Safe Beach Day
Safe Beach Day
D.T. Fleming Park
Hanakaoʻo Park
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Hanakaoʻo Park

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Hanakaʻōʻō means the "digging stick bay," but the origin of the name is now unknown. The beach fronting the park was once known to Maui residents as Sand Box Beach. Sand Box was also the name of a still-popular surfing break fronting the neighboring Hyatt Regency Maui. During the early 1900s Pioneer Mill constructed a rock crusher near Hanakaʻōʻō Cemetery, now situated within the park. The rock crusher had several large storage bins to hold the crushed material, including a box for sand. The sand box was kept filled with beach sand, which was bagged as needed for various construction projects. The rock crusher shut down operations in the 1920s, but the sand box remained on the beach for many years, giving the beach its once-popular name. Hanakaʻōʻō Beach Park is located between Wahikuli State Wayside Park and the Hyatt Regency Maui. The beach fronting the park is the beginning of the long stretch of sand that runs for a mile to Puʻu Kekaʻa or Black Rock in the center of Kāʻanapali. The park is heavily used by swimmers, snorkelers, and picnickers. The shorebreak that forms on the beach attracts bodysurfers and bodyboarders. The nearshore waters offshore the beach also provide boaters with a popular summer anchorage. Facilities in the park include picnic pavilions, restrooms, showers, paved parking, and a canoe storage shed for the outrigger canoe clubs who use the park as a practice site.

amenities

BBQ Grills

BBQ Grills

Metered Parking

Metered Parking

Picnic

Picnic

Restrooms

Restrooms

Showers

Showers

activities

Fishing

Fishing

Snorkeling

Snorkeling

Surfing

Surfing

Swimming

Swimming

Volleyball

Volleyball

prohibitions

No Alcohol

No Alcohol

No Amplified Music

No Amplified Music

No Camping

No Camping

No Cars on Sand

No Cars on Sand

No Dogs

No Dogs

No Fire Pits

No Fire Pits

No Smoking

No Smoking

hazards

Jellyfish

Jellyfish

Large Waves

Large Waves

Slippery Rocks

Slippery Rocks

Strong Currents

Strong Currents

Swim at your Own Risk

Beaches and oceans are dynamic natural environments.  Crowd conditions, currents, waves, wild animals, and other water and beach conditions can rapidly change. The risks and conditions shown on this site are informational only and not always real-time.  Actual conditions may differ.  Lifeguards are not always on duty or available.  Always remain aware of your surroundings and exercise due care for your own safety and the safety of others around you. 

Always check for water warnings or check with a lifeguard before you swim.