Mau'umae Beach

Mau'umae Beach is a beautiful little beach located in a small bay north of Mauna Kea Beach and south of Spencer Beach. At this beach, what you see is what you get: white sand and mellow, protected water. And really, what's more to want? It's an ideal spot to spend an afternoon or an entire day, though the absence of essential amenities such as restrooms make this a bit more of challenge. The gentle slope of the beach into the water along with the low surf make this a great spot for families. You can even find sections of shade back near the rocks or to the south end of the beach near the trees. This is a gem of a beach that sits between two much more popular stretches of sand.

One of the reasons this beach sees lighter traffic is access. Those who choose to arrive by car must enter through the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel gate and obtain a pass, of which there are a limited number. Alternately, you can park at Spencer Beach park and take a short section of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail south to Mau'umae. Either way, travel light and be prepared to hike your beach bag in a bit. Once you're there, however, you'll want to stay as long as you can.