Hoʻokipa Beach Park
Pāʻia, North Shore Maui
A World-Famous Windsurfing Beach With Evening Sea Turtles
Hoʻokipa Beach Park, near mile marker 9 on the Hāna Highway just east of Pāʻia, is a county park known worldwide for windsurfing and surfing. Maui County's page describes three parking areas, with a lower section with a picnic pavilion, restrooms, and beach access and an upper lookout. Green sea turtles often haul out on the sand in the evening; volunteers rope off the resting area and visitors should stay at least 10 feet back.
Guides stress that it is better as a lookout than for casual swimming because the water is rough and rocky. Lifeguard coverage is listed as 8 AM–4:30 PM, and a third-party listing gives park hours of 7 AM–7 PM — confirm both before relying on them.
Why Roamwise recommends this
Free and spectacular to watch — a good first or last stop on the Hāna Highway, especially around late afternoon.
Best for: watching windsurfers and surfers, seeing turtles near sunset, a free stop on the way to Hāna.
Insider tip: leave the swimming for another beach.
- Hazards / conditions:
- Rough, rocky water and strong currents; not a casual swimming beach.
- Safety notes:
- Lifeguards listed 8 AM–4:30 PM; no post-Nolo county closure notice found, but confirm.
Reviews: Google MapsYelp
Local tips
- •Lifeguards listed 8 AM–4:30 PM
- •park hours listed 7 AM–7 PM by a third party — confirm.
- •Stay at least 10 feet from turtles and never touch them.
- •Parking fills up — go early or late in the day.
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