Budget-friendly Kihei to luxury Wailea — South Mauiʻs dry coast has consistently clean water.
The Hawaii Department of Health recommends staying out of the ocean for at least 72 hours after heavy rain. South Maui is the dry side of the island, receiving only 10-15 inches of rain per year. Water quality here is consistently among the best in Hawaiʻi.
South Maui runs from the town of Kihei in the north to Makena in the south. Kihei is the budget-friendly base — condos, local restaurants, and three great beach parks. Wailea is the luxury zone — five crescent beaches fronted by the Grand Wailea, Four Seasons, Fairmont Kea Lani, and Andaz Maui.
The unifying factor: South Maui is the dry side. It sits in the rain shadow of Haleakalā, receiving only 10-15 inches of rainfall per year. That means fewer storm-driven bacteria events, less runoff, and consistently excellent water quality compared to the rest of the island.
Kamaole I: Largest of the three parks. Lifeguard, restrooms, showers, parking. Wide sandy beach.
Kamaole II: Smallest and quietest. Same facilities. Rocky point on the south side has tidepools.
Kamaole III: Best for families. Has a playground, large grassy park, and gentle entry. Popular with locals.
Keawakapu Beach: Between Kihei and Wailea. Uncrowded, no high-rises, beautiful sunsets.
1. Mokapu Beach: Fronts the Andaz Maui. Smaller, rocky entry on the sides but sandy center.
2. Ulua Beach: Best snorkeling in Wailea. Rocky reef on both sides creates a marine habitat.
3. Wailea Beach: The main resort beach. Fronts the Grand Wailea and Four Seasons. Wide, sandy, calm.
4. Polo Beach: Fronts the Fairmont Kea Lani. Smaller, less crowded, popular with boogie boarders.
5. Makena (Oneloa/Big Beach): South of the resorts. Large, undeveloped, strong shorebreak. Not for casual swimmers.
Hui O Ka Wai Ola, Mauiʻs community-based water monitoring program, regularly tests South Maui beaches. Their data consistently shows Enterococcus bacteria counts well below the 130 CFU/100mL advisory threshold. The reasons: minimal rainfall means minimal runoff, few stream outlets along the coast, lower cesspool density than windward areas, and strong ocean circulation.
The main exception is after rare Kona storms (southerly weather systems) that bring heavy rain directly to the south coast. These are uncommon but can temporarily elevate bacteria levels at any beach.
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⚠️ Important Disclaimer
Safe to Swim Hawaii is an independent passion project — not affiliated with the Hawaii Department of Health or any government agency. Water quality ratings 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 DOH Clean Water Branch before entering the water.
When in doubt, don't go out. 🤙