Wahikuli Wayside Park
Lahaina, HI
Wahikuli Wayside Park lines the highway just north of Lahaina town, a narrow, grassy roadside park that surfers know as S-Turns for the shape of the wave breaking offshore. It's a practical stop more than a scenic one, the kind of beach locals use for a quick swim or a lunch break rather than an all day outing.
A convenient, uncrowded stop for a quick swim close to town, but the reef shelf at the shoreline and lack of real amenities keep it firmly in local's beach territory.
How we score beachesThe reef shelf close to shore makes entry a little awkward at low tide. Time it around mid to high tide for an easier walk in.
A free lot runs directly off Honoapiilani Highway, easy to reach and rarely full, since most beachgoers drive past toward Kaanapali or Lahaina instead.
A short, flat grassy strip separates the lot from the sand, with no stairs, though the shoreline itself is a mix of sand and exposed reef.
Summer keeps the water calm enough for swimming, while winter swells feed the S-Turns break that gives the beach its nickname among local surfers.
More Hawaii beaches
Waikiki Beach
Honolulu, HI · Hawaii
4 access points
The beach that put Hawaii surfing on the map, with gentle, forgiving waves for beginners, Diamond Head crater as a backdrop, and a reef that keeps the water calm most of the year.
Lanikai Beach
Kailua, HI · Hawaii
A quiet, residential-neighborhood beach on Oahu's windward side, with powder-soft sand, turquoise water, and two small offshore islets (the Mokulua) as a paddling destination.
Poipu Beach
Koloa, HI · Hawaii
A sheltered, sunny south-shore beach on Kauai split into a calm swimming lagoon and a livelier surf side, with a good chance of spotting Hawaiian monk seals resting on the sand.