Pāpalaua Wayside Park

Pāpalaua Wayside Park stretches along Highway 30 on Maui's scenic Pali highway — the dramatic coastal road that winds between Maalaea and Lahaina along cliffs above the sea. This long, sandy beach offers sweeping views of the Au'au Channel, the islands of Lanai and Kahoolawe on the horizon, and in winter, some of the best free whale watching on Maui.

From December through April, humpback whales congregate in the waters just offshore in enormous numbers — the same channel that whale watch boats navigate. From Pāpalaua Wayside Park, you can often spot breaches, tail slaps, and spy hops from the beach without spending anything. Bring binoculars and a patient eye and you'll likely see something memorable.

The beach itself is long and uncrowded compared to the popular South Maui spots. The water faces northwest and can have more swell than the calmer south-facing beaches, so check conditions before letting young children swim. The beach is better suited for kids 6 and older who are comfortable in more dynamic wave conditions, or for families who want to beach-comb and whale-watch rather than swim.

The Pali drive itself is one of Maui's most dramatic scenic roads — winding clifftops with ocean views that make every twist of the highway feel cinematic. Stopping at Pāpalaua on this drive is a natural pause point that most visitors on the Lahaina-to-Kihei route miss entirely, simply because there's no resort infrastructure to signal the opportunity.

Bring a picnic and binoculars, find a spot on the beach facing the channel, and let the show come to you. In winter, it often does.