Heading to Maui in September. Would like reviews on the best swimming beach in Maui? Heard great reviews on Wailea & Kapalua. Are they swimmable as well as beautiful?

There are many good swimming beaches, depending on your definition of swimming beach. Do like some surf, or are you looking for something relatively flat? Do you have small children? Are you looking to snorkle? Body board? DH took me to a secret beach yesterday that was virtually deserted and the water was nearly flat, a great keiki beach. I could tell you where is is, but then I'd have to kill you.

The Kamaole beaches in Kiehi are good swimming beachs. Makena can be a nice swimming beach, but beware of strong currents and shorebreak. Honokowai is good baby beach. My personal favorite beach is Hamoa in Hana. Others here will offer up other good suggestions. My idea of a good swimming beach my not be the same as yours. I like some surf and small crowds and am willing to hike or drive.

Here is one guide to Maui beaches:
http://www.royalelephant.com/mauibeaches.shtml
There are some others on-line as well.

Thanks for your help. I am looking for the same. Small surf & small crowds. I have no kids. Just my fiancee' and I going. Will spend lots of time in the ocean.

I really liked Makena and it sounds like a good match for what you're looking for. Big Beach was fun too but the surf seemed somewhat rough the day we went.

We really loved Palauea Beach, south of Wailea. There's great snorkeling there to the left and right (it's known as White Rock), but it's good for regular swimming with a clean padded sandy bottom and pretty gentle wave action as I recall. It was a quiet beach with some shade, entry through a little grove of trees and roosters, and palm tree outcroppings on the lava points on either side making it feel very Gilligan's Island.

love
roxy