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Snorkeling in Maui from shore
The short answer You can snorkel from shore on both sides of Maui, but the state's drowning data says to treat it seriously. Check wind, surf and the beach's own notices before you get in.
On this page
Yes, you can snorkel Maui without a tour, from beaches on the West and South sides. Pick a calm morning, go with a buddy and check the surf first.
Boat or shore
Shore has no ticket price, and you set your own hours. You also judge the conditions yourself.
A boat has a ticket price and goes where shore cannot. Molokini can only be reached by boat. Our decision guide walks through the trade-offs.
Pick calm days
The state's drowning map flags three shore areas covered below: Black Rock, Kam 1 to Polo, and Mākena Landing to Mākena BP. Their counts are in each section. Shore snorkeling goes best on calm days, with a buddy and an honest view of your fitness. The safety tips cover the rest.
West side
- Honolua Bay. A state marine life conservation district north of Lahaina. The state lists roadside parking only and no facilities, and it advises staying out in winter surf season. Our Honolua Bay and Black Rock guide has the rest.
- Black Rock, Kāʻanapali. The state's map flags it: 24 drownings in 2009 to 2018, all non-residents, 18 of them snorkelers. Same guide as above.
Parts of Lahaina are still fire-impacted sites. The state tourism site asks visitors to follow posted signs and stay out of restricted areas.
South side
The state map also flags two South Maui stretches. "Kam 1 to Polo" had 31 drownings, 26 of them non-residents. "Mākena Landing to Mākena BP" had 20, 11 of them snorkelers.
The map shows where people died. It does not rate beaches, so do not read it as a ranking of safe and unsafe sand. It does mean these shorelines call for care.
Mākena State Park
This is the Mākena end of the second flagged stretch. The state describes it as a 164.4-acre wildland beach park with a large white sand beach and the cinder cone Puʻu Olaʻi. Oneloa (Big Beach) and Oneuli (Black Sand) Beach are open daily from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., until 7:45 p.m. in May, June and July. Parking and entry are paid for non-residents; Hawaiʻi residents with a driver's license or state ID park free. The page says swimming is for calm seas, warns that "shore break can be very dangerous" and notes there is no drinking water. The state's lifeguard list includes the park.
Kamaʻole Beach Parks I, II and III
These three beach parks are in Kīhei, and the state lists all three as lifeguarded beaches (see Lifeguards and gear below). Check posted signs and flags on the day.
When to stay out
- Surf is up, or the water looks churned and brown. Honolua in winter is the clearest case.
- Wind is strong. Trade winds blow 80 to 95% of the time from May to September and 50 to 80% from October to April, and leeward areas often get an afternoon sea breeze.
- You are alone, tired or new to snorkeling.
- You feel a current pulling you along the shore. Get out and reassess.
Beginners
We cannot call any beach safe for beginners. What helps is conditions: calm water, shallow sand to practice on, no surf and a buddy. If you are new, try your first session in water where you can stand.
Lifeguards and gear
The state's lifeguarded-beach list includes Kamaʻole 1, 2 and 3 and Mākena State Park, guarded daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Elsewhere, look for posted signs and flags, and ask a rental shop which beaches near you are guarded.
For gear, rent from a local shop and test the mask before you leave it. More habits are in our snorkel tips.
Rules
- Stay 10 feet from turtles. Never touch, chase or feed any wildlife.
- Maui County allows only mineral sunscreens, meaning zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
- At Honolua, taking marine life, sand or coral is prohibited.
If you would rather take a boat
Current Molokini trips leave from the Kīhei Boat Ramp and Māʻalaea Harbor, plus Maluaka Beach in Mākena when Kai Kanani is sailing (paused as of Nov. 4, with no November dates and December on sale). Operators use one departure point each, and the comparison shows which. Every operator is listed on the home page, and the boat spots guide lists where they stop.
Sources and corrections
The 12 sources for this page
- Galanis D., 'Fatal ocean drownings, 2009-2018' (slides; page: https://health.hawaii.gov/injuryprevention/wsocon19b/) (Hawaiʻi State Department of Health, Injury Prevention and Control Section), read . Backs: Callouts for Black Rock, Kam 1 to Polo, Mākena Landing to Mākena BP.
- Climate of Hawaii (state climate narrative; served from wrcc-archive.dri.edu) (Western Regional Climate Center (a NOAA regional climate center)), read . Backs: Trade winds blow 80 to 95% of the time May to September and 50 to 80% October to April; leeward areas often get an afternoon sea breeze.
- News release 19 Nov 2021: Maui County Council passes bill prohibiting non-mineral sunscreens (Bill 135) (Hawaiʻi DLNR), read . Backs: Maui County allows only mineral sunscreens.
- Viewing Marine Wildlife in Hawaiʻi (last updated 23 Feb 2026) (NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Regional Office), read . Backs: Turtles: stay 10 feet away; never touch, chase or feed.
- Maui – Honolua-Mokulēʻia Bay MLCD (Hawaiʻi DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources), read . Backs: Honolua Bay: parking only alongside the highway, no facilities, waters should be avoided in winter when high surf is common; taking marine life, sand or coral is prohibited.
- Mākena State Park (Hawaiʻi DLNR Division of State Parks), read . Backs: Mākena State Park: 164.4 acres, Oneloa and Oneuli open daily 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (7:45 p.m. May to July), paid parking and entry for non-residents, swimming in calm seas, shore break warning, no drinking water.
- List of Lifeguarded Beaches in Hawaii (State of Hawaiʻi Ocean Safety), read . Backs: Lifeguarded beaches: Kamaole 1, 2, 3 and Makena State Park, Mon-Sun, 8am-4:45pm; Mākena Landing is not listed.
- Maui – Molokini Shoal (HAR 13-31) (Hawaiʻi DLNR, Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR)), read . Backs: Molokini is reached by boat only.
- Kāʻanapali Beach (Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (GoHawaii)), read . Backs: Black Rock is at Kāʻanapali Beach.
- Lahaina (Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (GoHawaii)), read . Backs: Parts of Lahaina are fire-impacted sites; visitors are asked to follow posted signs and stay out of restricted areas.
- Maui Island Facilities (Hawaiʻi DLNR, DOBOR), read . Backs: Current Molokini departures are from Māʻalaea Harbor and Kīhei Boat Ramp.
- kaikanani.com (Kai Kanani), read . Backs: Kai Kanani departs from Maluaka Beach in Mākena; sailing paused as of Nov. 4, no November dates, December on sale.