BEACH ITINERARY · Maui

5 day Maui Plan

Data-driven beach plan with water quality checks

Trip Overview

Duration	5 day
Island	Maui
Beaches	6 beaches covered
Best For	All experience levels

Day-by-Day Plan

Day 1

Morning

Kaʻanapali Beach — best conditions early before trade winds build

Check water quality before entering → live data

Afternoon

Kaʻanapali Beach (afternoon cliff diving at Black Rock, sunset)

IF BROWN WATER IS ACTIVE

Skip Kaʻanapali Beach and go to Wailea Beach instead. Or try: Maui Ocean Center

Day 2

Morning

Wailea Beach — calmer water in the morning, arrive early for parking

Check water quality before entering → live data

Afternoon

Explore nearby restaurants, shops, or take a guided tour

IF BROWN WATER IS ACTIVE

Skip Wailea Beach and go to Big Beach (Makena) instead. Or try: Maui Ocean Center

Day 3

Morning

Big Beach (Makena) — best conditions early before trade winds build

Check water quality before entering → live data

Afternoon

Kaʻanapali Beach (afternoon cliff diving at Black Rock, sunset)

IF BROWN WATER IS ACTIVE

Skip Big Beach (Makena) and go to Kapalua Bay instead. Or try: Maui Ocean Center

Day 4

Morning

Kapalua Bay — calmer water in the morning, arrive early for parking

Check water quality before entering → live data

Afternoon

Explore nearby restaurants, shops, or take a guided tour

IF BROWN WATER IS ACTIVE

Skip Kapalua Bay and go to Napili Bay instead. Or try: Maui Ocean Center

Day 5

Morning

Napili Bay — best conditions early before trade winds build

Check water quality before entering → live data

Afternoon

Kaʻanapali Beach (afternoon cliff diving at Black Rock, sunset)

IF BROWN WATER IS ACTIVE

Skip Napili Bay and go to Honolua Bay instead. Or try: Maui Ocean Center

⚠️ The 72-Hour Rain Rule

After heavy rain, wait at least 72 hours before entering the ocean. Check each beachʻs water quality page for live advisory status.

FAQ 1

How many days do I need on Maui?

5-7 days to see west and south Maui plus Road to Hana

FAQ 2

What is the best order to visit Maui beaches?

Start in West Maui (Kaʻanapali/Kapalua), then South Maui (Wailea/Makena), save Road to Hana for a full day

FAQ 3

What if it rains during my 5 day on Maui?

Rain alternatives on Maui: Maui Ocean Center, Lahaina shops, Iao Valley (rain makes the waterfall better), upcountry farms. Also check our brown water advisory guide — avoid the ocean for 72 hours after heavy rain.

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Maui Beaches → Beach Safety Tips → All Hawaii Beaches →

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⚠️ Important Disclaimer

Safe to Swim Hawaii is an independent passion project — it is not affiliated with the Hawaii Department of Health, any entity mentioned on this page, or any government agency or hotel brand. Water quality ratings on this site are estimates based on publicly available testing data and geographic analysis. They are not real-time measurements and may not reflect current conditions.

Always verify current water quality conditions with the Hawaii Department of Health Clean Water Branch before entering the water. This site is for informational purposes only and should not be the sole basis for any swimming decisions.

When in doubt, donʻt go out. 🤙