Hana Bay Beach Park

The magical, famed Hana is a place that moves just a bit slower than the rest of the world. There’s something about it that’s simply quite elusive when you spend a quick hour or two then jet back to your resort in Kihei. Our suggestion: Plan to stay a day or two—a week if you can swing it. If you end up trying to rush through the sights and sounds of this incredible little town, you’ll only end up frustrated. Businesses close without warning, you might spend an inordinate amount of time waiting for a meal, and there’s always a chance that your short time in Hana will be overcast by one of the rainstorms that contribute to the 80 inches of annual rainfall in this area.

Hana Bay Beach is arguably the best place for swimming along Maui’s east shore. If you do only have several hours to spend in Hana, grab a bite just across the street and bring it to Hana Bay to eat it and enjoy the stunning scenery.

The black sand beach at Hana Bay is a gathering site for locals and tourists alike. On any given day you’ll likely see outrigger canoe clubs practicing, or you could stumble across a community event. There’s no lack of amenities, making it a popular place for local families to gather. You’ll find a restroom, a covered pavilion, picnic facilities, and a snack bar, though we’d suggest that you’d have better luck walking just a ways into town to get take out.

The ocean here is typically calm, serving up great conditions for swimming and boating. The wind has a reliable tendency to pick up in the afternoon, attracting kiteboarders and windsurfers. On occasion, the northern end of the bay will be good for surfing, through you might notice that there’s a spot where waves come in and simply seem to die. Hawaiian legend holds that there was once a Tahitian chief who visited to go surfing. Upon his request, the gods gifted him waves, and as he was surfing, two beautiful local women fell in love with the handsome chief from shore. In an attempt to attract his attention, they removed their pa’us (skirts), and he was so taken aback that he was frozen in place, and the wave went no further. To this day, the legend claims, the waves still stop in this exact spot.