Mauna Lani Beach Club — Attraction in Hawaii

We actually drove up to go to the fish ponds, and followed Google Maps directions. When we saw a gate, GPS said to stay on that road. The gate was wide open and unattended. It was still a lengthy drive up to where we parked in an ADA spot in front of an outdoor bar. My husband got my wheelchair out, but the pavement was too unstable. I had to use both canes to get past the entrance, then it was smooth.

On the way back, that’s where this resort comes into play. There was a short path from the entrance to the fish ponds that led to the beach that was only a few feet away. We went that direction to check it out. Obviously he wasn’t going further because wheelchairs and sand are not friends. Some “official” security or whatever approached us and asked for our key card. When we said we didn’t have one he asked how we got in there. We said the gate was open and unattended, and we followed GPS to the fish ponds. I told him I haven’t seen a beach yet with actual easy access into the water and we were looking to see if we wanted to return.

At that point we were informed that this is a private beach, and reserved for their EXCLUSIVE members only. He said we needed to leave immediately.

I said that we were told by our property management company that all beaches on the island were public access up to the high tide water line, so what gives them the right to tell us we can’t be there? He then told us the entire sandy part of the beach is private, and if we park a gazillion miles away south, and hike in across the lava field we can access the beach, but only the wet sand and water.

I asked what does someone who’s disabled do to access this PUBLIC beach, as these are the only ADA parking spots in the area? He told me “you don’t come then”.

Super. The condos advertise their units to be private access, as shown below.

It’s just such a bummer that none of the nice beaches to the north have close public access anymore. The resorts have bought them up and made them damn near impossible to access, by design. This island doesn’t have a lot of actual sandy beaches, and the ones that do (have easy access to walk into the water) require people who are able bodied to walk the long and often steep downhill / and uphill back- to get there. Without being athletic to enjoy places like 2 step, or the others where you have to clamber over slick sea urchin lava to enter, there just aren’t options for people with disabilities to access beaches on the island.

It sucked being there for a month and being lucky enough to score one of the two only ADA parking spots just once at another beach the entire time we were there. Otherwise that beach is only accessible by walking a long distance, or paying another resort $17 an hour for parking that owns an insane amount of beachfront property that is entirely a ginormous parking lot that was only 1/10th full.

It’s just a shame we were treated like this and told we just can’t come to that beach unless I’m not disabled and can run the gauntlet from far away. Then to just lie and say we can only be in the water was super crappy.

We stayed the month in a beautiful large 3 bedroom home on 1/3 acre with a private pool and the view was only the ocean and sunsets. It had an additional outside kitchen and bar, a firepit with chairs overlooking the view, and a recessed perfectly manicured garden with a lawn to meditate and relax to enjoy the beauty. 2 living rooms, giant soaking tub, and a large exotic outdoor shower. $399 a night. There were two of us. We rented a brand new BMW X7. It’s not like we don’t have the money to pay for these places, it’s just insane that the “condo” below is a 1 bedroom 1 bath box with a view for $2600 a night. (Add $3000 more a night for peak tourist seasons!!) It’s embarrassing that resorts like this make people pay those rates to get a key card to a “private beach”. They had so much open land from the gate to the cabana, acres and acres of just grass and emptiness, where it was sickening that there isn’t a small parking lot closer for people with...

The absolute best beach/snorkling/hang out we have found in all of Hawaii. Its exclusive and you need a connection to get in - owner or guest on the Mauna Lani properties and a club member… But if you can get in, just plan on spending your vacation here. Snorkling is amazing - goes for hundreds of yards in all directions - every possible creature you might want to see - turtles, octopi, schools of fish and more - coral is rich and healthy. We typically went early - 7am and only locals were out swimming laps to a buoy. Waves were always gentle even when rough other places (def no surfing or such here its a relaxing place) - There was an attendant/lifeguard and they groom the beach every morning. Frankly, we kept trying other beaches to get variety and always ended up back here every day. There is a coastal path in both directions, fish ponds with eels, and even a high end restaurant with a bar right there. Could not possibly...

Great beach, just FYI for any tourists. No beach in Hawaii is “private” you just gotta find the place to park and maybe do a walk. All entities are required to give public beach access at “mean high tide” - where the vegetation stops, if you’re below that line, you are allowed to be there no matter what Karen wants to try to stop you. It is a state law. Have fun!

Sources: My mom is a retired US fish and wildlife service member and worked for the State of Hawaii on Oahu serving as the Director of the Wildlife Division of the Department of Forestry and Wildlife. Dad is a retired doctor of 33 years and certified scuba diver. They’ve also been to almost every Hawaiian island, excluding Ni’ihau. So yeah, tourists don’t let misplaced haoles try to deter you from thinking any beach on Hawaii is “private” they’re flat out wrong and you have every right to enjoy the beaches. Please don’t litter, and respect the wildlife...