Big Beach (Oneloa), Maui
The verdict
- Best for: Travellers who want a vast, undeveloped, postcard beach for sunbathing, walking and watching the surf, rather than a calm swimming pool.
- Best spot: The southern end below the Pu'u Olai cinder cone, where the sand is widest and the views back along the strand are the best.
- Know this: The shore break here is strong and breaks straight onto the sand, so it injures people every year; treat the water with real caution.
Published 11 February 2026. Last reviewed 30 April 2026
Big Beach, known in Hawaiian as Oneloa and officially as Makena Beach, is the wild counterpoint to the manicured resort strands further north. Inside Makena State Park, it runs for the better part of a mile with no hotels, no shops and no loungers, just a wide sheet of golden sand backed by kiawe trees and the green cinder cone of Pu'u Olai at its north end. It is one of the most striking beaches on the island and a sunset favourite for locals and visitors alike.
The honest read is that Big Beach is for looking, walking and sunbathing more than for casual swimming. The shore break is famous for a reason: waves rear up and slam down right at the sand, and the steep drop means even a knee deep paddle can knock you over. People are hurt here every year, including confident swimmers, so this is a beach where you respect the lifeguard flags and stay out when the surf is up. On a flat, gentle day it can be glorious in the water, but those days are not guaranteed.
It suits anyone who wants scale, beauty and a sense of the old, undeveloped Maui, plus photographers and sunset seekers. Families with small children and nervous swimmers are better off at the calmer Kamaole beaches in Kihei or the sheltered cove at Kapalua Bay. Just over the rocks at the north end lies Little Beach, a smaller, more protected cove that many find gentler for a dip.
Clubs on this beach
Big Beach sits inside a state park with no club on the sand, so any service comes from the resorts and dining of nearby Wailea rather than the beach itself.
No club on the sand
Big Beach is undeveloped parkland, so there are no beach clubs, loungers or bars on the strand itself. The pleasure here is the wild, open beach; bring your own kit and treat it as a natural state park day. For a serviced beach day with daybeds and food, look to the Wailea resort strand a short drive north.
Wailea resorts nearby
A few minutes north, the Wailea resorts and their beachfront restaurants offer the serviced side of South Maui, with loungers and dining for guests and, in some cases, day visitors. These are resort setups rather than a single beach club, and access, hours and any minimum spend vary by property and are to be confirmed.
Big Beach lies at the end of the Wailea Makena road in South Maui, roughly fifteen to twenty minutes south of the Wailea resorts and about forty five minutes from Kahului Airport. There are three signed entrances into Makena State Park, each with a parking lot; the lots fill early on clear days and before sunset, so arrive in the morning or late in the afternoon and follow the park signage to the sand.
Use the marked entrances, restrooms and the lifeguard tower, and read the surf before you commit to the water, as the shore break is the real risk here rather than the rip. Bring plenty of water, sun cover and shade, since there is no shop or cafe on the beach, and carry out what you bring in. Conditions are typical rather than guaranteed, so check the daily forecast and the lifeguard flags before you swim.
Reserve a beach club day in Maui
Big Beach is wild, free state park sand with no club service. Tell us your date, party and plan and we will help arrange a serviced beach day at a Wailea resort nearby. No charge to enquire.
Common questions
Is Big Beach safe for swimming?
Big Beach has a powerful shore break that breaks right onto the sand and injures people every year, including strong swimmers, so it is not a casual swimming beach. Lifeguards are on duty during the day, so follow their flags and warnings and stay out when the surf is up. On a calm, gentle day the water can be lovely, but treat the conditions as typical rather than guaranteed.
Where is Big Beach and how do I get there?
Big Beach, also called Oneloa or Makena Beach, sits inside Makena State Park in South Maui, about fifteen to twenty minutes south of Wailea. There are three signed park entrances, each with a parking lot, reached from the Wailea Makena road. The lots fill early on clear days and at sunset, so arrive in the morning or late afternoon.
How do I get from Big Beach to Little Beach?
Little Beach lies just over the rocky outcrop at the north end of Big Beach, below the Pu'u Olai cinder cone. A short scramble over the rocks brings you to a smaller, more sheltered cove that many find gentler for a swim. Wear sturdy footwear for the rocks and take care when the surf is running.
Are there facilities at Big Beach?
Facilities are basic and in keeping with a state park: parking lots, portable toilets, an entry station and lifeguard cover by day. There are no resorts, shops, cafes or loungers on the sand, so bring your own water, shade and food, and carry your rubbish out with you when you leave.
When is the best time to visit Big Beach?
The drier summer months from April to October are generally calmest for the water, while winter swell can make the shore break heavier. Whatever the season, mornings are quietest for parking and the sand, and late afternoon brings the famous Makena sunset. Always check the surf and the lifeguard flags before you go in.
