Kaanapali Beach: Maui’s Best Beach!
Considered one of the prettiest beaches on the planet, Ka’anapali Beach is a must visit on Maui’s west side.
With aqua waters and a long stretch of golden sand, Kaanapali Beach is the quintessential tropical beach paradise. It is famous for its sunsets, and activities abound during the day.
Ka’anapali is also a great base for your Maui vacation. The beachfront is lined with resorts, and you have lots of options for dining, shopping, and excursions.

On this website, we aim to provide all the information you need to visit Kaanapali Beach, from how to get here and where to park to where to stay and eat in Kaanapali, and all the fun activities you can enjoy here, and nearby.
And if you’re just starting to plan your visit to Maui, check out the some of the top things to do in Maui, many of which you absolutely don’t want to miss!

The Complete 2025 Guide to Kaanapali Beach, Maui
This comprehensive Kaanapali Beach website is your one-stop site for all the details you need to plan your visit to this beautiful beach.
Kaanapali Beach is located along the west side of the island of Maui in Hawaii, just a few miles north of the historic town of Lahaina. View the location of Kaanapali Beach on a map.
You can drive to Kaanapali Beach from various tourist locations on Maui including Lahaina, Kahului, Wailea and Hana.
Parking can be a bit tricky, so it’s best to research options in advance, especially if you’re seeking free parking!
Access to Kaanapali Beach is available from multiple points along beach resorts, and a beautiful beachwalk offers stunning ocean views.
Kaanapali Beach is a central tourist location and you can snorkel, view colorful sunsets, learn to scuba dive, attend a luau and take some of the best Maui tours from here.

With many upscale resorts lining the beach, fine dining and casual dining options are abundant, including Roy’s Kaanapali, Duke’s Beach House, Monkeypod Kitchen Kaanapali and the Hula Grill & Barefoot Bar.
Best Things to Do in Kaanapali Beach
Snorkel at Black Rock
Black Rock, the rocky lava outcropping jutting deep into the ocean at the northern end of Kaanapali Beach, is one of the best snorkeling spots in all of Maui!

The rocky underwater ledges and coral reefs around Black Rock form an ideal terrain for schools of beautiful tropical fish to dart around, playing hide and seek.
Beginning snorkelers and kids can stay near the Black Rock cliff closer to the shore in relatively shallow waters, while stronger swimmers and experienced snorkelers can proceed along the cliff face into deeper terrain.
While there is abundant fish to see in the shallows, as you get deeper you will encounter larger fish and more varied marine life including the occasional giant Hawaiian green sea turtle and the rarer octopus or eel.

For a more private snorkeling experience in pristine coral reefs, consider a snorkeling tour from Ka’anapali Beach.
The 5-star rated and highly popular West Maui Snorkeling Experience by Boat from Ka’anapali stops at two of the best West Maui snorkeling locations, and offers snorkelers the chance to see spinner dolphins, humpback whales (in winter), and bigger schools of beautiful tropical fish!
>> Check pricing and availability on the West Maui Snorkeling Experience by Boat from Ka’anapali tour now!
Take a Surfing Lesson
Surfing is a great water activity that adventure tourists of all ages can try, and where better to learn than on the fun waves off Kaanapali Beach?
Pro surfers will love the towering waves at Kaanapali Beach during winter.
Beginners will find days of low surf in winter, and most of summer, when they can learn to surf when the waves are appropriately gentle!

You and your kids can take either a Semi-Private Surf Lesson at Ka’anapali Beach with more personalized attention or the typically cheaper Group Surf Lessons from Kaanapali Beach.
>> Check pricing and availability for the 5-star rated Semi-Private Surf Lesson at Ka’anapali Beach and Group Surf Lessons from Kaanapali Beach now!
Indulge in a Luau
A Hawaiian luau, a traditional feast accompanied by Polynesian music, hula dances, and flame throwers, is a must on any Hawaiian vacation.

One of the finest luaus on Maui, the Maui Nui Luau at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa is hosted against a background of spectacular Kaanapali Beach sunsets, flickering tiki torches and a traditional cliff diving ceremony at Black Rock!
Indulge in a dinner buffet feast of succulent kalua pig steamed to perfection in an imu (underground oven), lomi-lomi salmon, and poi, a quintessential Hawaiian staple, surrounded by exotic tropical fruits and traditional Hawaiian desserts.
The show, Maui Nui Luau, is a vivid storytelling of Hawaiian history and culture, starting from the ancient Polynesians’ epic voyage across the Pacific.
Kids will love the fire-knife dance, where performers twirl and spin flaming knives with breathtaking skill, weaving fiery patterns in the intensely dark tropical night background.
>> Check pricing and availability for the popular Maui Nui Luau at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa now!
Stroll the Kaanapali Beach Walk!
One of the nicest things to do at Kaanapali Beach is stroll the walking trail that runs along the beach.

The boardwalk trail is a convenient way to enjoy the colorful sunsets and beautiful scenery at Kaanapali Beach without the need to take off your shoes or walk on sand.
Plus, there are lots of eateries along the Kaanapali Beach Walk, making it easy to stop for a bite to eat or a drink as you take in the gorgeous views.
The boardwalk is perfect for a nice long walk in the mornings. It runs 5.5 miles round trip, and you’ll need 2-3 hours to do the whole walk.But walking just a part of it is also relaxing!