Wailea Beach Path, Wailea

Wailea Beach Path is a stunning path over the sea! It goes for 1.5 miles from Polo Beach in the south to Mokapu Beach in the north, hugging the coast the whole way! Sometimes you are on cliffs between the sea and rock walls, and other times you are walking through resorts. 

The southern section feels like you're in Greece! Here you are high above the sea with twisted trees and tropical flowers framing each view, while birds sing sweetly. You must go very early in the morning (the parking opens at 7am) because there is no shade and Maui is so hot! Start at a midpoint, at Wailea Beach, which has a public parking lot and an overflow parking lot for busy days. Then walk south. This is the best stretch of the path! Each view of islands and coastline, sparking blue sea, boats, snorkelers, and little hidden coves is lovely! You pass black lava rock, a native Hawaiian garden at Wailea Point, and then reach the Fairmont Kea Lani with its interesting white buildings. Once you get to Polo Beach, you can sit in the shade of an embankment for a while, and then turn back. 
I recommend doing the northern stretch of the walk (Wailea Beach to Mokapu Beach) in the early evening. It takes you along the oceanfront lawns of the Grand Wailea Resort and Wailea Beach Resort. More north is a large open area and mound where a tree is lit up with long string lights in all directions. You might hear music playing at the resorts. What a romantic walk under the palm trees! You will reach Ulua Beach and then Mokapu Beach. During whale season, December to April, you can see whales quite often, as they hang out safely in this sheltered area between the four islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Kaho'olawe. 
The Hawaiian garden on the sea side of the path at Wailea Point has plants that only arrived on the island via the current, wind, or birds. The plants adapted to the harsh salty, hot conditions on Maui. The silvery leaves of the Hinahina reflect the sun's rays. The succulents store water. The plants were used by the Hawaiians: the Ilima flowers to make leis, the Aalii wood to build houses, and the Ko'oko'olau leaves for medicinal tea. The Ma'o has been used in modern times to develop a pest resistant genetic line of cotton. 
After, have a delicious haupia cream acai bowl at Island Vintage Coffee (open 6am-7pm) in The Shops at Wailea. Or eat dinner at youthful Kohala Brewery at Wailea Village Shopping Center.
An excellent aquarium 24 minutes north is Maui Ocean Center, a good place to go in the middle of the day when you've had enough sun.

Directions

Park your car in the Public Parking for Wailea Beach Access. This is a shady parking lot with an overflow parking lot behind it. Then you can walk south to Polo Beach or north to Mokapu Beach. 
The address is 3894 Wailea Alanui Dr, Kihei, HI 96753. This parking lot is open daily 7am-7pm.

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