Kaanapali is a gorgeous resort town with miles of sandy beaches. In fact, most of Kaanapali is a beautiful white sand shore - the beach alone is over three miles long! So, if you’re hoping to lodge right on the beach or just looking for a beach with plenty of breathing room, this is a great place to visit.

About The Kaanapali Travel Guide

In this guide, we’ll give you all of the essential information you will need to plan a visit to Kaanapali. We’ll also profile the hugely popular Kaanapali beach including facilities, parking, crowds, and more. If you’re looking for even more information on this region, check out our West Maui Coastline Tour, which takes you on a scenic drive around the West Maui Mountains stopping at beaches, hikes, and scenic viewpoints. 

Photo by Andrew Bain on Unsplash

Kaanapali Beach

Kaanapali Beach is a beautiful three-mile white sand beach that runs along the town. You’ll find shops, restaurants, and a beautiful boardwalk just behind the beach. If you’re looking for a seaside accommodation, there are plenty of oceanside hotels to choose from. 

Kaanapali Beach has a full range of facilities including lifeguards on duty, bathrooms, and public parking (although it usually fills up by 8 a.m.). State law also requires that beachfront resorts and hotels offer beach access parking. The parking here is paid parking and will cost you around $4 per hour. 

Every evening just before sunset, Kaanapali Beach hosts a traditional cliff diving ceremony. During this ritual, the diver lights torches along Black Rock Cliff before taking the plunge. Black Rock Cliff, on the northern end of the beach, is also a great snorkel spot. The tropical fish hug the rocks, so you can snorkel up and down along the rock wall to swim with them. This is a great snorkel spot for beginners as the wall provides a natural break against the rough waves.

Weather

Kaanapali, like the rest of Hawaii, has beautiful weather all year round. Compared to the more southern regions of the island such as Wailea, it's slightly cooler and rainier - but don't pack those rain boots just yet. During the summer months from April to October, daily highs range from the low-to-mid 80s. During this season, you can expect between two to four days of rain per month. 

From November to March, daily highs dip into the high 70s and rain picks up during these winter months. At night, temperatures sit in the high-60s to mid-70s year round.  

Hotels and Resorts

Kaanapali is certainly a resort town. If you’re looking for beachfront lodgings, you’ll have no trouble finding accommodations here. Marriott's Maui Ocean Club, The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, and Hyatt Residence Club are extremely luxurious options with prices ranging between $800 to $1,000 per night. 

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa is right on Kaanapali Beach and offers a full range of resort amenities. The Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa might have the best location of any resort right on Black Rock Cliff. 

Royal Lahaina Resort and the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel are the two most affordable options with prices in the $200-ish range. Both are beachfront establishments. You might also consider popular options like Aston Kaanapali Shores, Aston Mahana at Kaanapali, Kaanapali Beach Club, Kaanapali Alii Resort, Honua Kai Resort & Spa, Maui Kaanapali Villas, or Hyatt Regency Maui Resort And Spa.

Leilani's on the Beach; Photo by Alexandra Tran on Unsplash

Restaurants

You’ll find plenty of great places to eat in Kaanapali. If you’re looking for a quick bite, be sure to check out Hank’s Haute Dogs, one of our favorite Hawaii-based restaurants. Otherwise, you can head to any of these restaurants knowing you’ll receive a delicious meal:

• Roy’s
• Leilani's on the Beach
• Hula Grill
• Joey's Kitchen
• Tiki Terrace
• Teppan-yaki Dan
• Round Table Pizza
• CJ's Deli & Diner
• Castaway Cafe
• Pulehu, An Italian Grill
• Pailolo Bar & Grill
• Duke's Beach House Maui

Golf

There is a beautiful 36-hole golf course in Kaanapali, which features surreal views of the Pacific Ocean. So, if you’re hoping to get some golfing in be sure to look into Kaanapali Golf Courses. KGC is known to be quite challenging, so bring your A-game. 

Zipliners leave platform; Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Dana Edmunds

Things to do

If you’re looking for more adventures, activities, and experiences to fill your time, there’s plenty to do in and around Kaanapali. Here are some of our favorites:

• Zipline
• Attend a Luau
• Visit the West Maui Forest Reserve
• Snorkel
• Rent a Stand-up Paddleboard, Surfboard, or Kayak
• Whale Watch
• Cliff Jump from Black Rock
• Go Shopping
• See a Magic Show
• Art Gallery Hop
• Parasailing 
• Check Out the Kaanapali Boardwalk

FAQs

How far is Kaanapali from the Road to Hana?

If you want to travel the renowned scenic Hana Highway while you’re on Maui, Kaanapali is about 45 minutes from the closest highway access point. The fastest way there is to travel south along Highway 30 and then cut across the middle of the island via Highway 380. Continue onto Airport Road and then turn right onto Hana. 

RELATED: Road To Hana Travel Guide

Why Stay in Kaanapali?

With loads of beachy resort towns, you may find yourself comparing popular lodging areas like Kaanapali, Lahaina, and Wailea. If you’re looking to stay somewhere that’s not quite as hot, Kaanapali is a better destination than the southern areas of Maui like Wailea or Kihei. 

Kaanapali is a smaller town compared to Lahaina, so if you’re looking to avoid crowds, Kaanapali is a better option (although you’ll still see plenty of people). Kaanapali also has the greatest number of beachfront accommodations anywhere on the island thanks to the three-mile-long beach. You can also find more affordable beachfront hotels and resorts in this area.

When is the Best Time to Travel to Kaanapali?

When you should visit Kaanapali depends on what you’re hoping to get out of your vacation. If you want to avoid crowds and keep your costs to a minimum, the best times to travel are shoulder seasons. The best shoulder seasons are in September before most travelers have left for winter vacations and mid-to-late January when most people are going home. 

If you’re looking to surf the best waves, head to the beach in the wintertime when swells increase. If you’re hoping to see whales, the peak whale watching season is from late-November to April, with sightings peaking January thru March. 

When you're in Hawaii remember that the beaches and marine life are fragile. Please show your aloha by wearing reef-safe sunscreen, respecting the animals - don't get too close or touch them - and by leaving the beach better than you found it. For more on how to be a safe and responsible traveler when you visit Hawaii, click here.

Visiting Maui? Shaka Guide has 6 tours on the island. Check them out here!