What to do in Kuau, HI

The luxury Wailea resort community occupies 1,500 acres (607 hectares) of land. The area is surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. Wailea Beach is a wide stretch of sand, perfect for an afternoon of sunbathing or building sandcastles. It’s surrounded by four smaller beaches and has a broad range of shops. Rent a kayak or snorkeling gear, or book a guided scuba dive to see the green turtles up-close. This popular, family-friendly beach has many facilities.

At Haleakalā National Park, you can step inside volcanic craters, walk through rain forest and swim in freshwater pools.

Keawakapu Beach is more serene than its quite touristy neighbors on the southwestern shore of Maui. This beach stretches for about 1,200 yards (1,110 meters), and you should have no problem finding a good spot for sunbathing on the soft, white sand. If you’re looking to escape the crowds or for a spot to let the kids roam free and build sandcastles, Keawakapu Beach is for you. Scuba divers come here to see the fish species attracted to the artificial reef made from old cars.

Honolua Bay’s position on the northwest coast of Maui makes it an ideal spot for surfers. Winter is the best time for this, because that’s when the swells are biggest. The huge barrel waves here are renowned for their incredibly long riding time, so if you are experienced, join the fun! If you want to brush up your skills first, sign up for a surf lesson; there are good surf schools around. In the summer, Honolua Bay is great for snorkeling.

The Haleakalā Crater is home to the “House of the Sun,” or the East Maui Volcano. Come here to watch the sunrise; it’s one of the best in the country and you can easily imagine that you are on another planet. The Haleakalā National Park is a refreshing change of scenery from Maui’s crowded beaches and is not to be missed.