Poolenalena Beach
Kihei, HI
Poolenalena Beach unfolds along a long, gently curving stretch of the Makena coast, wide enough that even a busy weekend rarely feels crowded from end to end. A shallow, sandy bottom makes it one of the easier swims on this side of the island, with a rockier north end that holds decent snorkeling when the water's calm.
Wide enough to always find space and calm enough for easy swimming, a genuine local favorite along this coast, with the only real catch being a lack of shade past the south end.
How we score beachesSet up toward the south end near the picnic tables for shade and easier parking, then walk north along the sand to the rockier section for snorkeling.
A free lot off Makena Road serves the south end, with additional roadside parking further along, generally manageable outside of weekend afternoons.
Flat, wide sand runs the length of the beach, an easy walk from the lot with picnic tables and some shade trees near the south entrance.
Calm and swimmable most of the year, with summer's south swells occasionally adding a bit more shorebreak than usual.
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