Snorkel· Maui· Hawaii
Maluaka Beach (Turtle Town)
20° 38.8′ N · 156° 26.6′ W · approximate
A soft-sand beach below the Makena golf course whose rocky south end opens onto the reef the tour boats call Turtle Town, where green sea turtles feed and rest a short swim from shore.
Practical
Approx: beach position from OpenStreetMap (way 333016719). Enter over sand and swim about 50 yards out from the south end to reach coral and turtles; the state day-use buoys Turtle Arches and 19th Hole lie just offshore (20°38.738'N 156°26.875'W and 20°38.710'N 156°26.820'W). Sheltered from the trades and calmest in the early morning; wind and south swell bring chop, breaking waves and poor visibility. Restrooms and a grassy park; limited street parking with more in a public lot about half a mile north. Look, don't touch: keep at least 10 ft from turtles.
Best for
Morning turtle snorkel by dinghy or from the beach
Season
Best calm mornings; poor in south swell
Nearby
- Keawalai Congregational Church (Makena)0.2 NM away
- Turtle Arches and Keawalai Reef Dive0.3 NM away
- Makena Landing0.4 NM away
- Five Caves (Five Graves)0.6 NM away
- Makena Anchorage (Nahuna Point)0.6 NM away
- Makena Offshore Moorings0.6 NM away
- Puu Olai Reef Dive (Makena)0.7 NM away
- Puu Olai Cinder Cone Hike0.8 NM away