Keawakapu Beach
Kihei, HI
Keawakapu Beach marks the quiet transition between Kihei's busier strip and Wailea's resort row, a long, wide beach with clear water and noticeably fewer people than either neighbor. Green sea turtles rest on the sand at the north end often enough that locals know to give that stretch a wide berth in the mornings.
Clear water, real turtle sightings, and noticeably thinner crowds than Kihei's Kamaole parks or Wailea's resort beaches just south, with no real drawback beyond modest parking.
How we score beachesEarly morning is when the turtles haul out to rest on the sand at the north end. Keep well back and let them be. Hawaii law protects them, and locals take that seriously.
Small free lots sit at both the north and south ends off South Kihei Road and Mokulele Drive, generally easier to find space in than the Kamaole lots nearby.
Flat, wide sand runs the length of the beach with easy access from either end lot, no stairs or rocky sections to navigate.
Calm, clear water holds up most of the year on this sheltered stretch, with summer bringing the best snorkeling visibility.
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