Hamoa Beach - A South Seas Crescent

A stop on Maui: The Road to Hana, a free self-guided tour.

Many travelers think Hamoa is the most beautiful beach on Maui, and it is easy to see why. A crescent of salt-and-pepper sand, a mix of crushed coral and lava, curves between cliffs of black lava about 30 feet high, backed by palms and lush hillside.

The beach was once called Mokae, after the cliff that cradles it. It took the name Hamoa after the hotel in Hana bought the land above it. Popular lore says that the writer James Michener praised it as the one beach in the North Pacific that truly looks like the South Pacific. The exact words are hard to trace, but the comparison has stuck.

The beach is public even though the hotel keeps chairs and facilities here for its guests. Walk down the stairs from the road and find your own spot on the sand.

There are no lifeguards, and strong currents and big shorebreak are common, especially in winter. Swim only on calm days, and when in doubt, simply enjoy the view.

Getting here: From Hana, continue south on the highway (now Route 31) about 1.5 miles and turn left onto Haneoo Road. Hamoa Beach is about a mile along the loop; park legally along the road and walk down the stairs.

Did you know?: The sand here is gray rather than gold or black because it mixes white coral fragments with dark grains of lava.

Photo op: From the top of the stairs, frame the whole crescent of beach between the two lava headlands.

Nearby: Limited roadside parking. Outdoor showers and restrooms are near the beach; no food is sold, so bring a picnic from Hana.

More on Wikipedia: Hana, Hawaii · James A. Michener

Hamoa Beach - A South Seas Crescent

Stops on this tour