7-day beach plan with water quality checks
| Duration | 7 days |
| Islands | Maui, Kauaʻi |
| Flights | 1 inter-island flight(s) |
West Maui’s premier resort beach stretches three miles. Black Rock at the north end offers the island’s best shore-accessible snorkeling with sea turtles, reef fish, and cliff jumping at sunset. Morning water is clearest. Stormwater drains along the resort strip can elevate bacteria after rain — check the Kaʻanapali page.
Golden crescent between the Grand Wailea and Four Seasons on Maui’s arid south shore. Gentle slope, southwest exposure for all-day sun. Walk the 1.5-mile Wailea Beach Path to explore neighboring beaches. Snorkeling at the south rocky point is worthwhile on calm mornings.
Massive undeveloped sand beach in Makena State Park. Powerful shore break dumps hard in shallow water — experienced body surfers only. No lifeguards. $10 parking, lot holds ~100 cars. Arrive before 11 AM on weekends.
Small sheltered crescent at the north end of west Maui with rocky headlands blocking wave energy on both sides. Calm water year round. Snorkeling along the south point is excellent. The tiny parking lot (20 spots) fills before 9 AM — alternatively, walk from the Kapalua resort area.
Kauaʻi’s sunniest beach sits on the south shore. A natural tombolo splits two swimming zones — the left cove is the calmest. Hawaiian monk seals rest on the sand (50-foot legally required distance). Free lot with ~50 spaces, fills by 10 AM.
Fringing reef creates a shallow lagoon (knee to waist deep for 200 yards). Perfect for wading, paddleboarding, and beginner snorkeling. Ironwood shade trees along the shore. The reef prevents fast water flushing — allow extra recovery time after storms beyond the standard 72 hours.
Dramatic two-mile crescent below emerald ridges. Most sheltered near the pier on the east end. Summer brings flat swimming conditions; winter swells are powerful. The Hanalei River drains into the center of the bay — a brown plume forms after any rain. About 40 parking spaces near the pier, plus Black Pot Beach Park on the east end.
| Inter-island flight | OGG (Kahului) to LIH (Līhuʻe): connects through HNL. Total travel 3–4 hours with layover. Book early |
| Kaʻanapali parking | Whaler’s Village garage ($3/hr). Free public access at north end near Hyatt |
| Kaʻanapali to Kapalua | 15 min north on Lower Honoapiilani Rd. Small lot — arrive before 9 AM |
| LIH to Poʻipū | 25 min south via Kaumualiʻi Hwy. Free beach park lot fills by 10 AM |
| Poʻipū to Anini | 50 min north through Līhuʻe. No direct cross-island route |
| Anini to Hanalei | 15 min west. One-lane bridges require yielding to oncoming traffic |
After heavy rain, wait at least 72 hours before entering the ocean. Check each beach's water quality page.
We recommend at least 4 days per island. This 7-day itinerary gives you enough time to experience the best beaches on each island without rushing.
Start with the most urban/accessible island (Oʻahu), then move to resort islands (Maui), and end with the most remote (Kauaʻi or Big Island). This lets you ease into the relaxation.
Inter-island flights on Hawaiian Airlines or Southwest typically cost $60-150 one way. Book 2-4 weeks ahead for best prices. Flights are 30-45 minutes between islands.
Tours listed via Viator and GetYourGuide. Safe to Swim Hawaii may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Free alerts when advisories change at your beach.
⚠️ 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.
This site does not recommend or advise anyone to swim at any beach. We share government data and geographic analysis so you can make your own informed decisions. By using this site you accept full responsibility for your own safety. See our Terms of Use for full details.
When in doubt, donʻt go out. 🤙