Puunoa Beach
Lahaina, HI
Puunoa Beach, better known around town as Baby Beach, sits just north of central Lahaina behind a shallow reef that keeps the water calm enough for toddlers to wade unsupervised in the shallows. It reopened to swimmers after the 2023 wildfire closed much of the surrounding shoreline, and it's back to being the neighborhood's go to spot for small kids.
About as safe and calm as swimming gets on this coast, genuinely the beach local parents pick for toddlers, though street parking is tight and the surrounding neighborhood is still rebuilding.
How we score beachesAccess runs through the residential streets off Front Street, at the end of Kai Pali Place or Puunoa Place. There's no sign from the main road, so know the street name before driving over.
Limited street parking along the residential side streets near Kai Pali Place and Puunoa Place is the only option, since there's no dedicated lot.
A short walk from the street to the sand, flat and easy, though narrow residential streets aren't set up for large groups or big vehicles.
The reef keeps this stretch calm nearly year round, making it a reliable choice even when winter swells roughen up the open coast nearby.
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