Napili Beach, Maui, HI: Complete 2024 Visitor Guide
Napili Beach, in sheltered Napili Bay, is one of the best family-friendly beaches on the sunny, west side of Maui.
Napili Bay Beach is a beautiful, centrally located beach, perfect for those living in the condos and resort villas fronting the beach, or those staying nearby at the tourist meccas of Lahaina and Kapalua.
The crystal clear, blue waters of Napili Bay are protected by an underwater reef from large waves, resulting in usually calm waters, great for families with kids.
Visiting Maui with younger kids? Our kids loved the warm waters, learning to boogie board and surf the gentle waves, while we tried our hand at standup paddle boarding and kayaking.
Let us guide you on what to do at Napili Beach, and help you plan your trip here! Spending a family beach day at Napili Beach is one of the best things to do in Maui!
Want to snorkel on Maui? Check out our guides to the best tours to Molokini Crater and Turtle Town, two of the top snorkel spots on Maui!
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Napili Beach Directions
Napili Bay Beach is located on the northwest side of Maui, the sunny leeward coastline. It is one of the many beaches in Kapalua, a few miles north of Kaanapali and Lahaina.
Take the Honoapiilani Highway, Highway 30, north from Lahaina and exit left on Napilihau Street towards the ocean.
At the end of the road, turn right on Lower Honoapiilani Road, and you have the option to turn left on one of multiple small roads heading to the ocean, like Napili Place, Hui Drive, etc. (expand the Napili Beach map below).
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Napili Beach Parking
Napili Beach parking is a challenge, unless you come early (ideally before 10:00 am).
We usually park on Napili Place, and there is a small pullout as you turn in on the right side. Street parking was free last time we parked.
No luck finding a spot on Napili Place? Then head further up to Hui Drive (a dead-end street parallel to the beach) and see if you can find street parking here.
Street parking on Lower Honoapiilani Road is also available, but getting stuff from here to the beach is a bit tricky. See if you can unload closer, and then look for parking.
As a last resort, you also have some paid parking lots, as well as the Kapalua Tennis Garden, where you can pay and park.
Napili Beach Map
The Napili Beach map below shows the location of Napili Beach, and the main attractions nearby. Please expand the map for directions and parking.
Napili Beach Access
Depending on where you parked, you can head to the beach via walkways and stairs. At the end of Napili Place is a small pathway marked “Napili Bay Beach Access.”
On Hui Drive, just after the road curves to the right, there is a short beach access pathway.
Napili Beach Reservations
Napili Beach is a public beach, and currently no reservations are required.
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Napili Beach Amenities / Facilities
Location: Kapalua, northwest shore of Maui
Lifeguard: No
Beach Amenities: Showers, restrooms in resorts for guests
Food Nearby: The Gazebo and the Sea House. Merriman’s Kapalua is a short walk.
Parking: Street parking on Napili Place, Hui Drive or Lower Honoapiilani Road
Directions: Highway 30 north from Lahaina, left on Napilihau St, right on Lower Honoapiilani Road to one of multiple beach access roads (see above).
Beach showers are available on Hui Drive and Napili Kai Beach Resort.
You’ll find restrooms in the different resorts and restaurants lining the beach, but note that these are usually limited to their guests.
Best Things to Do at Napili Beach
Napili Bay Beach is a great place for a beach day outing with the family, and the whole family can partake in many beach and water activities.
The beach is beautiful, with golden white, finely powdered, soft sands!
Note though that the beach slopes more sharply into the waters than typical, and that the waves do come deep into the sandy shores.
Waters are usually calm, clear and a stunning blue, especially in summer!
Vacationing with young kids? They will love the shallow waters near the shore and the tidepools, but we insisted our kids wear flotation jackets since no lifeguards are on duty.
You get amazing views of the nearby islands, Molokai and Lana’i, and if you stay back for sunset, you can snap stunning photos of the golden sun dipping behind the island of Lana’i!
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1. Napili Beach Snorkeling
Napili Beach is one of the best snorkeling beaches on West Maui, with sheltered waters, extensive underwater coral reefs, and shallow tidepools.
Those with a bit of experience with swimming and snorkeling can venture out to the larger coral reefs to the left of the beach, while beginners are best of nearer the shore in the shallow tidepools.
We’ve found snorkeling here in the morning is the best, because the underwater visibility is a lot better.
We saw many of the beautiful Hawaiian tropical fish here, including yellow tangs, convict tangs, butterflyfish, triggerfish, wrasses and some larger fish.
To recognize these and other Hawaiian tropical fish, consult our detailed Hawaiian Fish Snorkeling Guide.
If you don’t spot any Hawaiian green sea turtles, try the neighboring Honokeana Bay, where they are more abundant.
2. Napili Beach Swimming
Protected by the reefs, the waters in this crescent-shaped bay are usually fairly calm.
No lifeguards are on duty at Napili Bay Beach, so you enter water at your own risk. Our kids used flotation jackets.
Keep your eyes open, we swam with a family of turtles on our first day at the beach!
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3. Sunbathe or Relax with a Book on the Napili Beach
Sunbathers will love the soft, finely powdered, white sands on Napili Beach.
While the beach does tend to get crowded towards the afternoon, we had no trouble finding a reasonably private spot.
But make sure you park yourself way back, the waves tend to come in quite deep into the sandy beach.
If you didn’t bring beach umbrellas, you can find some shade at the back of the beach, from trees and hedges.
4. Stay Back for Spectacular Sunsets
Napili Bay Beach is one of the best spots on Maui to view spectacular sunsets, and we usually stay back for it.
The sky lights up with orange-red colors, while the glowing orb sinks into the ocean waters behind the neighboring island of Lana’i.
Watching this beautiful sunset with your partner is one of the most romantic things to do in Maui!
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5. Admire Turtles on Napili Beach
Like many of Maui’s beaches, Napili Beach is also frequented by Hawaiian green sea turtles that come to the sandy shores to bask in the sun and rest.
We saw at least a dozen when we were there, and more were coming in at dusk when we were getting ready to leave after viewing the sunset.
Make sure you give these beautiful creatures a wide berth, and don’t disturb their rest! Hawaiian green sea turtles are endangered and protected by law.
6. Surf and Boogie Board at Napili Beach, Maui, HI
The summer waves are gentle at Napili Beach, and a great place for kids to learn surfing and boogie boarding!
However, during winter and summer swells, waves can get quite large, and tend to cross the underwater reefs and break near shore.
That’s when you’ll see a bunch of local daredevil kids trying their hand at extreme boogie boarding!
We watched them ride the waves during a storm, and they would sometimes ride the waves from one end of the bay to the other end, diagonally!
Unless you know what you’re doing, surfing and boogie boarding under these extreme conditions is best left to the experienced locals!
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7. Hiking the Coastal Trails near Napili Bay Beach
Want to stretch your legs while the rest of the family is in the water? The Kapalua Coastal Trail starts from near the northern end of the Napili Bay Beach (see Napili Beach map above).
One of the best Maui hikes, the Kapalua Coastal trail offers spectacular views and takes you along varying coastline terrain through multiple beaches, tidepools, ritzy resorts, lava formations and labyrinths.
You may even see whales breaching in winter as you hike along the coast, and nesting wedge-tailed shearwater birds (a burrowing seabird)!
On the southern end, you can hike the Napili Bay Beach trail, a short, paved trail overlooking Napili Bay, with stunning views and great for spotting Hawaiian seabirds or whales in winter.
8. Kayaking, Standup Paddle Boarding, and Canoeing
We spent one afternoon in Napili Bay standup paddle boarding, exploring the sheltered bay and admiring the coastline views from the ocean side.
The gentle summer ocean waters and protected nature of the waters makes Napili Bay a great place to try your hand with a spot of kayaking, canoeing and standup paddle boarding on open ocean waters.
Just make sure you don’t head out too far, we saw some people get into trouble when the winds picked up in the afternoon, and had to be helped back into the safety of the bay waters.
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9. Sample the Delicious Food from Local Restaurants
Foodie visiting Napili Bay Beach? You’ll love the food options available nearby, especially if you don’t mind walking a bit.
If you came in early to make sure you got good parking, and are looking for a breakfast spot, you can’t go wrong with either the Sea House restaurant on the northern end or The Gazebo at the southern end of Napili Bay Beach.
Honeymooning couple looking for a romantic dinner? Check out Merriman’s Kapalua at the northern end, with panoramic views of the ocean, and a farm-to-table concept featuring Hawaiian regional cuisine.
A bit further up along Kapalua Coastal Trail, you’ll hit many high-end options including Ritz Carlton’s Burger Shack for a lunch break.
Snorkeling and Water Activities Gear Checklist
Though you can rent snorkeling gear or use the ones that come with tours, we invested in our own gear, mainly due to Covid-19 (why take the risk?).
- Snorkeling Gear Set: We love our Cressi Light Weight Premium Travel Snorkel Set for All Family, compact and easy to pack, great fitting, and very clear underwater. The Zenoplige Mask Fins Snorkel Set is a great budget option.
- Sunscreen: Hawaii’s sun can be harsh. Avoid sunburn with sunscreen compliant with Hawaii’s 104 Reef Act. The Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray, moisturizing with Vitamin E, is our go-to when we travel to Hawaii. Apply liberally and regularly!
- Underwater Camera: Want to capture Hawaii’s incredible underwater seascape and marine life? Your best budget option is the Fujifilm QuickSnap Waterproof Disposable Camera, reasonably cheap with good underwater photos! If you want high-end photos and video, you must invest in the premium GoPro HERO12 – Waterproof Action Camera, (waterproof to 33 feet)!
- Inflatable Life Jackets: If you’re planning paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking and other water sports, and prefer your own life jacket, consider one of these two US Coast Guard approved options: the Onyx M-16 Series Belt Back Manual Inflatable Life Jacket or the Onyx A/M-24 Automatic/Manual Inflatable Life Jacket.
- Water Shoes: Some of Hawaii’s beaches have sharp lava rocks or coral reefs, good water shoes will protect your feet (but please do not walk on the reef!). We use the Merrell Hydro Moc rubber shoes (men’s, women’s), great for slippery rocks. If you prefer sandals, we recommend the Keen Newport H2 Closed Toe Water Sandals (men’s, women’s).
- Waterproof Waist Pack: Keep your rental car keys, cards, and phone dry and safe while you swim or snorkel with a dry bag. We love this 2-pack AiRun Tech Pouch with waist strap. The transparent one is touch-screen friendly!
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Tips for Your Visit to Napili Bay Beach, Maui, HI
For the most part, the underwater reef and protective arms of the bay provide shelter against large waves hitting the shore.
However, under high surf conditions and swells, the waves do cross these barriers, and large, powerful waves make it to the shore.
Check weather and surf conditions at Napili Beach here.
Heed the warning signs posted, and use your common sense and judgment on whether to enter the waters.
If the waves cross the underwater reef barriers, then they tend to break close to shore, making the waters dangerous.
We found locals quite helpful and a rich source of information on where to head for snorkeling, viewing green sea turtles, and avoiding currents.
Shade is somewhat limited on the beach, and mainly at the back of the beach near the hedges and trees. Use reefsafe sunscreen liberally!
The nice thing about visiting Napili Bay Beach is easily accessible rentals like Snorkel Bob’s Napili, where you can reserve and rent snorkeling equipment, beach chairs, flotation devices, and wetsuits.
A big drawback of Napili Beach is limited facilities and no lifeguards.
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Ocean Safety Tips
Hawaii’s beaches are beautiful, but ocean activities can be dangerous. Ocean conditions are dynamic and can change without warning.
Here are some tips to enjoy the ocean and beaches safely:
- ALWAYS heed posted warning signs.
- Check conditions just before you arrive at your chosen beach, and watch conditions at the beach for a bit before you decide to enter the water.
- Swim at a lifeguarded beach and ask the lifeguard for advice before you enter the water.
- Never turn your back on the ocean, whether you are standing at the shore or on a cliff above. If you see wet rocks or sand, it means the water has been here recently.
- Know your limitations, especially if you are not an experienced swimmer. If in doubt, do not go out.
- If you choose to enter the water, go with a partner or in a group.
- Know that alcohol can impair judgment and motor skills in the water.
- Keep children close and always keep your eyes on what they are doing in the water.
- Watch for sharp coral or rocks or sea urchins.
- Check advisories regarding water quality at various beaches here.
Also be sure to check out the safety guide put out by Maui County.
The Best Maui Tours
Have you booked these top-rated Maui guided adventures yet?
Small-group Road to Hana tour so everyone in your group can sit back and enjoy the views without worrying about negotiating hairpin bends or finding parking at popular stops!
A Haleakala sunrise tour so you can experience the bucket-list sunrise atop the volcano without the need to reserve a parking spot or drive up in the dark!
A Maui whale watching raft tour, which will let you see the massive humpback whales at eye level! (You can also opt for a more sedate boat whale watching tour.) A MUST winter Maui activity!
A Maui snorkeling excursion that combines the Molokini Crater with Turtle Town, the two most epic snorkeling destinations on the island!
A 7-line Maui zipline experience where you can glide over the forests on the north shore of Maui. Enjoy ocean views and navigate obstacle course challenges!
An oceanfront luau in Wailea where you can enjoy a sunset buffet and traditional Polynesian entertainment. You can also opt for a Kaanapali oceanfront luau.
Renting a Car in Maui
The best things to do in Maui are located all over the island.
Public transport options on Maui are minimal to non-existent, so if you want to explore the island beyond your base, you’ll want to book a rental car for your Maui trip.
We always use Discover Cars to book Maui car rentals. They search across a variety of rental car companies, both budget and brand, to offer you the best deals, AND they offer free cancellations. Plus, there are no hidden fees.
>> Check availability and prices on Maui car rentals now!
Where to Stay in Maui
Depending on whether you want a vacation rental with more room and the option to cook some of your meals, or you want a resort or hotel experience, and depending on which part of Maui you want to choose as your base, you have a variety of options.
By far the majority of visitors to Maui choose to base on the west side, where there is a large selection of accommodations available, from resorts and hotels to vacation rentals.
We suggest starting your search for Maui accommodations by browsing vacation rentals on VRBO. You can filter to choose a specific area, such as Kihei, Kapalua, or Wailea.
We have stayed in VRBO rentals in Kihei and Kapalua and find that the choice and quality are generally great.
>> Look for a Maui vacation rental on VRBO now!
More Maui Travel Inspiration
Headed to Maui for a vacation? Check out our many comprehensive guides that will help you plan the perfect Maui itinerary!
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