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Lahaina & West Maui
Maui Island
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west maui pictures map |
The western portion of Maui has some lovely beaches north of the attractive seaside town of Lahaina and lots of hotels, condominiums and holiday rentals making it a highly attractive but rather developed region.
Lahaina Town is the historical whaling port and a charming seaside town. There's a small beach to the south of the harbour right in town and a couple of average beaches a few miles south of town.
The best beaches are all to the north. Two glorious long sandy swimming beaches almost 4-miles long and backed by a continual stretch of resorts line Kaanapali. Between the two beaches protrudes Black Rock, offering some excellent snorkelling. The southern part of the beach is quite narrow but widens as it progresses north.
The coastline becomes rocky for the next few miles until a small greyish sand beach opens up at Honokowai, and another small sand beach a few miles further north at Kahana - both have OK swimming but snorkelling is not great.
Beyond Kahana is Napili where a handful of lovely white sand cove beaches emerge between the black volcanic rock coastline, with some great snorkelling. The largest of the cove beaches is the lovely Napili Bay, backed by four small hotels.
A mile or so beyond Napili is Kapalua with two large crescent shaped beaches with good body surfing and snorkelling, and backed by two international resorts, although as with all beaches, public access is granted. Of the two beaches, the northern Flemming Beach Park is the most attractive with excellent recreational facilities and a large parking area for public access.
The road beyond Kapalua narrows to a single track and meanders over hills through some breathtaking scenery. A small rocky beach at Honolua Bay has excellent snorkelling and there are some great coastal walks to explore. The traditional fishing village of Kahakuloa has a small grey beach.
The wild north shore of West Maui is one of the most inaccessible coastal regions. A narrow road, in places no more than a dirt track, winds its way around the eerie wind swept hills with spectacular views of the coastline. The area is littered with ancient Hawaiian temples, few of which have been excavated and the stone foundations remain in natural disrepair around the cattle ranches. This is an excellent region top get out and explore the quiet coastal tracks.
search for ... Maui Resorts
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continue to ... Kihei Town & Wailea, South Maui
Readers may also be interested in the following destinations:
Cook Islands Travel Guide
Fiji Travel Guide
Samoa Travel Guide
Tonga Travel Guide
Tahiti Travel Guide
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