Anchorage· Maui· Hawaii
Olowalu Anchorage
20° 47.9′ N · 156° 37.2′ W · approximate
The open-roadstead anchorage off Olowalu village and Hekili Point, the classic first or last leeward stop between Maalaea and Lahaina, with the mountains' gap at Olowalu gulch overhead and the island's healthiest fringing reef inshore of the boat.
Practical
Coordinate is approx: placed about 0.3 nm seaward (southwest) of DOBOR day-use mooring Olowalu 1 (20 48.194 N, 156 36.997 W), outside the mooring line, so you are clear of the reef and the 100-yard no-anchoring circle around each mooring. No published depth or holding data was found: sound in and anchor only on clear sand, rock or rubble with no live coral (HAR 13-257 rule for day-use mooring zones). The ten DOBOR day-use moorings (Olowalu 1 to 5, White Sands, LP, Coconuts, Alii, PK) are daytime only, first come first served, 2.5 hours if someone is waiting, and no overnighting on them; overnight means your own anchor. Lies in the lee of the West Maui Mountains, but trade winds can accelerate down the coast at night: a May 2025 cruiser report describes going from calm to heavy trades overnight here, with gusts approaching 40 kt farther south toward McGregor Point. A 35 ft sailboat went aground about 1 mile north of Olowalu in 2019 (NOAA IncidentNews), so set the anchor well and keep a watch in strong trades. Open to kona (south) winds and south swell. Night mark: the deep gulch of Olowalu Stream shows as a gap in the mountains abreast of Hekili Point (Coast Pilot). Shore: Leoda's Kitchen and Pie Shop and Olowalu General Store are at the village beside the highway; land the dinghy on the beach only in calm conditions and cross the reef through sand channels at high water.
Best for
Overnight lee stop with world-class reef snorkeling off the stern
Season
Trade-wind season; untenable in kona weather and south swell