entry 1" and "Entry 2". Frequently there are many fewer cars at Entry 2 (perhaps due to the fact that everyone going to Little Beach parks at Entry 1). If you park along the side of the driveway to the parking lot, make sure you are completely off the pavement (Entry 1) or outside of (not touching!) the white line (Entry 2) and not blocking the travel lane. The ticket for blocking the travel lane is $55.

If you prefer a more leisurely pace, you can take South Kihei Road all the way to just before it dead-ends, and then follow the main road (which changes name to Okolani Drive) as it curves left and up the hill. Turn right at the 4-way stop onto Wailea Alanui Drive. South Kihei Road is a beautiful road that runs right along the ocean, but the speed limit is 20 to 30 miles per hour and you'll end up stopping for pedestrians frequently.

Map

You may also view a more detailed full-screen version of this map on Google Maps.

Facilities

Big Beach has very few facilities:
- A few Porta-potties
- A few Picnic tables

There are no lifeguards, showers, or payphones.

What's Nearby

Along the road there are carts vending fish tacos, shave ice, pineapples, and other local fare. There is frequently a Jawz Fish Tacos vending in the parking lot at Entry 1 (by permission of the Department of Land and Natural Resources), although that truck doesn't actually sell tacos (the Jawz Fish Tacos truck on the road does, though).

Activities

The snorkeling is quite good at the south end of the beach, around the rocks, and also at the north end of the beach around the lava outcropping between Big Beach and Little Beach. There are frequently green sea turtles here, and every once in a while there are dolphins as well. There's a reef that extends the length of the beach about 100 feet offshore, so if you decide to swim the length of the beach, there's always something to look at (assuming you brought your goggles!).

The whale watching can be quite good here during whale season.

On Sundays a group of local folks set up a volleyball net just to the left of Entry 2. They're there from about noon until sunset, and the level of play is often quite good. On most Sunday afternoons the Hope Chapel also sets up a net farther south on the beach for beginning volleyball players.

Warning

Big Beach often has larger surf than the surrounding beaches, and the waves break right at the shore in what is known as a "shorebreak". Shorebreaks make for terrible bodyboarding-- the wave carries you in and then just collapses, dropping you from six feet in the air straight down onto the sand. You'll see some locals bodyboarding and skimboarding, but unless you know what you're doing, you'd be better off trying it elsewhere.

The cause of the shorebreak is the quick drop-off of the shore into the water. The water can be 20 feet deep just a few feet from the shore at Big Beach. Be careful and know your limits!

Copyright 2006 by Maui Beach Guide.

Home | About Maui Beach Guide