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Baldwin Beach Park
Kanaha Beach Park
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Kanaha Beach Park

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Kanahā Beach Park is a sixty-six-acre county beach park. The east half of the park is developed, with restrooms, showers, and paved parking. The west half is grove crossed by a number of secondary dirt roads. The beach fronting most of the park is narrow and severely eroded. A series of boulder groins constructed perpendicular to the beach to retard erosion have been ineffective and now are seaward of the beach and isolated in the ocean. However, a section of white sand beach approximately one-half mile long at the east end of the park is wide and free of rocks.

Kanahā Beach Park is heavily used for windsurfing. Swimmers need to be alert at all times for windsurfers who are constantly launching and landing, often at high speeds. A swimming area near the east end of the park is delineated with a line of buoys to separate the swimmers and windsurfers. Kahului Airport is located directly inland of the park. If aircraft noise is too bothersome, you may want to look elsewhere for a more peaceful setting.

Windsurfing was introduced to Hawaiʻi in the 1970s, and Kailua and Diamond Head Beaches on Oʻahu immediately became its most popular sites. Then the sport moved to the north shore of Maui, where the shoreline from Kahului to Paʻia has become one of the premier windsurfing sites in the world. The year-round consistency, high velocity, and angle-to-shore of the trade winds; the surf on the nearshore fringing reefs; the year-round mild climate; and the accessibility of sand beaches close to public roads have combined to make this a world-class venue for the sport and its international competitions.

Kanahā Beach Park, specifically the east end of the park, is one of the major windsurfing sites on Maui's north shore. On a windy day, an average of 100 windsurfers may be found in the water at any time of the day, and windsurfing boards and sails often cover the beach itself from end to end. Kanaha Beach is close to Kahului, where many of the windsurfing shops are located, thus making it a focal point for novice and intermediate windsurfers, who can launch and land safely along the wide sandy beach.

Kanahā Beach is also the best swimming beach on the Kahului/Wailuku side of the island. With a gentle slope to overhead depths, it is a popular place for families and children. Kanahā means "the shattered [thing]."

amenities

BBQ Grills

BBQ Grills

Metered Parking

Metered Parking

Playground

Playground

Restrooms

Restrooms

Showers

Showers

Snack Shack

Snack Shack

activities

Fishing

Fishing

Kiteboarding

Kiteboarding

Swimming

Swimming

Windsurfing

Windsurfing

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

No Vending

No Vending

hazards

Jellyfish

Jellyfish

Large Waves

Large Waves

Sharp Coral

Sharp Coral

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.