Mauumae Beach
Waimea, HI
Mauumae Beach hides along the coastal trail between Hapuna and Kaunaoa, a small pocket of white sand that most visitors driving past on the highway never know exists. There's no sign and no lot of its own, just a narrow, unmarked path down through kiawe trees, which is exactly why it's stayed a locals' beach for so long.
A genuine locals' secret with soft sand and clear water to itself most days, though finding the unmarked trail is the whole barrier to entry and half the point.
How we score beachesLook for a small pullout along Highway 19 near the old Hapuna golf course rather than trusting a map pin. Ask a local for the exact spot if you can. It's part of how the place stays quiet.
A small, informal roadside pullout along Highway 19 serves the trailhead, holding only a handful of cars.
An unmarked dirt path drops through kiawe trees to the sand, uneven and unshaded in spots, not suited to strollers or wheelchairs.
The Kohala Coast stays dry most of the year, with the calmest water for swimming and snorkeling in summer.
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