Hi, My husband and I are taking our two boys to Hawaii and staying at the outrigger palms. Does anyone know what the beach near the Palms is like? We want to be able to snorkel right off the beach. Thanks!

The south Maui beaches are generally pretty nice. I looked at the aerial view of the Palms on wizardpub.com. It looks like a little hike down to the beach, but it looks like a nice sandy strip there. I'll contact my brother-in-law who stayed there two summers ago and ask him about it. He is a big snorkeler.

He says they drove down a hill to the beach. Parking was no problem. He said there are 3-4 beaches close to choose from and they are all VERY nice. His other tip was to try to get a downstairs unit as it is HOT and only A/C in the bedroom.

Thanks for researching the info for me. I really appreciate it. Were they safe swimming beaches for kids? Thanks again!

We stayed at the Grand Wailea last summer so I know that the beach there as well as Ulua and the others along that walkway will be accessible to you. My daughter tends to be a little afraid of the ocean but we played in the one in front of GW. In the morning they are fairly calm (usually) with lots of sand and a fairly gradual incline. In the afternoons the wind kicks up a bit and you get more of a boogie boarding surf than a swimming/snorkeling one. Just generalizations, but I think your boys will have fun... I never feel totally safe in the wild oceans of Hawaii and always pay close attention. It's not like Florida. The islands are very isolated and the surf is unpredictable.