Maui's beaches are legend. Pristine and sheltered, especially on the leeward coasts, they have been lauded on top 10 lists for years. The beach fronting the Kapalua Bay Hotel is among the best. But you can't dismiss the stretch of white sand at Kaanapali, or the beaches of Kihei and the continuous coves at Wailea and Makena.

Maui has a beach that is just right for you. If you are looking for a long stretch of beach that you can call your own, you can't beat the white sand beaches of South Maui for morning walks or moonlight strolls.

The beaches in Maui are spectacular, year round the water temperature stays warm. No matter what time of year you come to Maui you will be able to swim with comfort. The average year round water temperature is 74 degrees F. (23.3 C), with a summer high of 80 degrees F. (26.7 C). Wave action varies a great deal between winter and summer, and between island coasts. Generally summer waters are very gentle on all beaches. This changes in the winter on many north facing beaches, as storms far out into the Pacific drive ocean swells towards the islands, which build into large breaking waves.

If you like to people watch while you're walking, Kaanapali's beaches are the best, especially "Dig Me" Beach. No, "dig me" does not refer to its sand! Watch surfers as you walk along Awalua Beach, parasailers at Hanaka'o'o Beach, or windsurfers at Hookipa and Kanaha Beaches. While the morning is best for exercise walking, at sunset, the beaches are spectacular! Instead of walking though, by that time of the day, most people are content to sit on the sand and watch the sun dip below the horizon, ending another perfect day on Maui beaches.

All of Hawaii's beaches, including the beaches in front of Maui's luxury hotels, are public property and available to all who wish to enjoy them. In heavily populated areas, look for blue and white shoreline access markers along the roadway that mark public access roads or trails to the ocean.

When the wind picks up, you can see clusters of brilliantly colored sails dotting the beach shoreline. Maui particular ocean conditions have made it a worldwide mecca for windsurfing.

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