Waialea Beach — Attraction in Hawaii

This is not a huge beach so it's different than nearby Hapuna. There are a lot of trees and logs and branches along this stretch of beach. So if you are in need of a shady day because you had too much sun then this is a great beach. If you are looking for a more wide open spacious easy ocean viewing then I would recommend some other beach.

This beach has some sandy areas obviously but there is a fair amount of lava rock along the beach and even along the shoreline in the water. So you have to pay attention where you're walking and swimming or you could end up scraping up against rocks.

That being said, the trees, the rocks and the water are beautiful along the beach and you will likely not be disappointed if you are looking for a scenic beach that has less people.

There was a pay booth at the parking lot and it was $10 for a car and $5 for each person depending on how many you choose to enter on your payment at the machine.

This beach did have public restrooms and functioning water to shower off after the beach, which was super nice. For whatever reason nearby Hapuna Beach did not have running water while we were there and that was a much higher volume beach in terms of people and traffic.

I would recommend this beach if you haven't tried it. It's a bit of an a wall of you choose to walk to the far end but lots of tree cover...

Gorgeous beach with views of Maui and picturesque rocks in the water and overhanging trees. It’s my favorite on the island for just hanging out and doing nothing all day. It’s more of a series of pocket beaches separated by trees overhanging the water, although depending on the tide you can walk the length of it at the waterline if you don’t mind climbing over and under a few tree trunks and branches. The best and largest sandy pockets are to the left (south) end of the beach. Lots of snorkeling opportunities although the water can be murky at times. It’s usually sheltered and calm enough for good swimming, but the bottom is more rock than sand so light water shoes are recommended. You don’t need a beach umbrella here, there’s lot of shade - on the busiest days it may be hard to find a spot in the sun if that’s what you’re after, but that’s not common. Nice restrooms and showers, but the parking is expensive as many have said. The gravel lot is large and unlikely to fill even...

05/05/2025 (Mon) Waialea Beach – commonly known as “Beach 69” – offers a peaceful atmosphere with plenty of shade from wide-spreading trees and large, dried fallen trunks scattered along the shore. These natural features provide a great place for visitors to relax away from the sun.

The parking lot is fairly spacious, but non-residents are required to pay a fee of $10 per vehicle and $5 per person (as of 2024). Though the waves can be a bit choppy in the afternoon, the water is generally clean and clear.

The nickname “Beach 69” is said to have come from a utility pole near the entrance that was once marked with the number 69. Locals still affectionately refer to the beach by that name.

We didn’t have time to go into the water on this visit, but it’s said that the early morning is the best time to come, when the waves are calmer and the beach is less crowded. Overall, it’s a relaxing and scenic spot that’s well...