Mākena State Park in Maui: Complete Guide

Before you get to Mākena State Park, make sure you plan ahead so you can experience everything this park has to offer.

From deciding when to go to what to bring to where to park, this section has the essentials you need to make your trip smoother.

Where is Mākena State Park?

Mākena State Park is hidden on the southwest coast of Maui, Hawaii. It’s a gem with clear blue waters and dramatic volcanic landscapes.

Big Beach is one of the most popular beaches here, loved for its long sandy shores and sometimes big surf, so it’s a hotspot for both relaxation and adventure.

How to Get to Makena Beach Park?

To get to Makena Beach Park, drive south from Kihei on the Piilani Highway (State Route 31), then onto Wailea Ike Drive.

Once you get there, follow the signs to Mākena. The road will narrow into Makena Alanui Road and take you right into the park.

There’s a parking lot but it fills up quickly, especially on weekends so get there early to snag a spot.

Mākena State Park is open daily from 5 AM. to 7:45 PM. But some facilities in the park are not always open. For example, Puʻu Olaʻi (Little Beach) is only open until 4 PM on Saturdays and Sundays.

If you’re going to be at any of the beaches in the park, get there as early as you can. Parking can fill up quickly, especially in the most popular areas as the morning goes on. Summer is the busiest time of year in Maui as it’s the driest time of year.

If you’re going to Mākena during these months (or holidays) you really need to get to the park right when it opens.

Where to Park at Mākena State Park

There is no free parking at Mākena State Park – Hawaii residents with a valid driver’s license or ID can park for free.

Everyone else must pay to park either at the parking kiosks in the lot or through the park’s website by clicking on this link.

Regardless of how you pay for parking, it’s $10 per passenger vehicle for the day and $5 per passenger.

You’ll find gorgeous white sand beaches to explore at Makena State Park. The sand, clear water, and relatively calm seas (on some days) make this park perfect for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, and more.

Here are the best beaches to visit at the park.

Oneloa, also known as Big Beach, is over 2/3 of a mile of coastline in Mākena State Park. Famous for its golden sand and big waves that attract sunbathers and body surfers.

Lifeguards are on duty due to the shore break and it’s safer for visitors, which is a nice feature despite the remote location of the beach.

There’s also plenty of space and scenery, and that makes it a great spot for a day in the sun, but always be aware of the strong currents.

Many visitors miss this amazing black sand beach simply due to the fact that they don’t know there’s a 0.25-mile hike to get there.

Note: It’s off the beaten path and not as beautiful as other beaches in Maui, but it’s very peaceful, clean, and definitely worth the short walk.

Also, if you plan to swim at all during your visit to Mākena State Park, swim here. This black sand beach is rocky and often covered at high tide, and that’s excellent for swimming and snorkeling. You might even spot some turtles!

The best way to see the black sand beach is on a helicopter tour in Maui, but these tours are very popular, and we recommend booking as soon as possible – You won’t regret it!

Another beach worth seeing is Puʻu Olaʻi Little Beach is a must for those who are comfortable being nude at the beach. Not technically “legal” but one of the few places in Hawaii where you’ll find many nude sunbathers.

You can get to Little Beach via a short, fairly simple hike that climbs over the cinder cone (which we’ll discuss below).

This beach closes on Sundays so make sure to visit Makena State Park during the week if you can. And after enjoying for a few hours, make sure to go on a Maui sunset dinner cruise, which is one of the most fun experiences you can join on the island!

The beautiful beaches aren’t the only attraction when visiting Puu Olai. You can hike or climb the cinder cone (volcanic hill) in the middle of the park.

Puu Olaʻi has been dormant for not that long ago – or at least in geologic time. There’s no concrete evidence of when it last erupted but the evidence suggests it erupted around the 18th century, which is very recent in geologic time.

This dormant volcano has 360° views of Makena and beyond. From here, you can see the islands of Molokini (make sure to go snorkeling at Molokini Crater!) and Kaho’olawe in the distance.

Puu Olai is also said to have cultural significance as traditional Hawaiian ceremonies and rituals were once performed at its base.

As you’re here, be safe. It’s easy to just enjoy yourself when you see this beautiful state park. But there are a few elements to keep in mind when visiting.

Strong currents, big shore breaks, and sunburn are reasons to take precautions when visiting Makena Park.

Strong Currents and Shore Breaks at Makena Beaches

Many beaches on Maui have big waves and shore breaks that can sneak up on you. But Makena’s beaches, Big Beach in particular, are notorious for being some of the most dangerous on the island.

Never turn your back to the ocean as waves can come in fast, sometimes from knee high to over your head in minutes.

The slope of the shoreline creates big shore breaks. While this is great for skimboarding, bodyboarding, and body surfing, these shore breaks can sweep swimmers off their feet, and knock them down even when standing in ankle-deep water. If you do go in the water, remember this.

Also, a life jacket will greatly reduce your chances of something going wrong if a wave comes out of nowhere.

If you’re traveling with small children, it’s best to keep them out of the water at these beaches.

You can definitely spend the day at Makena State Park but this part of the island has other fun things to do. The Road to Hana is considered one of the best things to do in Maui.

While this is a bucket list adventure that starts more than 50 miles away from the park (it starts in Paia), this part of south Maui has some of the “Road to Hana” attractions nearby. From waterfalls to epic hikes, you could spend days in this small area of the island.

Want to make it better (and less stressful)? Take a small group tour of the Road to Hana. Then you can just sit back and enjoy the view.

Another must-see is watching the sunrise from the top of Haleakalā, a dormant volcano on Maui. This dormant volcano last erupted around 1790 and is the highest point on the island at over 10,000 ft.

Reserve a parking spot in advance as those fill up fast during peak season. Or take an organized sunrise tour of Haleakala and skip the driving hassle – They fill up for a reason so book ahead.