Where To See Turtles on Maui

Hoʻokipa Beach Park in Paia is, without a doubt, one of the best places to go turtle-watching on Maui. These beloved sea animals can regularly be found lazing on the beach’s golden sands, with the waves lapping at the tips of their shells. If you’re lucky, there might even be dozens of turtles at one time.

Do note that the waters at Hoʻokipa Beach Park are very wavy; this isn’t the place to snorkel with turtles on Maui—there are better, safer options for that. Instead, take a seat on land, hang out with the nearby turtles, and watch the experienced surfers riding the waves.

Like Ho‘okipa Beach Park, Kalepolepo Beach Park is great for seeing turtles lounging on the sand. At this specific beach, they tend to laze on the lava rock wall that juts out into the water. Wake up early to catch the sunrise or stick around for sunset to enjoy the best views.

But Kalepolepo Beach Park isn’t just for turtles—this Kihei beach also has a bit of history, thanks to an ancient fishpond known as Ko‘ie‘ie Fishpond. Here, the early Native Hawaiians would cultivate and harvest only the largest of fish, as the smallest ones would still be able to escape through wooden grates. It was sustainable aquaculture at its finest.

If seeing Hawaiian green sea turtles on land simply isn’t enough, there are plenty of places to go snorkeling with turtles on Maui as well, including Maluaka Beach. Nicknamed “Turtle Town,” this beach in Wailea is an absolute treat for animal lovers. You don’t have to swim for very long to see turtles swimming about the reef and grazing on algae, and you’ll also spot other local marine life, including countless tropical fish and colorful coral.

Insider tip: Maluaka Beach, like many beaches on Maui, does not have lifeguards on duty—explore carefully.

Just up the road from Maluaka Beach lies Makena Landing; as a matter of fact, the two are so close that both are included in the island’s unofficial “Turtle Town.” But while Maluaka Beach offers a sandy shoreline to rest on once you’re done snorkeling, the same can’t be said for Makena Landing.

Still, the trade-off may be worth it, because the snorkeling conditions are arguably a little bit better at the latter. It’s no wonder that so many snorkeling tours—including some of the most eco-friendly travel excursions on Maui—launch off from this Kihei location.

At 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) long, the expansive Kaʻanapali Beach has something for every type of Maui beachgoer. But turtle-watchers and snorkelers will want to head to the northern end of the beach—also known as Black Rock—for the best conditions.

Once you strap on your snorkel gear, be sure to keep your eyes peeled, as this Maui turtle-watching spot is filled with rocky crevices and coral cutouts, perfect for turtles to hide just out of sight. As a bonus, you’ll likely also see tropical fish, eels, and rays during this Maui nature experience. Book a guided snorkel to head into the water with a guide who knows all the spots where the resident marine life dwell.

Tucked amid the luxury hotels of Wailea, Ulua Beach is another one of the best Maui beaches with sea turtles. Occasionally, you’ll find them relaxing on the sand, but you’ll have a better shot at seeing them while snorkeling or scuba diving. Luckily, loads of Hawaii wildlife tours depart from or travel to this beach to make things a little easier. Who knows? You may even get to practice your underwater photography in Hawaii and leave with a camera roll filled with swimming honu.

Snorkeling at Honolua Bay requires a little bit of effort. First and foremost, you’ll have to park pretty far away and embark on a mini jungle trek to make it to the actual beach. Even then, the beach itself is quite rocky—it’s not the kind of place for suntanning or sandcastle building.

The final step is that you’ll need to swim a good distance out into the water, as the section closest to shore is pretty murky. But do all of that, and you’ll have access to an incredible underwater world, protected within the Honolua-Mokulē'ia Bay Marine Life Conservation District. Here, get a glimpse of turtles, eels, tropical fish, and more.

Insider tip: Honolua Bay is only suitable for snorkeling in the summer months; come winter, the waves are much bigger and ideal for surfing instead.

You can’t go wrong with snorkeling at Kapalua Bay Beach. Located in western Maui, this golden sand bay is home to relatively calm waters year-round, making it great for a family snorkeling adventure on Maui. There are even vendors renting snorkel gear right along the beach, making it easy to dive in and say hello to some honu. And while the turtles may be the highlight, you should certainly admire the colorful coral and tropical fish while you’re at it.

As with many other Maui beaches, Kapalua Bay Beach does not have a lifeguard—please only enter the water if you are capable and comfortable doing so, or join a guided snorkel trip.

At the end of the day, the turtles that you’ll see on Maui’s beaches are wild. They wander as they wish, so sometimes you plain won’t see them. But if all else fails, you can always see turtles at the Maui Ocean Center in Wailuku.

The Maui Ocean Center is home to up to six Hawaiian green sea turtles at a time. These turtles, born in captivity, are cared for at this Maui attraction until they’re about two years old and ready to go off on their own. Upon their release, they’re sent off with a ceremony and a tracking tag for data and educational purposes, which helps with marine conservation in Hawaii.