North Maui Beaches (Paia area)

Baldwin Beach Park

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If you are on the north side of the island, this is the best beach around. For the active type, the body boarding here is usually perfect with numerous shorebreaks, and the hard packed sand is excellent for walking or running. The shore bottom is almost pure sand, and the crystal blue water is seemingly endless with no offshore islands to break up the horizon. As with all northern beaches, wind can develop, but less so in the summer months. Public facilities here are unparalleled with restrooms, numerous picnic tables and grills, outdoor showers, a covered pavilion, basketball court, and a soccer field. Baldwin Beach is perfect for a day in the waves, a barbecue lunch, or a complete family outing.


Ho'okipa Beach

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Made famous in songs and travel literature, Ho’okipa is the number one destination for windsurfers. On any given day visitors will witness some of the world’s best windsurfers performing their stunning aerobatics. The constant ocean swells on the eastern side of the beach near the cliff makes this a perfect spot for surfers as well. The beach itself is a small strip of white sand which tends to whip through the air due to the constant wind. The mixture of rock, reef, and sand makes the shoreline uninviting for those not heading out into the waves. Amenities here include grills, covered tables, and bathrooms. While you may not want to test your prowess in the heavy surf, Ho’okipa is worth a visit just to see the aerial display put on by some of the world’s greatest windsurfers.