Ulua Beach Park

Located in the resort community of Wailea, Ulua Beach Park, also called Ulua Beach and formerly known as Kaula’uo and Little Tarawa, is a popular crescent-shaped beach with light brown sand and many nearby palm trees.  The areas around the northern and southern ends of the beach are covered with lava rocks. The name of the beach (Ulua) means “adult crevalle fish” in Hawaiian. This fish is one of the most popular local fishes that fishermen seek, and the local community believed that naming this beach after a popular fish species would increase its popularity. 

While Ulua Beach Park does not have lifeguards, it has a few other amenities, including restrooms, showers, walking paths, and a nearby grassy park.  Dogs are allowed at Ulua Beach Park.  

Ulua Beach Park offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, picnicking, fishing, hiking, swimming, surfing, bodyboarding, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, jet-skiing, surf-skiing, water-skiing, boating, tidepooling, and wakeboarding.  The water near Ulua Beach Park has gentle waves and a gradual depth, making it ideal for beginner swimmers, kayakers, and paddleboarders.  The water here also occasionally offers bodysurfing waves.  Snorkelers and scuba divers also enter the water close to shore to explore its vibrant biodiversity as the water near Ulua Beach Park has a reef with many kinds of animals, including sea turtles, corals, and many different types of fish such as reef triggerfish (which is also called humuhumunukunukuapua’a - this fish is the state fish of Hawaii), manta rays, and white tip sharks. Sea turtles are protected under a law named the Endangered species Act of 1973, which states harming them can result in a fine of up to $50,000 and possible imprisonment.  The deeper part of the water near Ulua Beach Park has a diving spot named “Antheus Rock,” which is known to be the home of the Hawaiian lionfish.  

The water near the northern end of Ulua Beach Park is often considered to be the best spot for snorkeling.  In addition, the best time to dive in the water near Ulua Beach Park is during the morning when the water is calm and clear.  There are also many scuba diving schools near Ulua Beach Park.  However, if you are planning to swim, bodysurf, snorkel, or dive in the water near Ulua Beach Park, we recommend being careful as the water here is known to have unpredictable rip currents and rogue waves, especially during summers.  The water near Ulua Beach Park can also have a rocky bottom in some parts. This rocky bottom can inflict severe injuries to swimmers and is also known to have jellyfish that can inflict a painful sting when disturbed.

If you like tidepooling, you can explore the interesting tidepools present near the northern end of Ulua Beach Park.  The Pacific Whale Foundation has an outreach station near Ulua Beach Park that conducts a free Coral Reef Naturalist Program at Ulua Beach, and offers an interesting insight into the local biodiversity.  If you plan to participate in this Coral Reef Naturalist Programme, contact the Pacific Whale Foundation at (808) 249-8811 (extension 1) for more information.  If you are planning to fish in the water near Ulua Beach Park, we recommend ensuring compliance with the local fishing regulations. These regulations can be found on the Division of Aquatic Resources website (which is a part of the State of Hawai’i’s Department of Land and Natural Resources).   Ulua Beach Park also offers terrific Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean and the nearby islands such as Molokini, Kahoolawe, and Lanai, especially during sunsets

Getting to Ulua Beach Park is very easy. From the southern end of County Road 31, you need to turn on Wailea Ike drive and then Wailea Alanui drive.  From Wailea Alanui Drive, you need to turn towards Ulua Beach Road.  The free parking lot for Ulua Beach Park is located near the end of Ulua Beach Road.  We recommend visiting this beach early as the parking lot here fills up quickly.  If this parking lot is full, you can park at the southernmost parking lot of another beach named Keawakapu Beach, the free southernmost parking lot near the southern end of South Kihei Road.  Once you park here, you then need to walk to Keawakapu Beach.  Once you reach Keawakapu Beach, you must walk more than a quarter-mile south along the shoreline to Ulua Beach Park.  The beach is open from 7 am to 8 pm.

The name of the beach before World War Two was Kaula’uo.  During World War Two, soldiers of the United States Marine Corps renamed this beach “Little Tarawa” after a military operation was conducted on the then Japanese-occupied island of Tarawa (Tarawa is now a part of Kiribati). 

There are many attractions near Ulua Beach Park.  Wailea Golf Club’s Wailea Blue Golf Course is an oceanfront 18-hole golf course designed by Arthur Jack Snyder. This beautifully landscaped and diligently designed golf course offers a challenging yet fun golfing experience.  In addition, the golf course also offers fantastic views of Wailea, Mount Haleakala, the Pacific Ocean, and the nearby Hawaiian Islands.  Kilohana Park is a recreational park that offers many amenities including picnic areas, barbecue areas, restrooms, soccer fields, and drinking water facilities.  If you are looking for another attraction near Ulua Beach Park, Wailea Beach Path (also known as Wailea Coastal Walk and Wailea Beach Path) is an oceanfront walking path that offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Maui shoreline (especially during sunrise and sunsets) and a fantastic hiking experience along the vibrant coastal Maui landscape.  The Wailea Beach Path also passes through an Ancient Hawaiian homestead with access to an elevated geographical location named Wailea Point. This point offers an amazing post for viewing whales (between November and May).

If you are hungry, there are many great restaurants near Ulua Beach Park.  Humble Market Kitchinis an upscale restaurant that serves amazing gourmet dishes infused with Japanese and Hawaiian culinary influences.  The restaurant was founded by renowned Japanese-Hawaiian chef Roy Yamaguchi, who has sought to incorporate his own mixed cultural experiences as a Japanese-Hawaiian into the restaurant’s fusion cuisine.  Cafe O’Lei Kihei offers outstanding sushi, seafood, poultry dishes, steaks, burgers, sandwiches, salads, wraps, and flatbreads.  If you are looking for another excellent and affordable restaurant near Ulua Beach Park, Beach Street Maui offers amazing shaved ice and breakfast dishes including bagels, waffles, toasted breads, sandwiches, and acai bowls.

If you are looking for a hotel near Ulua Beach Park, there are many great nearby options.  The 5-Star Andaz Maui At Wailea Resortoffers many amenities including four infinity pools, a spa, a gym, two restaurants, and two bars.  The hotel also offers a kids’ activity program.  Another upscale hotel is the 4.5-Star Wailea Beach Resort - Marriott, Maui, whichoffers many amenities, including four restaurants, two coffee shops, a spa, pools, waterslides, multiple golf courses, a gym, and an airport shuttle service.  A more affordable hotel, the 3-Star Mana Kai Maui Resort, offers many amenities, including a pool, oceanfront barbecues, a deli, a restaurant with outdoor seating, a yoga studio, beach equipment rental facilities, and complimentary passes to a nearby fitness center.  If you are looking for another excellent and affordable hotel near Ulua Beach Park, the 3-Star Kamaole Beach Royale Resort offers many amenities, including a lush garden, a pool, a shuffleboard court, and a roof-top garden.  The hotel also organizes fun get-togethers on its roof-top garden.