A long sandy beach that stretches almost a mile from Wailea to the end of Kihei. Arrive early for the best chance of getting a parking spot. There is a small lot and also parking alongside the street before the parking lot. We walked to the Kihei boat ramp where we saw turtles in the crystal clear waters near the large rocks that form a protective jetty. Then doubled back to Keawakapu for a nice long swim.
One translation of the name is âforbidden cove.â Hawaiian place names often reveal multiple threads of meaning â one reason this cove might have been kapu may have been to prevent Hawaiians from settling on this section of shoreline; large Kona storms can hit here particularly hard. In fact, this normally idyllic section of shoreline is increasingly exposed and becomes unprotected when a series of storms hit, with the majority of sand vanishing into the ocean and anything too close to the margins of the beach can be destroyed. (Fortunately , over the months that follow the ocean politely returns the borrowed sand as good as new.)
On the north end there are exceptionally alive tidepools (check them out at night â during a full moon if you have the chance) and good snorkeling around the outcropping. The southern end of this beach also has a small pocket of good snorkeling. Swimming is good and serious swimmers will enjoy doing laps along the entire length of the beach. The Mana Kai hotel at the north end rents stand up paddle boards, kayaks, beach gear, snorkel gear and bikes.
