We are avid snorkelers and would like to stay near beaches with good snorkeling. Should we stay in the Napili area or the Kihei/Wailea area? Recommendations please !!!!

How many days will you be there? It's possible that you would be able to snorkel each morning at each of these locations, if you had enough mornings. If not, you could do a couple hours at each. There's no reason to stay exactly AT one, if you can drive/be driven to the others, don't you agree?

I've stayed in Kaanapali, but if I had to choose one area of stay primarily for snorkeling, I'd choose Wailea or Makena. There's just more "good" snorkeling spots in South Maui. But my favorite was Honolua Bay, north of Kapalua.

It's a tough choice. In the north, you have Honolua, Napili and Kapalua bays, and the spectacular Black Rock at Kaanapali. In the Wailea area, you have to beware of the wind, which kicks up every day at noon! You'll really need to snorkel ALL the spots at both locations, they are all great, so you'll do some driving back and forth anyway! There is even a spot between Kihei and Lahaina, I think it's called Mile Marker 13, right on the highway.

Believe the mile marker is 14 (not 13) on Highway 30. Can't offer any experiences about the snorkeling there.
The snorkeling from the beaches of Wailea, Keawakapu south, is very good to very, very good. In particular, Ulua and Po`olenalena are outstanding. Certainly no more windy than Kapalua, with less chop likely in the water in winter. Kihei/Wailea is much drier.

You are referring to Olowalu. Olowalu is known for an abundance of fish and turtles, which also attracts the sharks. When you get there you will see permanent shark warning signs posted in the area, but I don't think there has been a reported atack since a snorkeler took one in the buttocks two years ago. The area has a couple of things that make it shark territory--the Olowalu stream empties there, so avoid it after heavy rains; the outer reef attracts a lot of turtles, which sharks like to eat; and the water can be murky. Stay out of murky water. Stay to the north of the beach and stay out of the way of the surfers.

We did a lot of snorkeling on Maui a couple of years ago. We prefer to stay in condos but if we stay in a hotel, both the Sheraton and the Maui Prince have excellent snorkeling right from their beaches.

When we were at the Sheraton, there were shark warnings and there was even an attack just offshore which closed the Black Rock area for a day or two.

Honolua Bay is great too but you have to drive there.

Another great snorkeling spot is in Hana just below the Hotel Hana Maui. Ask for directions to Red Sand Beach.

Kihei/Wailea is the best area - bar none. Lahaina & Kaanapali are too "Jersey Shore-ish" For snorkeling - splurge and take a boat trip around Lanai. Its worth it - quiet - non-touristy and lots of sealife.

Try

Shorediving.com

We just returned last Saturday from Maui; stayed in a condo at the Kaanapali beach area and snorkeled at Black Rock and Honolua Bay. We are divers so we are picky snorkelers and we were NOT disappointed with the amount and variety of fish we saw in both these spots! If you get up early enough, driving to good areas should not be a problem. Honolua Bay is an area that would probably be good even in the afternoon. Be sure to pick-up a snorkel guide magazine at any Maui Dive Shop location; very helpful with information about all the snorkel areas.

Maui Dive will mail you their guide: http://www.mauidiveshop.com