Beach · West Maui Scenic Drive
A rugged shore for walks and surf watching, not swimming.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
West Maui Scenic Drive Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for West Maui Scenic Drive. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the West Maui Scenic Drive audio tourRecorded for this place
Punalau Beach: Watch the Windmills Surf“The turnout for Punalau Beach is ahead, near mile marker thirty-four point six. Also called Windmills, this rugged shore combines pale sand, dark rocks and an offshore surf break that draws surfers in winter.”
Plays as you drive up to Punalau Beach in the Parkwolf West Maui Scenic Drive Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Punalau Beach is a rugged sandy shoreline on West Maui’s north coast, near mile marker 34.6. It’s also called Windmills, a name shared with the surf break offshore. Come for the shoreline and surf views, not a swim: the rocky entry and exposed waves make snorkeling a poor fit.
Look for the roadside turnout near mile marker 34.6 and keep the access track clear. Visitor directions disagree about driving the rutted 4WD track, and its public status hasn’t been confirmed. The cautious stop is the turnout; don’t drive through a gate, even if it appears open.
Surfers use the beach to reach the offshore Windmills break, especially when winter surf is up. That can make the stop busier, while rocky water and exposed waves still make this a better place to watch than swim.
The pale sand, dark shoreline rocks and wave line make a good wide coastal view. There are no developed visitor facilities to count on, so don’t expect a restroom, drinking water or food at the beach.
Wildlife
152 sightingsHumpback WhaleMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
71 sightingsHawaiian Monk SealMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
23 sightingsSpinner DolphinMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
401 sightingsGreen Sea TurtleMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
14 sightingsHawksbill Sea TurtleMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
92 sightingsWedge-tailed ShearwaterMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across West Maui Scenic Drive. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyHonolua Bay Access Trail0.8 mi · 24 min · 0.8 mi awayA shaded forest walk to a rocky, protected bay.
ModeratePine Loop6.3 mi · 4 hr · 2 mi awayA short Cook pine circuit is a long climb up Mahana Ridge.
ModerateAcid War Zone Trail1.3 mi · 1.5 hr · 2.1 mi awayA rough coastal path to a lighthouse beacon and blowhole.
ModerateMahana Ridge Trail4 mi · 2.5 hr · 2.1 mi awayA reservoir turnaround makes this rough ridge climb manageable.ModerateNakalele Blowhole Trail0.4 mi · 30 min · 2.3 mi awayA short rocky approach; watch the blowhole from uphill.
EasyDragon’s Teeth Trail0.7 mi · 30 min · 2.4 mi awayA short coastal walk to jagged lava fins at Makaluapuna Point.
ModerateKapalua Village Cardio Loop1.3 mi · 54 min · 2.4 mi awayA hilly circuit through forest reclaimed from the old golf course.
ModeratePineapple Loop0.4 mi · 3.5 hr · 2.8 mi awayA short pineapple side loop with a long uphill approach.
Scenic pullout · 0.6 mi awayHonokōhau Bay LookoutA quick view of the curved bay and red-brown coastal cliffs.
Sight · 1 mi awayLīpoa PointA cultural headland above Honolua Bay; check access before going.
Beach · 1.1 mi awayHonolua BayForest walk, coral-rich reef, and slippery rocky entry.
Scenic pullout · 1.1 mi awayHonolua Bay Scenic LookoutBlue water and green cliffs, seen from a quick roadside pull-off.
Beach · 1.3 mi awayMokulēʻia Bay (Slaughterhouse Beach)A cliff-framed cove where the surf decides the day.
Beach · 2.1 mi awayD.T. Fleming Beach ParkIronwood shade, white sand, and winter surf on Honokahua Bay.Sight · 2.2 mi awayDragon’s TeethTooth-shaped lava fins rise above a rough, wave-washed shore.Sight · 2.3 mi awayNākālele BlowholeWatch Pacific surf burst through lava from the dry roadside overlook.Parkwolf’s West Maui Scenic Drive ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
