Honolua Bay Reviews

We arrived just after 10 am and literally got the last parking spot in the tiny area just yards away from the trail. (The parking situation is the only reason I did not give this location 5 points.) The walk from the car and through the trail is easy for the person of average ability to trek. The trail is absolutely beautiful! Stunning! I have more pictures of the trail on my phone than of the bay! Once you arrive at the bay, there are large rocks to walk across. If you packed water shoes, wear them. If not, you'll be okay, just step carefully. When we first entered the water, I was so dissapointed- the rocks are grungy, there is sparce coral and fish. As we swam on, we hit white sand and an underwater desert- still dissapointed. But as we went on, we hit the reef and it is amazing! So, if you go, be sure to go out far enough. There was no current when we went, so I felt very comfortable. (If you are nervous, bring a boogie board and have it strapped to your wrist. You can still swim and see things, but you'll have the security of a flotation device.)

We saw schools of fish grazing; I could have watched them all day going together from one reef to another, thousands of fish acting as one large organism. We saw several turtles too. Despite the fact that this is a remote location, no businesses nearby, there were still a lot of people. One does need to watch where one is swimming to avoid a collision, but this is a terrific snorkeling spot! While I would not call this a family beach, there were a lot of families there. For the most part, I saw children aged 5 and up. Did see one family with a baby, but there is literally no place to put down a blanket to let a little one crawl.

as others have said: very rocky entry, limited parking and tour boats arrive by 9 am.
Go Early...The walk in is part of the charm. Very good visability, interesting reef and many fish. One of the best snorkels on MAUI.

This is a magical place on the island. In the summer there is great snorkeling. In the winter an epic surf break. Respect the locals, respect the ocean, respect the A'ina and you will enjoy your day. take the time to hike around the area a bit too. The massive canopy trees carve their way from the road to bay. It is pristine, but if you do find some trash from some weary traveler, pick it up and keep this area special.

We discovered this bay too late in our trip but we are happy we made it down to Honolua Bay at least once. By far this was the best snorkeling on West Maui on our trip this summer. As other reviewers have mentioned, stay to the right once in the water as the reef and fish are there. My wife and I had no problems with either the walk or the rocky beach, but we were wearing neoprene fin socks.
A definite stop for snorkelers while on Maui.

Great calm water spot. No beach just rocks but shady spots and a picnic area
Our divers thought great viewing

This was such a beautiful snorkeling spot. I recommend early because I think the sun hits it best. So much variety of fish and coral. It is all on the right side. Some recommend walking on the rocks to the right side. Be careful, the rocks can be really slippery. I thought it was easier to just swim to the right.

Didn’t snorkel or swim here- just admired the beauty. This place is amazing. Worth the drive just to look at for a bit. If you’re lucky enough to be here, you should check it out. Just amazing.

We saw a ton of turtles here it was awesome! Lots of fish also. I would recommend if you have a car parking along the road and walking down to the bay. The walk is pretty easy and doesn't take long.

Honolua Bay was a cool little place we came upon while traveling to the north coast of Maui. There is minimal parking and we walked thru a jungle to get to this paradise. We snorkeled for about an hour it was a little difficult to get into the water due to the rocks but it was beautiful!! Definitely worth the stop!

We always found free parking on the roadside but this place is becoming very popular. The snorkeling is very good but we didn't see the resident squids. Saw turtles and even an octupus. The snorkel store reports did not seem to be accurate here. Just because you see surfers out does not mean the snorkel area on the north side of the cove is wavy. It's quite protected and we enjoyed every snorkel we did here.

The bay was reopened after tiger sharks fed onfish dumped by a boat. The other day we watched the sharks from the cliff above but decided to go after the news reported that the bay was clear.
We know that when you are in the ocean that sharks are one of the wonders of the sea and seeing one is likely. Just to let you know and make your own decision, my husband spotted one that was most likely a tiger shark. He was not acting as if he were hungry or ready to attack but we felt the decision to leave the area was a good one. Others at the park didn't care and one marine biologist scoffed us off. Still I'll wait a few more days before going in that bay again.
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Great spot. Park on the side of the road. One clarification from some of the guides and reviews: you do not have to walk on the rocks a long ways to snorkel. Just go in the water and swim to the right, if you have fins it only takes 10 or 15 minutes of snorkeling in that direction to get to the edge of the bay. And there is plenty to see on the way in the water. Walking on the rocks is also an option, but you need sneakers and good balance!

One of our favorite snorkeling beaches...protected and lots of sealife to view. The beach is a bit of a hike from the road and the beach is rocky but the effort is well worth it. The beach just south accessed by a steep stairway with green hand rails is equally great and has a nice sandy beach. Highly recommend visiting here if you enjoy snorkeling.

My family and I took the short drive from our hotel to Honolua Bay for a fun afternoon of snorkeling. After a little hike through the forest, you come to rocky beach. Put your gear on and have fun!

We came here twice during our week on Maui. The first day it was very sunny and calm, so absolutely perfect conditions and visibility! So many colorful fish and coral! The 2nd time we came it was cloudy and more choppy, so it wasn't quite as perfect, but still some of the best snorkeling we've experienced. Saw several sea turtles up close and personal!! There are snorkel boat tours that stop in during the day, so it can be a little crowded. Just depends. To get to the water, it's about a 10 minute walk from the road through this amazing jungle forest full of chickens. The walk itself is worth stopping by. There is no beach, just rocks, so be sure to wear water shoes or good footwear to get around.

Very well hyped, the bay almost lives up to its billing. If the water was as clear as it is sometimes said to be, this place would make a trip to Maui worth it on its own. There are plenty of fish, and if you swim in the center of the bay, pretty far out there, the coral is large and colorful and magnificent...better than La Perouse. But I’ve been twice, and both times the water was almost murky, even way out in the center of the bay, where the snorkeling tour boats anchor. It is said to be clearest in the morning. Good luck.

Got here a bit late-9ish. Found a parking spot across the road. On the way in, I had my doubts-big crowd! Once in the water, I was sold. Spent our time on right side and it was top notch!

Snorkel report showed the bay was 8 out of 10 so we drive up to the bay. There were no waves so getting in was easy. Lots of people there, but plenty of room. Great visibility and lots of fish, some you don’t normally see at other beaches. Been here before when the weather was rougher and it wasn’t good. Today was different, it was epic. Beautiful area and snorkeling, worth the drive.

The bay is absolutely stunning. We saw it from the road above and decided to snorkel there having seen the extent of the reefs. The water is so clear and blue, just beautiful.
It’s not very easy to park, we were lucky to find a space near the portaloos at the start of the walk. It’s not far - less than half a kilometre - and it’s through luscious green forest. Just be respectful of the area.
The beach is rocky - it’s not easy to find a space or to clamber over the rocks, it’s also tricky getting into the water with the slippery rocks (I’d recommend wearing beach shoes) but the snorkelling is well worth it. Head out to the east of the bay and stay near the shore and you’ll see fish right away. We went about 100m out and saw some amazing sights. Be really careful with the rocks in the water - I cut my foot while trying to balance when I was cleaning my mask (I am not a strong enough swimmer to do it without support).

It takes a little planning and walking through the forest, but it is absolutely worth it. You will see corals, turtles, exotic fish and basically feel like you are in an aquarium. The water is so clear and the beach in the morning is mostly in the shade.

Try and go early, because there are limited parking spots. But even if it’s later in the day, you will probably have a chance, because people come, dip, and leave. This is a rocky beach, people are not staying for the entire day with umbrellas etc.

To get into the water, pay attention to the slippery rocks, some type of shoes are helpful, or fins even better. For this reason, it can be challenging to get into the water with small kids.

The day was overcast but we decided to head to Honolua Bay after reading about it on TripAdvisor. The hike in was incredible! Lush plants and spectacular trees. The beach is very rocky. Bring water shoes for sure. Once you get in, be sure to swim to the right side and don't be afraid to swim all the way to the mouth of the bay. The water was slightly murky and dark due to the overcast day but what an experience! So many incredible fish, an octopus, White Mouthed Moray Eel and gorgeous mountains of coral. We must of snorkelled for about 1.5 hours and we only stopped because we were getting a bit chilled. I have snorkelled in many beautiful places but I have to admit this was one of my favourites. So much to see and gorgeous variety. Just don't snorkel when it has been raining and the water is brown from run-off.

This is one of our favorite spots to snorkel. There is a reason the smaller snorkel tour boats come here. About a quarter mile walk or so so wear shoes. Rocky beach so make sure to bring a chair too. Both sides of the bay are great for snorkeling. Plus because of the bay's shape it can have calmer waters when the more exposed snorkel areas are getting choppy. We saw the most variety of sea life here. Tons of fish, turtles, eels, and an octopus! Plus it was fun to watch the chickens on the beach.

My husband, uncle, and I went to Honolua Bay for snorkeling, and it was spectacular! From the parking area, the short, easy walk through the woods led straight to the beach, which is composed primarily of lava rock.

The conditions were perfect for snorkeling. The water was clear and calm, and we were able to swim over to Slaughterhouse Beach from Honolua Bay. Throughout our excursion, we saw several species of tropical fish (including the state fish of Hawai'i), and we swam nose-to-nose with a sea turtle! We could also hear the whales talking to each other under the water.

If you're snorkeling anywhere on West Maui, put Honolua Bay at the top of your list!

This is a snorkel beach; not a sandy relaxing beach. Parking is free but can be hard to find as it is busy. We got to the beach around 11 AM and found a spot quickly. Less is more at this beach. Bring your snorkel gear and a towel. You’ll have to walk about 3-5 minutes through the jungle to arrive at a stone covered beach. Do not come barefoot as the rocks are slippery and uneven. The beach is large enough that people weren’t on top of each other but if you’re lucky enough to see a sea turtle like I did, remember to not hover over it as you could block it from resurfacing for air.

There are lots of chickens around here as well and as long as you leave them alone they’ll leave you alone.

Snorkeling here was very nice and was the only place I saw large groups of fish along with some cooler fish like the parrot fish. You do need to swim out a bit to get to the coral and there is alot of sea urchins so be aware of where you’re stepping once in the water.

Plenty of boats in the water as well due to the popularity of this place but the water is calm and a little cooler. If you’re in the Lahaina area absolutely check this area out. Don’t waste money on a boat trip here as it’s easily accessible.

In the first part of August 2017 the clearest water was almost daily in the north-west part of Maui. Consequently our snorkeling in Honolua Bay was the greatest experience from our vacation.

The water was crystal clear and we had a day with calm sea. From the very beginning on the right side of the bay we encountered a great quantity and diversity of fish.
When we reach also the central reef the underwater landscape was also magnificent. On this mid bay reef we encountered also one of the biggest turtles that we saw in Maui.

We had two round of snorkeling with a total of 3-3.5 hours in water. On my snorkeling marking scale the score for Honolua Bay was for sure 5 from a maximum of 5 point.
The entering into water is difficult due to the lack of sand and the concrete slope that exists in the middle of the beach is very deteriorated.

Unfortunately the lack of facilities for the tourists makes a longer stay difficult mainly for the ones that are not involved in snorkeling activities. In my opinion this beach is very good only for snorkeling because it is difficult enough to find a more even place for placing your beach chair.

The number of parking places is far less than the number of tourist wishing to visit Honolua Bay. The vegetation along the path leading to the rocky beach is impressive. Impressive is also the lack of ecological toilets and the overflowing garbage trashes.

The presence of a large number of wild chickens is nice in the beginning but if you stay longer you will be surprise to realize how annoying can be these birds.

Honolua Bay is one of the best snorkeling spots on Maui. The view from the cliffs above is impressive as well. This sheltered bay has some of the prettiest water on Maui!

My favorite place to snorkel in Maui. The short walk to the bay is beautiful through the lush forest and a few wild chickens running around add to the experience. When you swim out to the reef the underwater life is fantastic. Eels, sharks, bait balls, puffer fish, just an array of everything.

We went here just for the snorkel! Not for little kids as its hard to get in the water. No sand , all rocks but worth it! Park on the road and you have to wAlk through what my kids called Narnia! A rain forest and across a river. We saw turtles and plenty of fish! Merky at the shore but clear once in!

Wandered in a couple times just to get a close up look at the area. Certainly worth the walk, but watch out for the mud. Love the hand painted signs, the birds, the chickens, but mostly the tough shore with the beautiful view of the ocean and the breakers on the sides of the bay. We’ve only visited in winter, not the best snorkeling time, so can’t speak to that. Still a fun wander in the woods.

This place never disappoints. The hike down feels like I’m in Adventureland at Disneyland… except real. Once I’m in the water I start exclaiming into my snorkel tube because there’s so much to look at! We use the location of the tour boat(s) to know what direction to swim for the coral gardens. But don’t miss out on the giant schools of fish in the bland gray rocks nearer shore (right side). All four times I’ve visited Honolulu Bay I have discovered a “wall of fish” amongst the big rocks that captivates me. We’ve always seen at least one turtle. This time we saw multiple eels and even an octopus!

You will think you have reached the paradise you sought.
The water in August is warm and the reef a mere 100 yards off a soft sandy shore. Downside, the parking is very limited so get there early.

Go early on this one. By noon, there were 4 catamarans parked in the bay plus all of the ‘beach’ goers. There is very little beach here - lots of rocks to get through.

The water is very clear and there was plenty of room. Sometimes there were crowds at certain areas, but you just went to a less crowded area. There are great coral formations with great fish.

Did not enjoy this bay despite the positive reviews! It’s a treacherous walk into the water. A bunch of homeless people living on the beach, smoking pot at 9:30 in the morning listening to loud music. We had to swim a ways out to get to the coral which was beautiful, but didn’t really see many fish, we saw way more as well as turtles, in front of our resort on kanapali beach. The water was murky and as I was snorkeling back, human poop floated past me. Would never go back here.

This place is an absolute must if you are on Maui. We found it by accident when we were driving around and we were absolutely blown away by the place. The fish were at our feet before we even dived into the water. Parking is a bit hit and miss though absolutely worthwhile. I would recommend wearing reef shoes as the whole beach is rocks and getting into the water can be a little tricky. If you like snorkelling this is the place to come.

First, this is not a “beach”. Don’t bother visiting unless you’re going to snorkel.

Parking was limited for us, but we still snagged a spot. The super short hike through the forest made it all worth it, even if we wouldn’t have saw any fish! Other reviewers hit the nail on the head by saying it reminds them of the Enchanted Forest in Avatar.

Hopefully the water is calm and not murky when you go, like it was for us. We saw plenty of of sea life, which is great considering this area’s reef is dying off. Still, it’s one of the 3 best snorkeling locations in Maui. You will see more sea life on the left side of the bay.

Reviewing this based on the enchanted forests and beautiful trails. The trees are enormous and other worldly, trailing in vines and roots just waiting to grow more parts! There are chickens all over. We parked somewhere on Rte 30 when we saw this strange forest emerge. If only we had known it would lead to an awesome beach...maybe the next beach we hit was the bay?

Amazing snorkeling! Such a beautiful place and so many fish, coral, turtles. This was such a great adventure and I recommend.

My 18 year old and 15 year old went to swim in this bay and were impressed by the beautiful marine life. This place it's ideal for snorkeling. The shore it's really rocky and slippery. Also it's muddy. To see fish and coral you must go where the boats are. Must have snorkel equipment and a waterproof camera. We saw two big turtles and large scary eels. The fish are big and beautiful. Must go!!!

The walk through the trees from the road to the bay is one of my favorite short walks in the whole world. Along with the Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah and Melbourne’s Botanical Gardens. It’s that good!

My husband and I are divers, but since we had the kids, we opted for snorkeling. We looked for places with high ratings and Honolua Bay did not disappoint! A "system" had recently come through Maui interrupting our plans to snorkel in most places we had planned, but Honolua Bay was was very protected, and the water was very calm. It was filled with coral, many types of tropical fish and we even got to see a sea turtle. In many areas the coral was near the surface making it unnecessary to dive down.

As I said before, the coral is very close to the top. Please be aware of your fins and careful not to accidently kick the coral. We continuously reminded out teens to be aware of how far away the coral was when they decided to pop up out of the water.

If you like pictures, be sure to stop at a pull out before the bay and take pics. I'd also recommend taking a good pair of water shoes since the entry is very rocky. Your feet will thank you!

Parking is on the summer and very limited . It is a hike down to carry you stuff . Bring towels , water , snorkeling gear and flotation devices . The water is stunning and around the corner there is large reefs .

Not sure if I didn't go out far enough or what but I didn't see many fish. The coral isn't very colorful either. It's beautiful to see from the overlook but not that great to snorkel.

Such a cool jungle-like walk to the bay. Bay was calm which made easy snorkeling. No sand on beach. Instead it was comprised of large round rocks. Enjoyable morning!

Amazing snorkeling spot right past Kaanapali beach!! Highly highly recommend for anyone looking for an amazing snorkeling experience.

I visited two days during my recent trip to Maui and had an amazing experience. Parking is a little bit difficult, so I would recommend arriving early in the morning. I arrived around 1 PM one day and was able to find a spot, but took some time. I arrived around 10 AM the next day and found a better parking spot.

This is not really a sandy beach. There are tons of rocks and no sand. This is not a place to come and lay out. This is a place to come and snorkel! From the road, there is a short 8 minute walk to the bay. I would recommend leaving all unnecessary belongings in your car or back at the hotel. Once you get in the water, it is a decent swim to the good snorkeling areas. Once you have made it, my is the saline exquisite!!

During my time visiting Honolua Bay, I saw an octopus, many sea turtles, several reef sharks, and a ton of beautiful fish. I was chatting with some people who said they spotted Sting Rays early in the morning (around 6 AM). 1000% visit this snorkeling location on your trip to Maui.

I snorkeled here with my husband two mornings in a row, in April 2018. The walk in from the parking area was amazing: full of large trees and an incredible diversity of plant life. The beach is very rocky, especially to the right; I saw families with small children struggling just to get to the water, and I would not recommend it for children. But once in the water, the right side of the bay (facing the water) had a good coral reef with many fish; the second day, we stayed to the left side, where the fish were not plentiful, but we saw three green sea turtles. I strongly advise getting here early: we were the first car in the parking area at 7:30am on one day, and the lot was nearly full by 8:30. It is an undeveloped area with a wild feel to it, so do not expect restrooms or showers (there are Porta Potties at the parking lot).

Great place to snorkel. Recommend bringing water shoes to help with stepping on and over rocks. We saw coral, fish, and a sea turtle!

This beach is a locals surf beach. The access to the beach is a rutted out dirt road. you would need a 4x4 to get to. Parking is on the street above the beach & you have to walk down. The beach is dirty, lots of rocks, tree branches, not groomed. It was pretty watching the waves & cool to watch the surfers.

Very scenic and beautiful area, little windy when we went so it was a little choppy. Just a gorgeous area and the snorkeling is superb on a calm day.

If you like snorkeling Honolua bay is a must. You can get there two ways- By boat trip or drive up and short hike in. We opted for the latter. Some advice on this is to arrive early. Parking is challenging at best. There is competing roadside parking in turnouts around slaughterhouse beach but the entrance to the bay is beyond that by a few turnouts. On the left you will see a small 8 car dirt lot with porta potties. That is the trail entrance to get to the bay. Find parking around that location and walk in (short 100 to 150 yard walk sandals ok). There is no beach at all it’s all rocks and small boulders. We left our bags and towels geared up and entered the water from the broken concrete launch ramp in the center (be very very cautious as it’s extremely slippery) snorkel out to the right side of the bay and travel out of the shallows for the best! views. We saw plenty of fish and turtles. We arrived at 11am and there were 4 Snorkel cruise boats in the center of the bay docked with a hundred people all in the water. Also, plenty of folks on shore as well. What you loose in a quiet experience you gain in visual bliss underwater! Enjoy and be safe.

My family went snorkeling here. There is a beautiful walk through the jungle from the parking spots near the road down to the beach. We spotted lots of fish, including the trumpet fish and green sea turtles. One turtle swam with us over half an hour. 💜

Honalua Bay was the best snorkeling we found on Maui. Lots of fish and some sea turtles. Water was calm and quite clear, even thought high winds and waves outside of the bay. We went to the right side of the bay -- it was amazing.

Found the parking across the small Bridge with porta potties. The walk in was longer than I expected but probably 3 to 400 yards. The trees lining the trail were huge/ ancient and quite unique. The trail ended at the beach head which is composed of large Rock. It took a minute to find a place to set up are towels and items before learning where to go in. An older couple next to us chatted with us and we learned where the best entry and coral / fish were. It turns out that basically the cement ramp remnant feeds in nicely just be careful at Waters Edge as it can get slick. I put my fans on while at the edge of the cement and soon was in the water. Although the recent rain made it turbid at Shores Edge once she went out and stay to the right side of the Bay you find the best Coral heads and some of the best fish life I have seen while snorkeling on Maui! Enjoy and be careful...

We (older couple) have been coming to Maui for years, usually for a month, somewhere in the Oct to Dec window.
We stay at the Whaler, which is located on arguably one of the best beaches in Maui.
We snorkel at black rock and have great snorkelling within a 200 yard beach walk, complete with turtles.
That said, we have gone to Molokini and turtle town a couple of times.
We have our adult daughter along this time and doing all of the tourist things we never do anymore.
We decided on Honolua bay from looking at write ups.
From all of the write ups it looked daunting, but worth it.
Rather than pay over $100 per person for a morning snorkel trip, we bought $13 swim shoes.
You park and walk a quarter mike down a beautiful path through the trees and come upon the bay.
It’s teeming with snorkelers in their element.
The reviews talk about the difficulty of getting in over the rocks.
Turns out, yes there are rocks, but if you are halfway mobile, they don’t present the problem a lot of reviews would have you believe.
There is an old unused boat ramp that has a bum slide right in to the water and you can swim from there.
Yes, it can be tricky, but there is also a small piece of sand where you can enter if rocks bother you.
Once in, yes it’s murky for the first hundred yards, but if you go out to where the boats are, on the east side, you get a beautiful reef, clear water and teeming with fish, eels and turtles. By far the best snorkelling we’ve had so far in 20 years. We’ll be back,
We were in for 90 minutes and hated to leave.
Being in my 70’s I was apprehensive from reading the reviews and only went to support my daughter.
Big mistake! It’s not nearly as challenging as the reviews would have you believe.
Best snorkel on Maui? Don’t know. Going to Napili tomorrow.

We arrived around 830a. There were two to three tour boats out in the bay but there was still plenty of room. The walk from the parking lot is beautiful and easy. There really isn’t a beach, just rocks. The snorkeling was great but you do have to make your way out to the reef where the tour boats park and beyond. The water was a little cool so we only lasted about two hours. We will definitely return.

We love this bay to snorkel in. Only downfall is there is no sand beach, just rock outcroppings along the shoreline. But if you are just going to snorkel and not lounge on the shoreline, this bay has some of the best snorkeling. Also the hike into the bay is beautiful and lush with a jungle feel.

We went snorkeling in several locations, but this by far was my favorite. The water is so calm and makes it easy for any beginners to get the hang of snorkeling. The reef is gorgeous and there are TONS of fish to follow around, and you may even spot the occasional turtle!

We were staying in Kapalua so came here every morning for a snorkel. Easily best spot we went to in terms of visibility and marine life. We were going to do a charter to Molokini but got some advice that this was as good. Pays to get there early for a park and to avoid loads of people in the water. Easy walk down from road. Rocky entrance to water but calm and sheltered so easy entry. Charter boats come in so must be good but means it can get a bit crowded in the water, saw turtles every day we were there. Enjoy

We headed out to this bay bright and early after we saw how packed it was when we drove by earlier in the week and were glad we did. We arrived around 830 and there was still tons of parking. The path down to the shore is lovely and chicken-filled and the snorkelling on the right hand side was fabulous though we wish we had headed straight out to the big reef that was out there instead of spending a lot of our energy on the way out to it. We saw tons of fish and a turtle too and enjoyed how quiet it was. As we were leaving an hour and half later there were tour boats pulling up and tons of people arriving and we were glad to be making an exit.

The hike down to the blowhole was rocky, but totally worth it. Even our 4 year old made the trek and did great. Good for most ages

I have snorkelled here 3 times. The first time the water was very murky and we couldn't see anything. The other 2 times it was clear and calm and saw quite a bit. This was the first time I had a school of about 1000 fish swimming around me! There were a couple of big eels and just before we finished our snorkel, a turtle came along! Parking can be an issue as it gets busy and you just have to pull off the road to park. The walk down to the bay is a nice walk through the forest and there are a lot of chickens running around. The worst part for me is the rocky beach as I have very sensitive feet and walking on rocks is painful! It can be tricky getting into the water as the rocks are slippery, so it's best to sit on one of the bigger ones, get your flippers on and work your way into the water. We found that the right side of the bay has more to see. Before you head down, pull over into the scenic overlook and see how calm, clear and busy it is, just to give you an idea of what the conditions are.

Great snorkeling....very rocky beach, just go here to see all the amazing coral types and colors...i went twice, easy to get to the coral. Lots of fish, turtles, not too crowded...there was a boatload of people there...literally, well 3 boatloads..., but still plenty of space, if you have a car and are snorkeling go here....dont plan on anything else though snorkel, sit for a minute move on..if you want beach, dt fleming is near if kapalua and napili parking is bad

This was by far the best snorkeling I have done. I live near the Florida Keys and this was so much nicer. The reason I say it was nicer is because we were able to park our car and take a short walk through lush forest to get there. We didn't need a boat to get out to it (so if you don't want to pay for the charter, you CAN get here with your car, for free), the water around the corals was shallow and there were no waves to fight. The right side of the bay was the best for snorkeling with many rows of corals to check out and so many fish to see. We saw eels as well. We spent about 1.5 hours in the water just amazed at all the sea life. The only reason we got out of the water was the storm that was rolling in. There is a little roadside lunch spot right across the street, so when you are done snorkeling you can grab a delicious bite to eat.
This is a MUST see in Maui!!!!

This was an unexpected find. We stopped to view the elaborate trees on the side of the road to find out there was a bay hiding back behind them. Parked the car and adventured down through the lush greenery, across a creek and found a secluded rock beach. No sand here but still beautiful to see. A surfer spot for many. This probably would have been a good snorkeling area as well.

there are several pull off car park areas to visit this bay. Trails take you down to the water and you can lounge and watch the surf and surfers. Usually not crowded and worth a stop. Do not leave any valuables in your car! No flip flops as the trails are rocky, steep, and can be slippery.

To get here we parked on the road and had a beautiful short walk through somewhat of a jungle on a well marked road to the bay. No sand here but not needed because you have to snorkel, that was the best!!! We saw many varieties of fish, a few turtles and an octopus too. We felt very safe swimming here in the protected bay.

I first went here in 1983. It is just as I remembered- some of the best snorkeling ever because there is so much to see. It is a little difficult to get to because of the incline down and the rocky beach. It is so worth it!

I can see how this is a gorgeous place to visit. Unfortunately it rained hard the night before leaving the bay super murky - not at all worth a swim and definitely no visibility for snorkeling. The hike was not bad, although a little slippery. We will go back!

I absolutely loved this site for snorkeling! Very hard to find parking so you have to go early! So many fish and coral! Very calm water! Super easy for all levels of swimmers! Lots of snorkel tours go here, but u can snorkel for free if u can find parking!!!!

My wife and I visited this location based on recommendations for snorkeling. As a “beach” that has almost 100 percent (mostly smooth) rocks and almost no sand, it’s not the most inviting to the eye. For snorkeling, it’s much of the same to start featuring cloudy water and a coral bottom.

Based on a review on allaboutmaui.com, we ventured to the left (south) side of the bay for snorkeling and were rewarded with views of several green sea turtles and colorful fish among the coral. I would not suggest this site for first timer snorkelers given the current and how waves crash into the rocks on either side of the bay. However, I’m not an expert snorkeler and still managed to steer clear of any dangerous settings while still seeing plenty of action under the water.

Once you park (look for porta-potties next to a few roadside spaces along the road), it’s a solid quarter-mile, non-paved flat walk to the beach.

I've visited this beach several times and it is one of my all time favorites. The journey to the beach is amazing too. You walk down a tree lined path, then steps, then rocks, then the most amazing view! No snorkeling necessary as turtles of all sizes are swimming right by you (and they dont even bother you). I absolutely love this beach and will definitely be back!

This may have been my favorite experience in Maui. We liked it so much that we went twice. We went many years ago but our experience was ruined by a car break-in where we had two nice cameras stolen from our car trunk. We learned our lesson and left nothing in the car or trunk. After a walk through a lush and beautiful forest like area you arrive at your destination .Navigating your way over the rocks can be a little tricky, buy once your in the water it's nothing short of amazing. Tons of fish and coral. We even saw an eel and a sea snake. By the way, no admission, it's free. You may see some day excursion boats there because it is a popular spot.

this place has become quite popular with the tourists. Understandably, and since I´m one of them I can´t really complain. You´ll spot the place right away since there will be lots of cars on the street. Everything else has been said about the place

Really do your homework before you go here. If it's raining or it rained before your visit here, then the water will be murky, therefore, in order to find a decent amount of great sea life, make sure to swim far away from the shore. Other times, the bacteria levels can be really high and un-healthy. Also be aware that the actually entrance into the water is ALL rocks; there is no sand. That being said, assuming that the bacteria levels are within tolerance and that the water is clear and there are no tides to deal with, the snorkeling for me was just average. I had a much better time at Maui's other gems and the other beaches did not have the rocks to deal with, nor the bacteria.

I had read many reviews about Honolua Bay and a friend who went last year told me the same, go early. So we set off from Wailea at 8am and arrived just after 9am. Found a park just along the road from the entrance. Yes there is a very small walk through a magical tropical forest which just adds to experience as far as I am concerned. There were very few people around when we entered the water but when we got out an hour and a half later, boy! The place was packed! Glad we were able to grab our stuff and head on out. The beach is completely rocky so for us it was just a spot to snorkel, then leave. We started on the right hand side where there's plenty of coral and tropical fish. Make sure you do snorkel right out as the water and rocks near the shore are brown and murky. Once we had done the right hand side we swam across the bay to the other side. There are charter boats coming and going so just keep and eye out. On the other side it's more rocks than coral but this is where we experienced a lovely 10 minute swim with a turtle, with nobody else around. Just us 3 and the turtle, truly magic.

I cannot say enough good things about Honolua Bay, as this ended up being my favorite snorkel spot on the trip. In order to get to the beach, we hiked through a luscious rainforest, which was a scenic bonus. There are TONS of tropical fish in this bay, and so many other things to see while snorkeling. I saw two sea turtles and a moray eel not far from the shore. Everywhere you look, there are different kinds of fish. This is a Marine Protected Reserve, so it is important to respect the biodiversity during your visit and clean up after you leave. Also, avoid bringing sunscreen with oxybenzone to protect the coral.

It is important to note that Honolua Bay is not easy to get to, and is most likely not recommended for people who have trouble walking or with limited mobility. I say this for a few reasons. After you park, you will walk down a dirt trail, clustered with thick vegetation at times. You also need to walk across a stream channel, and can do so by stepping across the rocks or walking through the water, as it is not very deep. The beach itself is extremely rocky, and there are not many flat places to lay your chair or towel down.

We went to the bay for the snorkeling - and the snorkeling along the edges was good. One has to park by the road and then walk a short trail through a forest to the bay. There were signs where we parked advising us not to walk through private property and directing us to the trail head. One thing I didn't see noted in other reviews (or failed to notice at the time I was deciding whether to go to Honolua Bay) is that the forest walk is a strong feature itself; it's beautiful. The beach is made up of big rocks vs. sand - so not a beach if you're looking to sunbathe vs. snorkel.

The walk in is amazing, like walking through Jurassic Park. The snorkeling is great, but be prepared for slippery rocks trying to get in. If you arrive before 10 am you should be able to find a parking spot.

When I visited, the water was murky, so the snorkeling was not as good as the cove at the adjacent Slaughterhouse Beach (Mokule’ia Bay). Furthermore, entry into the water is difficult, as there is no beach along the shore. You must navigate slippery rocks. Lastly, the bay was filled with four tour boats, so it was more crowded than other snorkeling spots. Perhaps if I had visited on a clear water day with fewer boats, I would have had a more pleasant experience.

This treasure is somewhat hard to find and parking is limited. The trail into the beach is a lovely walk through tropical forest. The beach itself is rocky. I suggest wearing beach shoes all the way into the water.. put your fins on once you get onto the sandy bottom about two feet in and throw your water shoes onto the rocks! If you have super tough feet this will not be an issue but most people I saw including locals were gingerly picking their way through slippery and rough rocks to get out. Once out the snorkeling is outstanding with multiple fish species and many turtles. No amenities so bring own towels, chairs, umbrellas, water etc. The day we were there a food truck was at entrance selling beverages and snacks.

I'm not sure if my husband and I lucked out the day we came here but it literally was the best snorkeling I have experienced so far. It was very easy to get to, we parked our car along the highway and walked through the forest(easy open walkway). The water was so clear and we saw so many different types of fish. Definitely a great spot and the journey through the scenic forest is half the fun!

This place is gorgeous. Located at the end of the highway on West Maui, it is great for snorkeling in summer. Go early, park as close as you can to the trailhead (look for the porta-potties), and walk the 200 yards or so through a pretty forest/jungle to a beautiful, serene bay. Wear reef-friendly sunscreen (or none at all) so you don't hurt the reef. I went there with my two kids, and we had a great time. There were colorful reefs and lots of tropical fish, and if you are lucky, sea turtles. Great fun.

If you are looking to snorkel Maui's best, then Honolua Bay on a clear day, will not disappoint. It is a rocky entry, can be quite slippery at times, but to the locals, the entertainment of watching the Tourist get into the water, can be quite entertaining and comical. Especially those that put on their fins and masks and walk to the water from 50 feet away. Hilarious!! My best recommendation is to go early 6-9am. If you want to see all the life and critters before they are scared away by other snorkeling tourists, then go early. You will walk through a movie set to get to the Bay and once you are there, the beautiful blue ocean and patterns of corals, can only be seen to appreciate the natural beauty of Honolua.

Advice, when there are swells, avoid snorkeling. As, you might make the surfers angry. This is one of the top Surfing Spots on the island and bring the best riders from around the world. They hold a professional tournament, where this brings in many viewers and photographers.

The snorkeling is very good here. You will see a good amount of fish and turtles. Waves are minimal too so snorkeling is fairly easy. It is about a nice 10 minute walk from roadside parking to the beach on flat ground through a lovely forest.

We arrived here early (7am) and were among the first to arrive. The walk to the bay was easy. The beach is rocky and uneven—bring your own chair! We went out along the left side of the bay and saw fish and turtles. After warming up on shore, we went back out along the right side of the bay and amazingly, the snorkeling was significantly better if more crowded because all the tour boats anchor on the right side of the bay! But we swam with a huge school of fish we presumed to be mackerel, and turtles were spotted several times. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Key was to arrive early as there are few Parking spots in the small lot, and it was fun to have the bay practically to ourselves for over an hour.
Evidently there was an unfortunate incident involving a shark 12/2020 but luckily we did not see any shark the day we were there.

We loved this snorkeling spot! We drove there on our own, but there were several tour boats in the bay as well.

A couple things. We got lucky trying to find the parking lot. It is at the bottom of a hill, there was a food truck parked across the street from the entrance.

Getting into the water is quite rocky. Not much of a beach. Just FYI.

But this snorkeling was amazing! We saw a turtle, and so much more!

We went in October 2018. After parking we were prepared to go snorkeling. We got our snorkel gear out of the car but were stopped by a local who was in his car warning about the murky waters and possibility of sharks. We put away the snorkels but did the walk to the bay. It's a beautiful walk to the beach. The bay was very murky because of the recent heavy rains washing silt into the bay combined with the some big waves. We were disappointed we could not snorkel but we enjoyed the walk.

We have snorkeled here all three times we visiting Maui. It is an quick drive from the Lahaina/Kahana area, and a good place to snorkel when other areas have rough water. There had been a lot of rain just before we came, and the water quality was not as good this trip. In fact, it was absolutely murky close to shore but once we got out a ways it cleared up. We saw tons of fish, just one turtle this time, and even saw some whales just outside the bay as we were leaving! It is a rocky shore, but you can get in safely if you take your time. The walk down through the forest to the beach is fantastic, so lush and green, feels otherworldly! Even if you are not snorkeling, a short walk from the parking area is well worth it, and you will get some fantastic pictures.

Could not have picked a better place at that time of the day. It was late afternoon when I saw how clear the water was from a roadside view high above the bay. Entry is a little tough with all the rocks, but once you get floating out, the underwater view is great! Head out away from shore and to the right for huge coral up to 60 feet deep from what I read and tons of fish! No need to pay for the catamaran trips. In fact they come here too.

I'm not an experienced snorkeler at all,but really enjoyed our adventure here. There are many corals and fish here. I did not see any turtles.. but still do not pass this trip up. Water is calm here, makes it easy for 1st timers.

We came to Honolua Bay 2 days in row. Loved seeing so many different fish and so many turtles. If you keep swimming to the right side, you come across huge coral - that’s where the fish hang out to eat! Parking can be difficult on a weekend but we came on weekdays and got a spot in the little lot (which holds about 8 cars). If you can’t park in the lot, you can park along the street or in another lot that is before the main lot. You need to walk through a short path through a beautiful forest and can listen to the roosters greet you along your way to the beach. The beach is not a sandy beach but is made up of large rocks. Wear some rubber swim shows and be careful. The rocks get very slipper when wet. May not be the best place to hang if you were thinking of laying out - more of a place for snorkeling. And may not be the best for those who have problems walking on rocky, uneven surfaces. We saw some people with beach chairs - good idea as long as you can find a level area on the big rocks. Bring your own snorkel gear and snacks as there are not any vendors selling anything at this beach. Not crazy crowded and so peaceful. Love-love-love this bay for snorkeling.

THis is maybe the best swim from shore snorkeling I have been to. The Corals are better an Oneuli beach but the fish are truly amazing here. However, to truly enjoy you need to be a decent swimmer. The best snorkeling in on the right side of the bay and about 40-60M out. The water is pretty calm and when you get there you will not be disappointed. We say turtles, Rays, eels, massive schools of fish and tons of the standard stuff. There are often a number of tour boats, so going early will give you some more privacy.

The beach itself is all rocks so not a great beach for hanging all day and not for making sand castles

Remember, this is a nature preserve so you cant use standard sunscreens (either reef safe ones or none at all)

This is an interesting bay. Parking is a challenge...very limited. There is a very pleasant, fairly level walk to the bay....my favorite part! The actual bay is very rocky...boulders actually. There is somewhat of a beach to the left of the bay but you have to trek over boulders. There is limited space to hang out if not going to beach side. A bit of a challenge to get in the water. I would recommend water shoes. The snorkeling is beautiful. There are snorkeling boats there, too.

There are NO bathroom facilities!

Beautiful spot to go snorkeling. Neat walk down to the bay through the jungle. Its water is gorgeous and calm waters make for a nice snorkeling area.

If you're into snorkeling at all this is an absolute must. This is not a "sit on the beach" spot ... this is a snorkeling spot. Beach is rocky but once you're in the water the coral and fish are amazing. Saw turtles, eels and tons of fish. Really a great spot. Either go early or later in the day. Mid-day parking is very tough to find.

I agree 100% with my favorite guide books review of Honolua Bay (the great "Ultimate Guide to Maui/Kaui/Big Island" series of books). On the right day, it's incredible but you could visit here on a bad day and wonder why the heck you risked life and limb crawling over the big and wet boulders just to get in the water.

Our 1st visit in mid June bought impeccable snorkel conditions as the bay was so calm and water so crystal clear that it was like snorkeling in an aquarium some where. Just incredible clarity, lots of fish, an eel or 2 and a few turtles. Second visit a few days later and the surf/waves were up from 0" to maybe 6"-8" and the clarity was slightly diminished and you had to fight the very subtle current just a bit. Still great but a slight step down.

As others have noted, entry and exit can be a little dicey. My wife and I followed the guide books advice and used the old boat ramp entry which I thought was very easy while wearing reef shoes and putting on my fins after I was in. No sea urchins in the immediate vicinity and the swimming path was easy to find and follow out (just to the left of the ramp where you enter the water). Getting out was a tad more difficult for the wife as she didn't remove her fins for some bizarre reason but everyone standing at the edge is so nice and helpful that she received immediate support and assistance.

If the surf is up at all, I'm sure the visibility plummets in a hurry so look at conditions and decide accordingly. Both trips for us were a huge thumbs up. The 2 eels fighting over their turf on day 2 sealed it for me. In all my decades of snorkeling in Hawii, I've never seen an eel turf war in front of me. AWESOME!

This place is a little hard to find and best to go in the morning. If you go earlier the parking is a little easier and the water calmer for better snorkeling. Best to wear water shoes or sandals and skip the fins. Rocky shore can be difficult to navigate and the snorkeling is said to be better on the right side of the bay when facing the bay. Saw a Morey eel that was about 3 to 3 1/2 feet long.

From reading the reviews, I thought this place was going to be packed. Surprisingly, there was hardly anyone there. The walk to the bay was amazing. There is not much of a beach there. Visibility was not great for snorkeling but was good enough. We came across probably 10 different turtles. I would recommend walking along the rocks as far as you can if you want to snorkel, but be careful.

It was a fairly good hit today but not perfect. We tried last week and was treated to a torrential down pour that we tried to wait out but gave up. Today we made the drive arriving before the crowds. We understood from guides that this site did not necessarily have the best snorkeling early in the morning, or should I say it was not necessary to be here between 7 and 9 for the best snorkeling but we still wanted to be here on the early side. When we arrived we found some parking and walked down. It was still pretty quiet with a few people on the beach and only one big boat. The sun was out with some scattered clouds. BY the time we left there were two big boats and a small one and people were lining the shore. As we headed back to the car the rain set in. Not torrents like last week, it came in sheets of fine steady rain. We were glad we opted to find another beach for our picnic. Now we knew this site could be murky. It was murky, very murky nearer shore and somewhat better once we went out and to the right. It was not super clear. We enjoyed the sunlight through the water and were able to spot many fish we could name and some we could not. A turtle came by and an eel that was scared off by other swimmers, but still a pretty good morning. The wave action was very comfortable and the human traffic was spread out fairly well until near time to leave.

My husband, 15 year-old daughter, and I took a snorkeling excursion to Honolua Bay. It was one of the best snorkeling spots I've ever been to. It gets pretty crowded later in the day.

This is an outstanding place to visit with a beautiful walk though a forest and then a visually stunning bay. The water is shallow and just perfect for snorkeling with lots of fish to see. The parking can be a challenge as it is just a pull off on the side of the road. There is no beach - just rocks super for snorkeling. Easy spend a few hours and more. A must visit as it is one of the best bays in Maui.

We didn't snorkel or swim at the bay - it was Rocky and we weren't prepared as we made an impromptu trip on the highway after leaving Lahaina for lunch. So glad we did - we saw a car stopped on the side of the road and when we walked down we found ourselves in a beautiful forest that looked like it was from the movie Avatar or Jurassic Park! Gorgeous photo opportunities, and we walked across a little creek to find a path that led to the Bay.

We drove here around 3pm. Road side parking was easy as it was late in the day. We were able to park almost next to the trail head which is obvious. Pretty 100 yard walk through forest of large trees. Very rocky shoreline all around the bay (large rocks) - which made entry and exit difficult. We tried snorkeling all along the right side (facing out from the bay) but the visibility was terrible everywhere. You could see there was decent coral and a fair number of reef fish; so visibility must be good at times or they couldn't live there. Don't know how you know when visibility is better.

No facilities.

Lots of surfers way out near the point but little wave action in the bay itself.

Pretty bay to see, but other areas will provide better swimming beaches and better snorkeling.

Like everywhere in Hawaii, weather conditions will determine the clarity of the water, the choppiness of the sea, and the overall quality of your snorkeling experience. That said, when the weather cooperates, you can't do better than Honolua Bay which is a marine conservation area--no fishing allowed, so plenty of fish! As great as the snorkeling is at the much more renowned Molokini Crater, unless you have your own boat, you will be going on a tour, your snorkeling confined by the crew to a very small area around your boat, with throngs of other snorkelers, and you'll be spending a great deal of money for the privilege. So unless you are really in it for the hamburgers and beer on the boat, head out instead to Honolua Bay where the snorkeling is accessible from the shore. You will want to be in the water early, both because the sea is calmest then and because as the day wears on, tour boats arrive in the deeper parts of the bay. Even the beach may be crowded by mid morning. But if you are in the water early, you won't have much company other than the myriad fish and turtles that you are sure to see here. The water is very shallow near the shore and you'll have to be careful getting over the coral here, but its manageable, and once out in the protected waters of the bay, the snorkeling is easy and the sea life beyond compare. Your best bet is to snorkel out from to the right of the midpoint of the beach (as you face the ocean) and to swim back along the right shore (obviously, it will be on your left as you work your way back). Most of the coral is here and hence most of the marine life. Unless you are a very strong swimmer you don't want to venture out past the horseshoe shaped curves of the bay--Hawaii is, after all, the drowning capital of the world, and past the sheltered waters of the bay the north shore swell makes for great surfing but treacherous swimming, and pointless snorkeling. But by the time you are that far out, a tour boat or two will have arrived and they will in effect the mark the boundary of the safer waters. What will you see? Just about everything! Butterfly fish, parrot fish, surgeon fish, moorish idol, wrasse, box fish, puffer fish, cardinal fish, trigger fish, Humuhumunukunukuapuaa, goat fish, jacks, mullet, eels, and giant seat turtles, among many others, are plentiful. The water can get pretty cold even in summer, so if you have access to a wet suit, use it--it will make a longer swim possible, give you added buoyancy, and overall make for a better day. I've snorkeled the bay several times over the years and never been disappointed!

This is a beautiful rock beach with very good snorkeling.
Beach is a rock with no sand. The rocks are mainly round medium sized (6") stones and are not sharp. Entry into the water is not difficult if you are prepared for the rocks. I just wore my flip flops to the waters edge and left them there.
The snorkeling is good with a good variety of fish. Some of the lava flows under water are quite interesting.
The beach is quite busy with lots of people that arrive both by car and boat. Parking is limited, but the walk to the beach is only 10 minutes if you get a parking space. If no spaces are available, the walk can be much longer.
This is not a quite secluded beach, but the snorkeling makes it worth the crowds and parking.

The walk to the beach is very pretty; also easy. The beach itself is very rocky; we did not snorkel, we just did the walk to the beach which was worth it. Felt like we were in Jurassic Park!

Honolua was our favorite snorkeling site this time in Maui. Many boats come here with people, but you can do this for free. It took us about 30 minutes from Kaanapali to be in the water, this included parking and walking down. We came here 3 times. Once we had to park on the side of the road (that was about 830am), the rest of the time we made it to the little parking area (about 10 spaces), when we left our place between 7:15 and 7:30am. All you need is water/ land shoes, snorkle gear, fins, and water camera (even the path down is beautiful and so green, do enjoy) and drinking water. Put sunscreen on before going down.
This is a rocky bay. Walk with care as you approach the water, find the middle, that looks like a ramp, and leave your dignity behind, it is slippery, so lower yourself, and make your way to the end, have your mask on your head, sit at the end, put your fins on and go in. Swim out towards the right 1/3, about the first 30-40 feet. The first part is sand and some rock, not sharp though, and then healthy and colorful coral, with lots of fish, eels and a couple of turtles. It is easy to float around for 90 minutes or so. Calm bay, and lots to see. By the time you get out, there will be a lot more people there. You can also get in the water towards the right, but then you have to walk along some rocks.
The parking area has a few portable toilets.

Went here with my husband for our first time snorkeling. And as a whole we enjoyed our time with a few exceptions:

1. There is not direct entrance to the bay. You must park and walk through a woodsy area about half a mile or so. We wouldn't have known this except we saw other parking and going into the trees in groups so we stopped and asked some people coming back out where that lead to. But on the plus side the trail itself is very easy, mostly flat, and fairly obvious where to go because of a light pathway caused by other tourists.

2. At first glance at the water we were dissappointed because the waves breaking shore were dark brown and sludgy looking and smelled aweful. We were about to go home until we decided to risk climbing over the rocks along shore to the far right side of the bay where the water was deeper and noticeably cleaner. There we were able to climb in (watch out the rocks are very slipper and slimy). And it is worth noting that this is where you will see the majority of sealife anyway so the walk was worth it.

3. It was fairly crowded. We went on a weekday in September so i imagine its more crowded in peak season but even so we found there was little space to spread out unless you took the road less traveled and braved climbing over the rocks to the side of the bay. There we only shared with one other couple.

4. If you are not a great swimmer, you will still be able to see some fish, but nothing terribly exciting. The only place where the water is shallow enough to see fish is near the rocks i mentioned earlier. The rocks extend underwater about 4-5 feet from shore and line the right side of the bay for about 100 feet give or take (getting deeper the further you go out) and even further if you want to risk swimming out of the "C" shape of the bay. My husband is not a great swimmer and had to remain along the first 15 feet or so of this area and he got to see about 4 or 5 different types of fish. I am a much better swimmer and was able to swimm further out and saw much more including different fish (angel fish, yay!) and eels and someone even saw an octopus. Sorry, no turtles.

5. Sea urchins, Sea urchins, Sea urchins! The only parts shallow enough to see fish are close to the shore and drop off quickly so you have no choice but to swim directly above the sealife. Be CAREFUL if you have to stand at any point as the rocks are peppered in sea urchins everywhere.

All in all, if you keep those things in mind; look for other tourists to find the trailhead, pick a good spot off to the side, know your swimming capabilities, and dont expect to see hundreds of different fish or turtles if you cant brave swimming out of the bay, then you should enjoy your time there. It is definitely still a neat first experience snorkeling for us and definitely great practice using our snorkel gear before we went on our guided snorkel tour days later. Took some great pics and video with our Gopros.

Advice: Go on a weekday on offseason to avoid crowds. Bring snorkel equipment if you have any hope to see wildlife. Bring bug spray (for the trail through the trees) and sunblock as your shoulders/back are exposed while snorkeling. Bring a waterproof sport camera (youll regret not getting some of the sealife on film) and dont bring anything valuable as you wont be able to watch it amongst other snorkelers.

In my youth I dreamed of surfing at Honolua Bay after seeing breathtaking images in surfing magazines of huge, perfect waves crashing over the outer reef. I was not disappointed even though there wasn't a surfable wave that day. The horse shoe shaped bay is perfectly pristine with bush growing down to the rocky shore. It was a glorious sunny day with no-one else around so it felt like paradise lost. Spectacularly beautiful.

Gorgeous from above. And we were told it had the best snorkeling on Maui. It’s just kind of a pain. Hard to park. Have to walk down a rocky path to get there (with your stuff). The entire beach is rocks. No good place to sit. Hard to get in the water w your snorkel equipment bc of the rocks, etc. We would have been better off taking a snorkel cruise there. It just wasn’t enjoyable unfortunately. Oh, and we didn’t swim out enough to see any fish so….

Anchored here for a couple days on our way to Lahaina. Very pretty Bay, good snorkeling. Lots of rocks on the beach but the water is worth it. Saw a large group of dolphins on our way out which definitely made the spot better than it was!

This beach is rated the best Snorkeling beach on Maui and it is very good. It is also very easy to get to always remember sun screen it is so easy to burn your legs while snorkeling. Take lots of breaks. Have fun

We went to Maui in February, this visit was not the best compare to our other visits to the island. We followed all the instructions of how to get there. We went early morning, parking, no problem. There were no one there when we arrived, later on a couple came. They were here yesterday and the water was really rough, so they came back today to try again. The water was rough, but not as bad as yesterday, so they said. They went out, we follow them shortly after. The water was murky, couldn't see anything. I got out of the water, but my husband went out further to see if it gets better. No it didn't! the couple came back in and said the same. Not a good day, couldn't see anything and they left. Shortly after, my husband got out of the water, and was disappointed! The weather was not the best on this visit to the island. Need a do-over!! I'm sure it would be beautiful if the weather was better.

We drove along the beaches in the west side of Maui and stopped at this bay. It took a while to find parking and the entrance. It took a good 5-10 minutes walk before we reached the bay. It's a very rocky but once you managed to get into the water, it's great. Good for snorkelling on the north side.
Comparing it to Hanauma Bay, the water is clearer but it's not as easily accessible.

Loved our first to Honolulu. Traveled with Hubby 16 and 10year old and Parents. There was so much to see and do. We stayed at the Hawaiian Hilton Village and it was beautiful. A little pricey considering no breakfast included but room view of lagoon was great. Short walk to shops and to my parents resort Outrigger Reef. Could of saved around $2000 if we stayed there and would of been more than happy. We spent and extra $1000 because we weren't told about resort fees prior to leaving and all the taxes and tipping. Over all a beautiful island...warm weather and water was divine. Definitely going back and hope it's soon. The family loved every minute and miss it.

You have to drive past Kapalua to find Honolulu Bay and this might be the start of your troubles. Parking anywhere is difficult but you can work your way on foot to the Bay Area. It can be a bit difficult underfoot but your efforts will be rewarded once you reach the front. We even spotted some humpbacks doing what they do but frankly just get into the water and enjoy.

Breathtaking scenery walking down the trail to get to the water. Unfortunately, there was a tent encampment at the water that really took away from the beauty of the area. It was smelly, with bongs on the picnic table, tents and random broken-down vehicles and trash. The beach is rock so there are no good places to sit. It was more of a quick visit to see the bay. The walk down is the best part.

Beautiful setting back off the highway....makes for nice walk. Bay is beautiful but the water entry is extremely rocky.

One of the prettiest bays on the upper west side. Overlooks add to the beach and many surfers goin'. A nice part of your day either way!

This spot is a must do if you visit Maui in next few weeks. It generally has safe and clear snorkeling conditions when other parts of Maui are being affected by weather or swells.

The beach entry is not easy; it is rocky and hard in your feet but once you are in- it’s beautiful and there are plenty of fish and coral to observe. Water was generally calm during our 12 days on the island and a good place for novice snorkelers or families with children- one must always be aware of the changing water conditions in Maui regardless. We appreciated our daily snorkel report from the Snorkel Store to help guide us in our choices for different beach areas to snorkel and when. I spent most of my time snorkeling the right side of the bay- if you are walking into the water from the beach area.

It gets crowded early and lots of boats visit this place. Parking is first come first serve and it is not easy to turn around and go back to get a space of you pass the area to begin with. It is worth the trouble though and a place I would go to repeatedly if I could visit the island again for an extended period of time.

Parking is limited so go early. The beach is easily accessible approx 5 mins walk through rain forest type vegetation. The bay however is very rocky and when at the waters edge, very slippery. Not a spot for someone with a walking disability! No facilities other than portable toilets but highly recommended.

Lovely coral, loads of fish and pretty good vis.

You can pay to go on a boat and snorkel there or drive yourself and snorkel for free!!

Don’t miss this one. One of the best spots to snorkel in Maui.

We rarely make it here during the winter with the waves and the creek run off clouding the water. It is pretty hard to access from shore, slippery boulders upon entry. But a cool forest to walk thru to get to the beach. Well worth it if you can get in. Fabulous reef on the right side. One of the best in Maui. You can also take a boat in but we have not done that yet.

My wife and I attempted to snorkel twice at Honolua Bay but recent rains meant a lot of mud runoff diminishing visibility. The rocks you have to traverse to enter the water are slick and challenging. My wife fell on the first day we tried to snorkel here. On the 2nd attempt there were more people walking out than in, and each one said the vis was awful and not to bother. When we arrived at the waters edge the mud river flow into the bay was evident.

We decided to check out an adjacent bay called Makuleia Bay. It's accessed via a disturbingly named Slaughterhouse Beach, but we both agreed it offered the best snorkeling we have ever seen. The tour boats moored up and delivered people on the right side of the cove (with your back to the beach looking out), so we decided to swim on the left side of the beach out and around the rocks. You would NOT want to do this on a rough day, but we were the only people there and rewarded with stunning sea life, tons of turtles, vibrant colors, and dramatic topography. We would definitely return to this spot!

Came upon Honolua Bay by accident on our way to the Nakalele Blowhole. Stopped on our way back and were so impressed by the gorgeous rainforest walk to the bay and the calm serene waters of the Bay itself. It was FULL of snorkelers so we needed to come back. We came a few mornings later and snorkelled for 2 hours. So many fish, coral, and turtles! Such an incredible spot and so close to Kaanapali, if you are staying on the West side. Highly recommend taking snorkel gear and checking it out.

This is a must do place- it does change based on rain run-off which honestly we experienced this past Aug-Sept.,due to Lane passing by... so if you are here for a while select a day when there has NOT been significant rain run off- and yet its a fun place- you come here only to be int eh water as all the books say there is no beach-only rocks- so not really family friendly... be there early ahead of the tour boats...

I've been to many bays and beaches around Maui and am convinced Honolua Bay is the best! Manele Bay at Lanai is good and Molokini isn't even worth your time any more. If you are in Honolua Bay on a sunny day when there hasn't been a recent rain, you will be amazed at the colors of the coral and the abundant sea life.
Getting into the water can be tricky since the shoreline is all slippery rock. If your budget allows, take the Trilogy trip to this bay. It is fabulous!

My favorite snorkeling spot yet on the island. Plenty of reefs, lots of reef fish and saw turtles, as well. We have snorkled the entire island now and this area was easy to get in and out of, well protected from the waves, and enough room to spread out. Don't waste money taking a snorkel trip here on a catamaran if you have a car in Maui. Best to drive. One thing to do on the way is to stop at Lorraine Shave Ice for banana bread and a shave ice. Lorraine is very good company and knowledgeable of all things on the island. Great stretching point.

There is a good parking lot at the top of the hill and a short walk down to the trail if you don't want to park along the road. On the side, there is a gate that says private road. Best to take this road and walk it straight back to where you see the beach. If you try to come in off the road, there is a small, steep hill and a lot of people wipe out.

Once down on the beach, it is very rocky. Most people stay at the base of the lagoon. If you don't mind a short walk, go either way left or way right. I would go way to the right as there is a flat area to sit in and is also the side with the turquoise water. Lots of fish on either side but the right side is best. You will encounter a lot of snorkelers on the right side so be prepared. I swam both sides and wasn't very many people on the left. If you go on the left, you will see a small rock jetty about 50 yards out, go out beyond that and follow the rocks along the bank. Water will be roughly 8 feet or more in that area and you will see a natural path through the big rocks to swim. We saw turtles in here along with a lot of colorful reef fish. Also had quite a few schools of fish swim with us. The fish are not skittish here like in other areas.

Very, very enjoyable here. One thing to keep in mind, the water here stays shallow for a ways out. There is not a lot of coral on the beach here so you can walk out a bit in your swim shoes if you have them and flipper up out in the deeper water.

We had a great day at this beach with sea turtles, lots of fish and even jumping dolphins. Parking is a pull off on the road and sometimes limited and there are stairs going down. Beach area is small but not crowded during the week. Super spot to spend a few hours. Lots of sun and shade and great snorkelling.

We were driving around doing some exploring and ran across a pro big-wave surfing competition at Honolua Bay recently. The competitors had most of the parking and beach tied up so we watched from the top of the cliff. Apparently this competition happens each Winter when the surf is up.

This is a beautiful bay on the West side. If the water conditions are good here, the snorkeling is fantastic. That being said, it seems to get very crowded lately with people, and boats. Its can be tough to find a parking spot, leave no valuables in your car, and then its a short jungle walk to the shore. Its rocky here so keep that in mind for water entry, not a soft sandy bottom. If you come out, please clean up so the area remains nice for all. If the water is not clear, don't go in!

Best snorkeling of the trip! Close in not so good but down the right side,Amway from the masses was awesome!

Honolua Bay is some of Maui's best snorkeling. We make it a stop on every visit. That being said, if you are planning a trip to Honolua, please consider the following:

- If you enter on foot, you will be parking on the hillside and hiking through the rainforest. It's a short, easy hike - but be prepared :)
- If you plan to bring sunscreen, it NEEDS to be reef safe (oxybenzone and octinoxate free) Pretty sure these are no longer legal for sale in Hawaii anyway.
- The "beach" is made up of large rocks, of which you will have to wade/swim through to get to the reef. The water is typically very murky at the shoreline, it is a rainforest after all. Shoes recommended.
- PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not harass the turtles or stand on corals. Corals are very delicate, and beautiful corals like the ones found in Honolua Bay are becoming more and more rare around Maui and the world. Every time we've been here I've had to ask people to stop standing on corals.
- Check the water clarity reports before you go. If you go after a rain, it will be murky, and you're gonna have a bad time.

All of this aside, Honolua Bay is SPECTACULAR. If you're not down for the hike, book a snorkel charter who will moor you near the reef for easy access.

I have snorkeled there many times and it is always wonderful. The coral and valleys between are filled with fish. In my opinion you should be an above average swimmer because the beautiful areas are quite a ways out. In the photo above you enter at the upper left rocky beach with the best areas being at the lower right. Somebody actually drowned there yesterday. So sad. Another option is to take a tour out there. It’s not cheap but they take care of you.

This is such a great snorkeling spot that boats from the Four Seasons Turtle Beach area sail up to the bay each day. Quite a diversity of species and a large area to explore. No need to go to Molokini

Cool trail down to the bay, but the area is really only good for snorkeling, and even that is not very good as the waters were not calm. Hard to get in and out as it is really rocky and slippery. It looks like there was on old boat launch down there at one time.

It so happened to be the day when that historical ship, The Hokule'a was there and I was able to get aboard. Waited an hour and a half but it was worth the wait.

Come early to get the best parking. There are several spots to park along Honoapaliini Hwy. Cars tend to be courteous and careful, but do be mindful of the oncoming traffic. The parking spots are narrow and do make sure you vehicle is entirely off the road. I saw at least one rental white jeep with exactly half of it's rear axle entirely in the road. Depending on where you park, there is a short hike down to the bay. Flip-flops aka Go-aheads are perfectly fine for the hike down. Where they become a problem is when you actually get down to the bay, which other reviewers have correctly noted is rocky. Take care when traversing those rocks. We have always snorkeled the right side (facing Molokai out). When entering the water, try to get on your belly and start swimming as quickly as possible as the rocks can be uncomfortable on the feet. You will see many types of fish, turtles and occasionally some eels. The bay does tend to get a fair number of people at some times of the day. As another reviewer noted, there will likely be as many as two or three tour boats out there with you. When you are done, you can drive the highway a short distance to the top of the bay and get a bird’s eye view of your former fun. You can also see turtles surfacing and the reefs. On our next visit, sometime this week, we will visit the left side. It's smaller and certainly less crowded. On either side, plan to do some swimming. The current takes you out, and you will typically have some work due to the wind and current. No worries; swim a ways, chill out, swim some more, rest again. It’s Maui – you are on vacation, enjoy!

Honolua Bay is a great place to snorkel! There is free parking just off the main road but it's hit and miss getting a spot because it's a popular spot. Getting here early is a good idea. From there, you walk through a beautiful and peaceful rainforest, which is the Honolua Bay access trail, to reach the bay. I had as much fun exploring the rainforest as I did at the bay. There are many chickens and baby chicks running around.

You park on the road and walk through a small forest with chickens and roosters to access this VERY rocky beach. There is NO SAND so it is not ideal for relaxing or laying out. Great spot to snorkel tho. Make sure you have solid shoes to walk on the rocks, water shoes are highly recommended.

rocky entry, no beach. Dive in the morning ! winds and swell come up and the visibility drops off. Cool coral heads , beautiful fish and turtles. we will definitely go back. Water shoes a must !

We saw so many fish, turtles and other sea life during the summer. I believe this is where the big waves are in the winter!

When the surf's up and you want to get into local surf-culture, especially not the weekend, head to the dirt road that is on top of the cliff on the east side of Honolua Bay. Park, walk to the overlooks and you will see ~50 surfers in the water riding under wave curls directly below you in the water along the cliff. No need for binoculars! Most interesting to look down on them and see it in action. Meanwhile, this same bay is well known for snorkeling. Quite a great trip stop!

This was a specific spot we wanted to see. The view was great. We were able to see several humpbacks perform not to far from us. There was a wood carver selling his stuff at a good price. This view definitely gives you a humbly perspective of the vast ocean around us. Stop if even for just a few minutes.

Honolua Bay is a beautiful place to snorkel. You park on the road or in a small lot if there is space, and then walk through some gorgeous forest scenery (inhabited by chickens and roosters) before emerging onto the rocky beach. During my water adventure I encountered a big eel, pretty coral, a couple of sea turtles and lots of fish. I would definitely recommend Honolua Bay for some awesome snorkeling!

We’ve been to Honolulu Bay on 2 different visits to Maui. It’s especially beautiful from above up on the road, and we love the walk through the beautiful trees to the water. Along the shoreline it’s murky and a challenge to get in (no sand, just rocks). If your snorkel out to either the right or left side of the bay you’ll be rewarded with beautiful fish and coral.
Our favorite visit was seeing a bride and groom in scuba gear getting married there! Loved that!

We always go here when we’re on the island and it’s always been a great place to snorkel. I should have known before getting in that something was up. No snorkel tours present. The water is usually a little murky upon entry but it never cleared up as we got closer to where the coral and fish usually are. It was so disappointing! I did find information that it was closed over the summer due to shark presence and dead fish. It also was pretty smelly. Check with locals before going out there. Maybe it will return to normal at some point.

Been coming here for years, noticing less and less fish. This year was the same, less fish then ever, although still nice, peaceful snorkeling.still worth the effort to get here.
There is a local begging people not to use aerosol sun screen, just the paste, to protect the reef.

Probably not going to have to worry about ever getting sand between your toes. I didn't go down to the bay itself but took it in via the overlook which made a very good picture. Appeared to have quite a bit of lava and deep blue water.

Great snorkeling especially along right side of bay. Parking fills early. Small sandy bottom on left side is an easier entry.

Honolua Bay was incredible!

I've been snorkeling many times on different islands, and this is hands down the best snorkeling we experienced in Maui. We saw a sea turtle, big schools of lots of different kinds of fish, and for the first time I saw hundreds of one type of fish (not sure what type) swimming by together. I just floated and watched them for a while.

I snorkeled at the Molokini crater years ago and was underwhelmed. Honolua Bay was much better.

You can drive over park and walk down (beach is very rocky) or take a snorkel cruise (which is what we did).

We visited here twice whilst visiting Maui. The first, we stumbled across it by accident whilst we were looking for a beach and was curious as to why so many cars were parked in the road. There were Portaloos/pottys at the entrance to a trail through a wooded area. This trail had recently been cleared and a number of trees had been cut down and laid on the ground to mark out a distinct pathway down to the bay. Best advice would be to run or walk quickly through the darkish part of the trail to avoid any mosquitos (if sensitive).
Once at the bay, there was a stall selling water etc. but I think this is limited hours/ days. The bay is rocky so there isn’t really anywhere much to sit except the rocks, jut find a large flattish one and perhaps tether bags/belongings together. Looking directly at the water, the area on the far right, some way out, is best for snorkelling. Although this area looks quite a way out, it isn’t particularly deep. There will normally be some large catamarans moored there with guests on snorkelling expeditions.
It is difficult to get into the water as the rocks are slimy and difficult underfoot but going down to the edge and carefully pushing off from a seated position to flat position worked for us - no graceful way of doing this! Put fins on in the water. Also, the second time we went we took ‘noodle floats’ which meant we wasn’t worrying about being out too far/long and it was much more relaxing.
The second visit we arrived at 9.30am and saw much more marine life. We had three turtle sightings, eels and a plethora of fish. Luckily for us we didn’t see any sharks, which harmless as they may be, would have totally freaked out our teenage son.
We were lucky with parking on the road. First visit at 1pm, people leaving and parked but didn’t see much marine life. Second visit 9.30am, parked easily and was thrilled by what we saw snorkelling. See photos!

Skip boats, don't pay for snorkeling trips, just drive early to Honolua Bay. We arrived around 10, easily found parking spot in a shade and headed to the beach through beautiful short forest path. We snorkeled for about an hour and it was amazing! Underwater paradise! we saw many fish, the whole blue fish formation made of hundred of fish and a lot of coral.

There is also a nice view point of Honolua Bay if you drive maybe half a mile up. You can see from there how much reef you were snorkeling in!

Modest 1km hike through a lush, gorgeous tropical forest. At the end a rocky beach that might not be great for a casual swim, but seems like a very popular place for snorkeling. The view from the toad above showed a gorgeous reef.

Easy drive before the road becomes very winding and narrow.
Good viewing area. The road is good; after this it becomes risky.

This was by far the best snorkeling, by boat or off shore, that I have even done. The fish count is crazy high as is the variety. Sea turtles, eels, and may other fish to enjoy.
Tips:
Go early (8:30-9:30) beat the crowd and snorkel boats.
Wear water socks— all rocks
Expect chickens
Hide any valuables in the car from sight. Many break ins judging by the amount of window glass in leaking areas.
No spray lotion allowed.. only bottles lotion
Snorkel off to the left side.. amazing reefs with deep channels and even walls.

If you view this bay from the road it is spectacular. We dropped by after going to DT Fleming. The walk from the road (where we parked) was beautiful. Lush greenery, chickens, trees and foliage, vines, mangoes. Shore is rocky with some shade where you could grab a tree branch or rock to sit on. Snorkeling to the right was very nice. A lot of coral, a decent selection of fish. Tip: stop at Costco on your way from the airport. They sell snorkel gear for the price you can rent for a couple hours. It paid for itself 5 times over as we snorkeled every day. This is a great spot. Don’t know if I would stay for the day as there really is no place to hang out. But a great stop!

SUPERB ! We went in our own car, parked on the road. The trail leading to the beach is AMAZING. It looks like an enchanted forest, reminded us of the forest in Avatar. The beach is all rocks, not easy to go in the water bit the snorkelling is WOW !!! We swam with turtles, a sea lion. The corals were really nice. We saw school of fish of thousands of fish. No lie. Feb 2020.

This is absolutely the best place to snorkel. It is difficult to get in. Just follow the path the the beach. At the end there are several large smooth flat rocks. Just slide down to the end in the water then you can swim off from there. Corals and visibility becomes more clear as you go to the deeper end. Follow the Snorkel tour boats. You normally see a lot of fish near the right side of the beach (north).

Honolua Bay can be reached by car on Hwy 30. Parking area has porta -pottys. Walk about 1/4-mile on a dirt trail to the cove. Beach is rock. Wear water shoes or flippers when entering water from the beach to avoid sharp coral.

Honolua Bay can obviously be reached by boat. Most snorkel sails out of northwest Maui (Lahaina, etc) visit Honolua Bay.

Visibility is good with some nice reefs in the middle of bay and the north side of cove.

We arrived at 8:30 AM and the parking lots were already full. We were able to park along the street near the porta potties. We saw lot sof stray chickens on the hike down to the bay. Be careful as there are some exposed roots and pits which make it easy to trip.
The beach is rocky. It is much easier to navigate barefoot than wearing sandals or flip flops. We entered the bay at the boat launch. We sat down, put on our mask and fins, and started swimming. This was the advice given to us by one of the other snorkelers. Swim towards where all the boats are. That is where the healthy reef is. We saw 2 turtles, a maroon colored octopus, tons of triggerfish, boxfish, and yellow tangs to name a few.
The water was cold for me, but I didn't care because the reef and fish were so beautiful. If you have one, bring a wet suit.
This was our favorite snorkel spot. We saw more fish here than in Molokini, Kapalua, or Black Rock.

Some of the best snorkeling you'll find! I wouldn't pay for a tour. We snorkled here several times during our stay and saw so many turtles. Our best experience was actually coming from the beach just to the east of honolua bay around the point to honolua bay. Tons of sealife!

Crowded with people who at times are not even able to just float. So it comes as a surprise that the reef, corals, sponges and wildlife seem incredible intact. Very nice snorkeling, easily accessible with the car (if you find a parking spot)

Very Nice bay. The walk out to the rock beach was pretty cool . its a flat walk and has some pretty neat trees. Stay on the path or you will get yelled at. There are unmarked graves. We didn't get to snorkel there as the water was to rough that day. Love there is sign saying so so you don't waste your time dragging your gear out there. Its probably really nice when the water is calm. We did get to watch the surfers that day and have a nice little picnic.

One of the highlights of our trip with great snorkeling. The parking can be a little distance away and there is a small hike to the water which can be a little daunting but take your time because the view is beautiful. If you have a phobia of chickens do not go. There are many and they are running around freely and seem to be everywhere!

Incredible clear waters for snorkeling. The reef is beautiful, colorful and healthy. There is a tremendous variety of colorful fishes. It is a long swim from shore and there is no sandy beach… just slippery rocks. Parking is sparse… and one must walk on a well worn path through tropical vegetation. There are no “facilities” at the beach… only a couple of porta- potties at the trailhead.

Parking was crazy at this place. We parked just west of the little bridge up the south side of the road where the little uphill turnoff was. Crossed the bridge and took the beautiful walk to the beach. The walk itself was amazing, different plantations, a couple of huge mango trees. We picked a couple of fallen mangoes and they were delicious! The water wasn't the clearest that day but still not bad. We saw many zebra fish and some small schools of transparent fish. The rock near the shore made entry rather difficult though. People just need to set their expectations right. For example, I don't believe there is any place in Hawaii where you would be swimming among huge corral reefs with a million colorful fishes all around you. But compare to the Big Island, Maui appear to have much more accessible shores for snorkeling.

I had never been snorkeling before and one of the locals we talked to recommended this place. There was a beautiful walk to the beach. Even though it was a rocky beach instead of sand, I thought it was beautiful. When we first got into the water and my husband was trying to teach me what to do, I was discouraged because the water was murky and I couldn't see anything. I listened to him and we swam out a good distance and ended up over some coral. I was so glad I listened. It was so amazing. We saw tons of different fish (one pink and blue one befriended me and swam around with us for a while) and a turtle. Loved it here.

This was my favorite spot on Maui to snorkel. We swam with so many green sea turtles. It was protected and out of the waves so made for good snorkeling conditions. We went to the left of the beach. You will see the catamarans parked off shore, we stayed to the left of them or sw side of the bay. It is rocky getting in the water and slippery algae on the rocks. But once in the water, the clarity is incredible. Yellow tangs immediately upon entering water. Beware of sea urchins close to shore.

Muddy, treacherous walk if raining. Just remember that if it's raining you will get dirty, you will slip and you may fall. Good shoes are a must in rainy conditions as the walk through the forest (although beautiful) can be 15 dangerous minutes. Don't bring a chair..honestly if you are willing to try to balance a chair on the rocks..good for you. Personally, it took everything I had to get to the water in one piece with all my gear on the rainy day we were there. I even fell getting into the water and badly bruised my wrist because the rocks are so slippery and slimy. Once in the water, it's really beautiful and I saw two turtles and many, many fish. It was some of the best snorkeling on Maui but when I saw the catamaran tours I thought..."that would have been the safer way to go" but I'm sure those tours are costly. If you want to go on the cheap (looks like a cash donation is appreciated for crossing the land) this is the way to go, but bring only the essentials and enjoy. Also keep things hidden in your vehicle to be safe.

Walking to this bay through the jungle was interesting. Once we climbed into the water, it was so clear. We saw many different species of colorful fish -- all for free!

We've been going to Maui for years and have tried to numerous snorkeling spots all over the island. Honolua Bay is by far one of the best. Go out to the right and you will find some of the best snorkeling there.

We snorkeled in three areas on Maui and I saw the most varieties of fish here at Honolulu Bay. Getting into the water is not very easy, since it is a very rocky beach, but once you get in the water, you are good. There is a lot of coral in the water, it is mostly clear and you see a lot of fish. The walk to this beach was magical. I felt like we were in a fairy garden! We weren't able to park in the main parking, so we had to park down the road a ways. The trees were in blossom and had dropped little yellow blossoms everywhere. I could have just sat in a chair and enjoyed that little spot of heaven for a long time.

All the great reviews are true - those who brave the uncertain parking, a wild (short) walk to the beach, challenging rocky entry, and 100ft swim are rewarded with opportunity to snorkel with lots of tropical fish. There are great reef on both north and south sides of the bay, although you see the tourboats at the north reef. North reef is a closer to the entry points, but rocky outcropping on the south side of the bay offers almost equivalent quality snorkeling. Middle of the bay is deep and sandy with not much to see. It can in fact get wavy, be sure to check surfline.com If seas are under 3ft, the bay will be sufficiently calm. I recommend the north side of the bay for postcard views unless late in the day, but south side for coconut icecream and few other vendor stalls.

The water was murky the day we went, but the walk to the bay and the environment itself was gorgeous!! Worth the trip.

It's a marine sanctuary, great snorkelling, wear sun lotion not spray,
As spray is harmful to the coral. Snorkel out to the right best and clearer.
Parking is a bit of a hit and miss but people are coming and going all day,
Enjoy

We drove about an hour up from the Wailea area to snorkel here. It was well worth it. We saw turtles, large trumpetfish, an octopus, squid, a barracuda, large parrotfish and many other colorful reef fishes.
Some advice: Plan to get there at 8:30 AM. You’ll be more likely to get parking & it will be less crowded. There is a lookout just before mile marker 32. Access to a sandy beach is the first parking area past mm 32. Look for the green railing and steps down to the beach. The best snorkeling area is about 0.3 miles further just past the one lane bridge. This is a big rock beach. Do not plan to lay out or play in the sand. There is no sand. Just a difficult rocky access to the water. But the snorkeling is phenomenal. Stay close to the rocks on either the left or right side and go out as far as you can. We saw more fish and the turtles on the left side.

Stayed in Ka’anapali and rented snorkel gear from Boss Froggs in Lahaina (by the Safeway). The bay is just north of Ka’anapali about 10mins. The first set of parked cars you will see on your left is not th we’re you want to park - go past that and you will see a viewing parking lot on your left. That overlooks the Honolua Bay. To find parking, go past that (north) and you will see some cars parked on the left. Get there early to get decent parking. Like before 9am. You will walk down through the trees in a path out to the bay. The bay is rocky - so don’t plan on sitting in a beach - bring chairs if you are going to want to sit. Otherwise you will be sitting on rocks.

It can be tricky to get into the water with flippers, so plan carefully...or just get in the water and put your gear on. While we were snorkeling in the north side of the bay, we saw a small turtle eating on top of one of the reefs, and a HUGE turtle down below eating between the reefs. We also saw two sharks...I was terrified...but managed to keep going as there a ton of people in the water that didn’t mind them. One was a black tipped/fin shark about 4’ long and another was a rounded nose shark that was bigger - I’m guessing around 6’. Big enough to make me go the other way as it swam near us!

The fish were gorgeous, and this bay is very popular! You can tell from the photo how much there may be look at! Enjoy!!

A great spot to stop and take in the views on the drive around the North shore. Seasonal big wave surfing and good snorkeling in calm conditions. Take care to properly secure valuables and personal belongings if leaving the car unattended.

We did a bit of snorkeling here and it was great. I liked that you just pulled over, walked through the woods and came upon a beach. It has no sand, just large rocks into the water so you need to be careful, but the snorkeling was totally worth it.

This is a terrific snorkeling spot and it’s always calm. It’s surrounded by land on three sides and facing Molokai, so no swells can get in. There are lots of expensive tours here, but you can go for free. The shore itself is very rocky, so it’s strictly for snorkeling. Also, parking is very limited and it’s at least a 300 yd. walk from the road to the water. Hawaii is not California where they have large paved parking lots at all the state parks. Most of the fish and coral formations are on the eastern side of the bay. Turtles are found on the western side. Dolphins also made an appearance. Honolua Bay is a must stop for snorkelers.

EXCELLENT snorkeling! The “beach” is rocks. They get really slippery near the water where they’re wet. Use extreme caution getting in and out of the water. Once in, the snorkeling is tip-top. Today I saw six turtles and a shark about 4’ long. Reef on either side with a huge middle area that’s mostly sandy. Last time I was here I saw an octopus.
The walk in is about 1/4 miles through the forest. It’s wide and flat. Very nice stroll. Parking is a challenge, but if you get there by 9am, it’s pretty easy.
To me, the possible challenging parking and entry/egress from the water is totally worth it.

We took a drive north from Kaanapali, and ended up at Honolua Bay. We could see others down in the water, snorkeling with dolphins. We are thinking on our next trip to Maui, that we will take one of the catamarans out to do this.
The water is a wonderful color of blue.

Very pretty location to snorkel on the north end of Maui with a great variety of fish and plant life. The bay offers a nice underwater landscape to snorkel in between as you swim with the fish. What adds to the location is the pretty trees and plants along the 3 minute walk along the path from the parking area. Parking is tight so get there early as well.

Surf can get high in winter, but there is still good snorkeling possible too. We even saw an octopus when we went. Parking can be a hassle, but we got lucky. The walk to the shore was scenic. Bring your own snorkel gear and watch out for black spiny urchins as you walk into the water. There are portapotties available. My favorite snorkel spot!

When we rented the snorkeling gear, we asked what location would be best because the wind was strong form the south that day. They recommended the north shore, so we went to Honolua Bay. There wasn't any parking at sea level, so we parked at the lookout and walked down. After a short walk through a beautiful lush forest, we arrived at the beach. Wear water sandals with straps to negotiate the mostly football-sized rocks on the shore. Once in the water, there were no more rocks.We didn't see much at first, but the further north you swam, the more coral and fish there were. There were even full schools of fish just hanging out and spinner dolphins playing further from shore. It definitely rivaled the best snorkeling spots we've been to. There was a lady renting gear at the beach for $10 on the day we went. Be sure to check visibility reports before you go.

Definitely recommend this bay for snorkeling. Parking is a little difficult, I would get there early to get a spot. It is a short walk on a jungly trail to the beach. The beach is rocky, so I wouldn’t go there as a place to hang out for the day. And make sure the water is calm. We saw many varieties of fish as well as turtles.

I was SO excited to snorkel here, based on Tripadvisor reports, and the experience did not disappoint. The hike was so beautiful I wanted it to be longer! The water was clear and the sea life so abundant. We saw turtles, eels, numerous reef fish, urchins and anemones. Twice we found a WALL of silver fish off to the right, shallow and near the rocks (before you even get to the beautiful coral section). It was just like the shiny school of fish that help out in Finding Nemo! I didn't mind the tour boats dropping people into the water. There's plenty of space, and I knew if I swam toward the boats I'd get to the best coral! :)

If you are traveling with kids or novice snorkelers, you might bring a swim noodle or boogie board for them to float with. Because you'll want to stay out a good long time! Our 10-year-old got a little tired and wanted a rest. We headed to the rocky edge nearest us, and got a little roughed up by the combination of waves and rocks. (Going shallower to rest would have been better)

Snorkeling at Honolua Bay was divine! Completely calm protect area with live coral and lots of fish.

We were staying in Kapalua, and the drive to Honolua was very short as was the walk to the beach through the longer trail of fruit trees and forest. We were so glad we didn't take a boat tour here as we accessed the exact same area as the cruise ships did.

Thanks to previous reviewers who describe the rocky terrain. There is not much sand at all and mostly large loose rocks. Water shoes or sturdy sandals with straps (not flip flops) are a must to walk to over the rocks. My husband and I decided to walk over the rocks to the right and enter the water rather than enter in the middle of the boat ramp and swim to the right.

Was a little tricky to switch out the needed water shoes for snorkel fins. Rocks are super slippery with moss and other growth. You really do need to stay low to the ground and have at least 1 foot/hand holding on to be safe. I helped my husband by handing him his fins once he got into the water with his water shoes.

Well worth it, but just be prepared that you really can't lie flat to "lay out" and tan on a rock!

The only thing that would be needed to make this beach perfect is a partially sandy shore but it's full of rocks and boulders. The snorkeling is great for just about everyone though. I am not a swimmer so if the water is deeper than I am tall I will only go that far out. That being said I was not expecting to see fish so close to shore but I did! There were Moorish Idol, Tarry hogfish, Reef triggerfish, Humuhumunukunukuapua'a, Parrot fish, Saddleback Wrasse, etc. All within 10ft. of the shore in about 3 to 5 feet of water. Now the water close to shore is a bit murky due to the algae from the rocks as people slide into the water. I do mean slide because the rocks are very slippery, so be careful. But it was great. There were no large waves the day we went though apparently some days there are. My husband is a swimmer so he went out quite far, out where the snorkeling tour catamarans were. He said it was fantastic, so many more kinds of fish and they would swim right up to you. I wish we'd had a water camera. We will definitely go back, so maybe next time.

It is a beautiful beach, although it is a hard way down and up. Also at the to, there are nice view points, where you have a beautiful view on the bay and the landscape. We took a lot of photos

the trail is beautiful like a scene of LOST, beach is rocky the day we went the water was a bit cloudy so we didnt see too much fish, but on other days i heard that it was amazing when it was sunny. alot of the coral for the first 100ft is dead :( if going into any beach get sunscreen that is free of Oxybenzone! (1 of the many contributers to kiling corals) overall niceplace but very busy due to charters and poeple walking in via the trail.

Always check snorkel conditions and check weather in advance. There are times flash flood can make it impossible to get in the water. When conditions are good it's an excellent place if you are a strong snorkeler or have flotation device. You have to swim out to the best reef area out.on the right.ofventry area. Actually best area is getting near to the surf break but not quite. Turtles are usually out there and we have experienced larger tropical varieties there. The walk through the jungle from parking is a trip! Large old trees are photo ops!

Honolua Bay is by far the best snorkeling spot in West Maui in my opinion. There will likely be a couple catamarans anchored while you are there, but they do not get in the way. Don't be dissuaded by the lengthy walk (beautiful though....take your time) to get to the rock beach, and don't get dissuaded when you first enter the water to find the bottom is dirty/silty/leafy etc. because that's just the nature of where Honolua Bay is located with the stream runoff, etc. As you get 30-50 feet out the water clears enormously and if you continue on the right or left sides there is unbelievable amounts of coral, fish, eels, octopus.....parking is tough around here. Find a spot and just enjoy the fact you're in Maui and about to have a fun day.

What a totally unusual and fascinating beach this is! The walk to the beach is through lush green woods .. tall trees, covered with huge vines, banyan trees , etc
The path has been made between graves of natives and the land is very sacred!
After a short walk you come onto this beach of stones with shallow water great for snorkeling!
Kids and families spend all day here amongst spectacular views!

This was the second visit to Honolua Bay. The first was 8 years prior. The first visit was the best since the walk from the road/parking through the forest was unexpected and stunning. The snorkeling the first time was really great as well. Skip ahead to November 2025 and there are homemade signs everywhere and once you get close to the beach there are tents, tables, and old cars with shady people that look like they are living there. This is a place that used to have such great mana and they have ruined it. A lot of visitors to this place ignore them and go out in the water but we couldn't do it. We walked in and turned around and walked right back out.

While a bit away from the beaten path, this secluded beach was good looking and the swimming was great. We did not have snorkel gear but several other folks did. Looked to be a great spot for it. We will be back with snorkel gear next time!

When I tell people about where to stop and take a short walk in Maui, I will always mention Honolua bay and the woods nearby.
I simply cannot describe the beauty of this place. Even though a few of the trees halfway to the bay had to be cut down recently due to disease, the forest is already replacing them. The variety of flowers and trees there is amazing! King Kamehameha butterfly are plentiful there as, of course, are the wild maui chickens!
If you are on your way back from the Nakalele blowhole, or the 'Heart shaped rock' do yourself a huge favor, and set aside half an hour or so, and take a walk through this forest.

It's a bit of a walk down to see it, and it's a rock beach. It's still cool, and I'm glad we walked down.

The bay itself is fine but not better than two steps in Big Island. The parking lot is horrible. It only has 5 to 6 parking spaces. It doesn't level up with the main road. The curb is much lower than the road. It damages my midsize Nissan front bumper when I come back up.

….HONOLUA BAY HAS A LOT MORE GOING FOR IT.

I rate HONOLUA BAY as having the best immediate hinterland of any I saw on MAU (and over 3 weeks, as a world class beach nerd, I saw many beach hinterlands).The 400m track from the small highway car park goes thru an area of rainforest with some spectacular tropical vegetation. Quite a few bush chickens running wild too. The track is worth the visit alone.

But there’s MORE. When I reached the shore, the bay, sheltered by high surrounding hills and headlands, was serene – calm on a day when the blustery north east trades of summer had more exposed sections of coast roughed up. Calm water is pretty good in a bay which is a MARINE RESERVE (where fish are more curious than afraid and plentiful fringing coral has been largely undisturbed), making this area one of MAUI’S better snorkeling and diving locations. I managed to see a good variety of fish (but no turtles) and coral.
The “beach” is a bit ordinary – what geomorphologists call a BOULDER BEACH – not big boulders but erosion-smoothed smaller rocks and large pebbles. Guidebooks say there is some sand in the western corner but this must have been cut out by winter storms prior my visit.
Those winter storms: Who would think the benign conditions in summer can be replaced by giant winter swell? Fact is, periodic north Pacific winter storms send huge swells marching towards HAWAII – HONOLUA BAY is orientated just right and is one of the best big wave locations on MAUI. In winter this place attracts many tourists eager to view the big wave surfing.

I didn’t see any lifeguards, change sheds or picnic facilities. There were some porta-loos in the small parking area and one of those mobile food trucks.

TIPS
- Don’t be put off by murky water close to the beach – it clears further out.
- Be careful if you use the concrete boat ramp mid beach – real slippery my visit.
- Parking is limited – a small lot at the head of the access track, another a few hundred meters along the main road south (I think another access path goes in there) and two up on each headland (where viewing the surf would be great) - which would entail quite a walk to the boulder beach.
- Budget travellers will find no buses to the bay. The closest is hourly bus #28 which terminates at the coincidentally named HONOLUA STORE in KAPALUA about 3km away. But this is not too far to walk and each bus has a free bike rack if you bring a rental from one of the many southern bike shops.

First, it's a little difficult to find and parking is fairly limited. You have to walk down an easy path to the shoreline. There is no easy way to access the water because of the rocks. The day we were there, it was fairly windy and the water visibility was awful. You had to swim a very long way out in order to see anything. Full disclosure - we never actually got in the water after watching people have so much trouble getting in and out and after someone got out and told us not to bother because the water was so turgid.

We are spoilt when it comes to snorkeling and scuba diving as we have been diving a lot of stunning reefs in the Indian Ocean.
The reef in Honolua bay doesn't look all that healthy. Some coral bleaching. Not a huge degree of coral diversity.
Plenty of reef fishes and also plenty of the Hawaiian Sea Turtles. We also saw a few moray eels. No pelagic marine life.

Unless you wish a trip with the catamaran and responsible personnel, I would recommend traveling yourself. Get there early before the touriste boats arrive. Then you will see the marine life as it will be experienced in its diversity and calm surroundings.

There is a great view of the bay, just above.
On the way to the rocky beach you go through a beautiful wooded area, and you feel you are far from the road. It uses to be a table at the beach where you can hire snorkeling equipment. But if you're going to be there very early (before 9 AM) - it's a good idea to secure this equipment before you get there.

Follow the left and right sides of the bay, and take time to just float in the water surface. Then you will be able to see turtles sleeping under rocks, lobster, small sharks, colorful fish.

Honolua Bay Snorkeling – April 3, 2025

Had an incredible snorkeling experience at Honolua Bay today! The water was crystal clear, the marine life was abundant, and the whole adventure was unforgettable.

Helpful Tip for Visitors:

After entering the bay and passing the native camps, take a right onto the river stones. Walk as far as you comfortably can before setting up your spot. When you enter the water from there, swim a little further straight ahead—that’s where the largest reef area is.

What You’ll See:

This spot is teeming with marine life! I personally spotted over 50 different species of fish in all shapes, sizes, and colors. It was truly one of the best snorkeling experiences I’ve ever had.

If you’re visiting Honolua Bay for snorkeling, this is the place to be! Hope this tip helps fellow snorkelers enjoy an amazing underwater adventure.

Happy snorkeling!

We went just after sunrise and had it to ourselves. The beach is rocky so it is actually easier just to get straight into the water and swim to the reef. The best viewing is to the right as you are entering the water.

The weather was perfect, 100 ft visibility. We saw many fish, corals, eels and sea turtles.

The drive to the beach was spectacular and it was all free so don't bother with the tours.

Go early because parking is limited. The trail down to the rocky beach is beautiful and you'll be serenaded by chickens and roosters. The beach is very rocky but as other people have said enter from the left side of the bay which has more sand. Initially the water is murky but you swim out and it is crystal clear with tons of fish, turtles, and incredible coral formations. You will have to swim out a distance. The right side of the bay had better viewing when we visited. Incredible snorkeling for free!

Worth the drive from our stay in S. Kihei. Great snorkeling with a wide variety of fish! The walk to the beach was also lovely with lots of beautiful plant life.

We arrived right at 8am. Ample parking at that time. We always love the walk to the bay. We entered at the ramp, we snorkeled out and to the right side. It was clear from the time we entered although we have had it be the complete opposite also. As we were heading back into shore the first tour boat arrived.

This is a nice bay for snorkeling, but getting into the water is tricky. The beach is very rocky so you have to be very careful. Once in the water, it is nice, with lots of fish.

The snorkeling in Honolua Bay is the best. Lots of fish and coral canyons. Misty and Brandon have a crafts stand and live there. Really nice folks. Thanks, Misty. Love, Tommy.

Great snorkeling when the surf is down. When surf is high nice place to chill and watch the waves breaking. Parking can be hard to find but if you arrive early, it isn't a problem.

....make sure to check conditions before you go. If choppy, you won't see a thing. The sign in the front of the bike to the bay says as much. If clear, the best snorkelling on the Island. If water is brown, won't be good.

The beach is rocky so don't go to hang out for long if you are not snorkeling

I had heard that this was Maui’s best snorkeling and it did not disappoint!

It seems like there are two (or more) sections that are Honolua Bay. The first area we went to was the main one with the rocky shore around mile marker 33-34. The walk through the forest with the wild chickens/roosters added to the whole experience. The is no beach here so be prepared to walk on the rocks to find a place to leave your stuff and get in the water.

The coral and fish were spectacular! It was pretty crowded as there were three large paid boats that come and anchor in the bay. That said, there was plenty to explore and experience and didn’t take away from it at all. Most people say the area to the right is the best and that’s where we went.

I wish we had done this sooner on our trip!

The second area of Honolua Bay is prior to the one mentioned above and is at mile marker 32 and technically called Slaughterhouse Beach. It might be even harder to find parking but oh man, is it worth it!!! Once you go down the concrete stairs the beach it is absolutely beautiful! I went later in the day and it wasn’t packed but could imagine there would be a fair amount of folks earlier in the day. The coral is not as good here but the beach and abundance of fish made up for it for sure. With the angle of the afternoon sun, the empty beach, the warm water and lots of beautiful fish and rocks to explore it was just one of those experiences I’ll never forget.

We stayed in a condo north of Ka’anapali so it was less than 15 minutes away.

Both spots were fantastic and each unique in their own way.

We really enjoyed the walk into this Bay. And the views of the bay are absolutely gorgeous. We saw a lot of roosters, which was fun for the kids. Unfortunately, the snorkeling wasn't great the day we visited and we didn't enjoy the rocky beach.

While there are tour boats that'll take you to Honolua Bay at a hefty price for a day of snorkeling, if you have a rental car and you're in Lahaina and vicinity, then take the short drive up the coast to the Bay and save yourself a few dollars for celebrating a good visit to the scenic location later. Parking is catch as catch can but if there are no empty spaces up above the Bay in the designated parking area, then wait a bit and one will likely be available. There wasn't one when we drove to the bay but after turning around a little further up we came back and found one. As we pulled in a second parking space became available so there's that as well. Be patient or go early. Also, while it looks like a difficult walk down to the water, it isn't. Actually, it's a nice little comfortable walk down the road a bit, through the trees, and finally out to the rocky (and I do mean, rocky) shore. It isn't wheelchair or walker available, so keep that in mind. Take comfortable shoes. The bay itself is cresent shaped and generally busy. The rocks also make for a tough go even for those in great shape so be careful. However, once you get into the water you'll find some great snorkeling with lots of colorful coral and fish, and hey maybe even a turtle or two!

Went here to snorkel, and because previous night was rain filled, the creek was swollen, and silt in water hundreds of yards out- no go on water clarity. Still worth the 10 minute walk.

We stopped at this bay to check out the beach. We enjoyed a very nice walk through the jungle to get to the beach. The water was murky and it wasn't a good snorkeling day, but we enjoyed the quick stop. There's also a few porta potties there so take advantage of them before you head to Nakalele Blowhole.

We visited here twice as we enjoyed it so much the first time. Get here early (7:30-08:00) to park in the very small parking lot (with the portacabins) otherwise you’ll have to take a chance by the side of the road.
Nice walk along the way through the woods, enjoying the company of wild chickens.
The beach is very stony/rocky, but worth the trek once you make it into the water. Lovely and clear for snorkelling, enjoying a huge variety of fish and of course the odd turtle…
Definitely make time if you’re nearby.

I have been going here for years and it has great snorkeling but now there are a lot of charters and snorkel boats that anchor there. Still very nice but much more populated.

On our honeymoon, my wife and I (along with the friends we met up with) had brought snorkel equipment to do so out on our own.

We tried a couple of different spots, however this was our favorite of them all. You can tell it's a great spot since there's always other snorkel companies bringing visitors out there. You can park and walk down to the water on your own.

Parking is mildly difficult, but never spent more than 3 minutes finding a spot. The hike (or walk) to the bay it self is easy. It's pretty flat the entire walk, just be respectful since the forest that you walk through to get there has some unmarked graves further into the woods.

Once you get to the bay, it's a little hard to get in because of the rocks, but once in the water, the right side is where you can swim to see the coral reefs, fish and occasional sea turtle.

Overall I wouldn't say you absolutely need to do this, however I highly recommend if time permits!

My wife and I went to Honolua bay via Uber from the Westin. The snorkeling was great and the walk is very beautiful. We saw two sea turtles and many fish. We were told about this spot from a local who told us that this is where most of the snorkeling tours stop. Overall great trip for a couple of hours. Drive was gorgeous.

Loved this place and it was easy to get to once you found a car park. Snorkelling was fabulous - heaps if fish, eels and turtles (and even the odd dolphin if you're lucky).

We had driven up the West Coast early to hike & literally drive around a turn headed to Kahana seeing this beach. 808 surf shop had told us about it but we parked, luckily had our snorkel gear in trunk, we walked the trail to the beach. Which involved dodging falling mangos & birds calling, including a rogue rooster. We spent about 2 hours here snorkeling & exploring the area. There were several catamarans in the bay with snorkeling groups. We avoided them & just left our towels on the beach. Coral is ok not a ton of it but I am a diver & have been to Indonesia so I’m spoiled. The fish were plentiful & even a green turtle was swimming in the bay. I really hope the cat’s instruct their passengers to not harass the wildlife or cause them to swim unnecessarily by trying to touch them. It was a busy spot but given we were there by 8 or 8:30 we found a parking spot no problem.
The smoothie truck across the street is great & makes delicious drinks.

It's one of the best snorkeling spots on Maui, no doubt. Clear water, lots of coral, many different types of fish and turtles (at least in early Nov when we were there). Go EARLY. Best time to see the fish, less crowded, less sunburn risk, and you should find parking (it's limited). Parking is along the road. Don't despair if you don't find a spot right away, there are 5 or 6 pull-out areas within a short distance. It's a short walk to the Bay, but it's rocky, as others have said. The Bay is protected so the water is calm, warm, and inviting, BUT there is no sand beach here. It's not the place to come and hang out (unless you're in the water). Another reason to come early (I'm talking arriving 7:45/8am) is the charter boats loaded with people show up mid-morning. When we were there, they came 9:45/10am. Only bring what you really need; towel, snorkeling gear, sturdy water shoes (for the slippery rocks), sunscreen, and leave the rest at the hotel. There are no services here, no bathroom/changing rooms, etc., so be prepared to change clothing in the car.

Beautiful place. You should go early if you want to see a lot of fish, cause 10 am was already too late. You need to go veeeeery deep and far from the shore to see unusual species of fish + turtles and be careful with the rocks, they're everywhere in the shore (bring shoes!). Otherwise it's a very nice snorkeling place for confirmed swimmers or for people who just want to relax and tan in the morning! Don't miss is!

Parking is a challenge as the lot is small (we had to park on street) and a long walk to the actual beach. The scenery on the walk is beautiful though. Just be mindful of how much stuff you are bringing with you because it is a long walk. There are lots of chickens here and a rock beach. Note there is not any sand at this bay. Most people come here to snorkel or take wedding pictures. My husband snorkeled and said it was ok, not the best spot on the island. Be sure to stop at the Honolua Farms Kitchen food truck after your visit for a delicious lunch (this is not to be missed!!).

I am just frightened to see these many rocks. These rocks are dangerous as you could slip and fall leading to serious injuries. This place is just too crowded.

We visited this site 3 times. The underwater views were tremendous including sightings of sea turtles and all of the other beautiful fish. All the boat tours schaging $120 a person show up there yet you can swim in off the shore. WATER ENTRY IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF THE ROCKS. The 5 minute walk through the rainforest is exceptional. The place is clean and safe.

My family and I really found this place to be magical and gorgeous. We have two members that get very car sick, so our trip to Maui wasn't going to include the road to Hana or the Haleakala crater, we knew from the start. Still, we definitely wanted to explore some other areas besides our resort, and this was an easy drive from Ka'anapali. Plus we had read good things about the snorkeling at this bay, and that you had a chance to walk through a mini rainforest of sorts to get to it, so we were intrigued.

We arrived around noon time, so it was fairly busy. But the drive there was nice and not too curvy for us. We parked along the road near the second trail entrance (the longer one), but it was still an easy and enjoyable walk to the water. There was a little food truck there selling snacks and wild chickens and roosters roam the area. The trail is lined with giant mango trees and smaller but plentiful papaya trees.

Once at the beach, which is entirely made up of rocks not sand, we found a spot to park our belongings and got out our snorkel gear. The rocks are a bit of a challenge to walk on barefoot, and get truly dangerous at the shore where they are very slippery and wet. A fellow visitor sitting nearby on the beach gave us the great tip to just sit down once we got to the slippery rocks and scoot in until we could start floating in the water, and that was some excellent and sage advice indeed!

There was a sign that said not to put sunblock on right before going in the water, so as not to damage the coral reefs, and I thought it would be smart to mention it here for folks because on that day we didn't sunblock up before we left the resort, thinking we'd do it at the beach. Instead we just went in without anything on so as not to be jerks.

Anyway, as I said, it was a bit busy but there was still plenty of room for us in the water, too. Further out toward the edge of the bay there were a few boats with snorkel trip folks jumping in from there, too.

We had read that turtles were plentiful on the north side of Maui and at this bay, so that's what we hoped to see. It was a bit later in the day, so the water wasn't super clear by then, but we were able to see the reefs and some fish, sea cucumbers and, yes, a turtle! He was lounging at the bottom of a reef and didn't seem to mind when my husband swam down to take a quick video of him with the GoPro. What a thrill for us!

Overall, I really enjoyed Honolua Bay and truly think it's worth visiting just for the drive and view alone. However, I had read a lot online from folks saying it was one of the best snorkeling spots, if not the very best. But the amount of fish was very small compared to Kahekili Beach Park or Kapalua Bay, we felt. Still, it's worth a snorkel - never know what conditions you might get!

Tip: Drive north/east past the bay another 10 mins or so for a cute little Hawaiian banana bread stand and some more stunning views with fantastic photo ops! (just before you reach the Nakalele Blowhole)

After not being able to find parking at Black Rock we turned around and headed up the road to Honolua Bay. Though slightly concerned about the mention by someone on Google Reviews of a reef shark sighting we went in anyways. This place has amazing snorkeling. We saw plenty of fish, a turtle, and as we were leaving the spinner dolphins further out to sea really put on a show for the whole beach to see! Yesterday was truly a special day at Honolua Bay.

I would recommend getting in where the beach is sandier and curving right to the rocks that stick out of the ocean. It is far easier than walking on the rocks to jump in at shallow depths. Additionally, the whole beach is relatively shallow so it is great for novice snorkelers if you need to take a break you don’t need to swim too far in to stand up. We saw plenty of tourists standing on the rocks- please don’t do this as it could harm you and the marine life.

Stunning coral and fish. We went pretty far out and didn’t even realize it because the water is so calm. Huge turtle came to say hi within two feet of us! Thank you to the locals who allow visitors to such a beautiful place.

We came to Maui just as a Hurricane was headed for Maui. Honolulu bay took a big hit. Storm water sent mud into the bay and after two and a half weeks, the coral was still covered in mud. The bay itself was clearing up, perhaps we can do this bay tomorrow. Entry is difficult, large rocks, slippery surfaces and murky water for the first thirty feet or so, if reef is clear there are many fish and turtles.

Old hawaiian guy claims to own this government park while smoking next to a no smoking sign. Likes to yell at little kids and police others on the beach. Massive areas of the park have been kinda roped off? He says there are so.e old graves. There are some very small parcels of private land but not where he was yelling at us from.

First of all, when we first arrived, we were a bit bummed because the water was murky and everybody was grumbling about how they couldn't see any fish and they've seen better elsewhere... but you have to go further out!

It is only a place for snorkeling, not a beach - shores are rocky, so be prepared for that.

Once you are in, keep swimming out until you actually reach the reef - go deeper out and towards the right, facing the ocean (Go farther than the boats, please) You won't regret it! Wall to wall fish and an excellent reef system. Some of the fish are huge and if you dive, they hide under some of the shelves. Saw turtles, and at one point, I was just floating at the edge of the reef when a huge wall of fish kept swimming by!

Parking is tricky (use turn-outs) and short walk/hike in, but there is a lot of turn over in cars, since most people only snorkel for 1-2 hours then leave.

Enjoy!

you can get there by foot, and a rocky entryway into the water. or you can go by boat. best snorkeling is on the right as you are looking out from shore. last time there, saw 5 turtles and 1 white tip reef shark, among all the other usual fish in the bay

A year can make a big difference! We were here the last two weeks of September, 2019, the weather was perfect, the bay was FLAT Calm! We got to see the fish and turtles again and again! Many tour boats came in around 9:00am, best to get there early to get a parking spot and find calmer waters. Entry is still a challenge, slippery small boulders, murky the first 15 feet or so off shore, stay to right side of bay to see the prettiest corals, GO SLOW, you won't scare the eels or turtles. Please do not put on sun screen, wear a UV shirt instead, save the reef!!

Everything about this stop was great. You hike through a jungle to get to the bay, and that hike was awesome in itself. Once you get there, the "beach" is all rocks, so be careful walking. Plenty of fish and turtles. Go at your own pace, it gets tiring after a while. I forget if they rent snorkel gear there, but we brought our own from the resort. I would suggest you do the same if possible. Parking isn't easy, but it is definitely worth it.

This bay had the best snorkeling we found. It is a beautiful bay and has an overlook from the highway. It has a nice access path trough a rain forest area which is green and lush. The bay has a rocky shore which makes it a little difficult to get in and out of the water but it is well worth it as the reefs are amazing and the fish are plentiful. We saw the most fish here then any other place we snorkeled.

Great snorkeling location with crystal clear views of sea turtles and even a Manta Ray. I suggest that you sign up with a charter snorkeling tour because all the sea life is usually found in the middle of the bay and swimming out there and back requires a lot of energy and it’s safer and more fun to just get off the charter in the middle of the bay.

My husband and I experienced the best snorkeling of our entire trip here! We were able to swim around for 2 hours and see incredible coral and many different types of fish. We also saw rays and several turtles. The current was barely noticeable and the water was clear in the morning. The walk to and from the car was also a site to behold! The forest was beautiful and so lush!

Our first delight was the walk down from the road where we left our car. Lush trees and flowers were a delight to walk through. The beach is quite rocky and a bit awkward to get in the water at the strip of an old boat landing. But we were there to snorkel and we had a delightful time doing just that. We headed out into the water of the bay and went to our right. Saw a variety of fish, sea turtles, and some eels. Plenty to look at underwater and loved having so many sea turtles so close by. Stayed in the water about two hours and then did not linger on the rocky and by then (noon) crowded beach.

This is not the easiest one to get to from a parking and ground perspective but highly worth the effort! The beach is all round rocks, and treacherous at times particularly by the water where it is more slippery. So I wouldn't advise for anyone who is shakey on their feet, I saw an elderly woman really struggling to not fall getting into the water. Once in though, this place is magical! So many fish, particularly by the coral on the right, but really everywhere. Protected cove and it shows. One of the highlights on our trip! Nowhere to rent anything there, you are parking on the highway and then walking through this very magical forest with the largest trees I've ever seen.

This is an amazing spot in Maui. Not for beginner snorkelers to enter from the shore. :) This is a popular spot for the snorkeling tours. Not to be missed is the actual walk through the rain forest to the location. Respect the water and wear eco friendly, reef safe sunscreen if you are venturing in and have water shoes, it's craggy.

Awesome to surf it but man there's a crowd in the line-up. Gets a little aggro... at times so hit it early to miss the crowd...and boy it gets busy in the later hours. Although it's a pro-wave, there are lots of kooks in the water alas so there is a lot of snakes dropping into. Got burned a few times by surfers- really sucked seeing someone drop in ahead of you and stealing the wave. Instead, consider Hookipa Bay, way more breaks and way roomier - better in the mornings when the wind is light.

It was the best snorkeling experience for us. We get to see a lot of colorful/interesting fish including butterfly fish, eel, puffer fish, trumpet fish and green turtles. And the wave was very calm making getting in and out of water easy.

We stopped her on a whim and the snorkeling was wonderful. Lots of fish but very rocky so water shoes are a must.

This bay is one if the top places we visited for snorkeling. The right side of the bay has colorful coral reefs, abundant fish, and is well protected from surf waves most days. We saw green sea turtles and a White tipped Reef Shark. The visibility is good too. Parking is on Hwy 30 shoulders and fills by 10am. We arrived before 9am and parking was easy. There are green portable toilets at the access trail just past a one lane bridge, across from Honolua Farms fruit stand. Its about 10 minutes walk down a mostly flat dirt path to the beach. This is a rocky beach. No sand. Primarily a snorkeling beach. The snorkeling boats out of Lahaina are common starting around 9am daily, so expect others snorkeling with you.

We heard this is supposed to be one of the best spots to snorkel we we made our way up here. As others have mentioned, parking is very limited (10 spots maybe?), but we got a spot the day we went (turns out because it was a poor day for snorkeling). At the beginning of the trail, there was a sign that said it was a great place to snorkel except on "brown water days". Unfortunately, it turned out we were there on one of those days. We decided to head down and take a look anyway. The trail down to the water is relatively easy, but the day we were there, it was quite muddy so very slippery in spots. When you get to the water, you can see why it would be a good place to snorkel. There is no real beach area though and it is mostly rocks. We saw a couple of people snorkeling, but they had to swim a significant distance out by the looks of it. We took some pictures and left for another beach as snorkeling in brown water wasn't something I was interested in doing. To be fair, the spot probably deserves a better rating, but given the conditions we had when we were there, I can only rate it average.

Went and rented snorkels at Snorkel Bob's and headed to Honolua Bay...short drive from Kaanapali. After parking, beautiful little walk (.5 mile) through the woods, easy walk. Parking is a little scarce.

Amazing snorkeling spot. Turtles, saw a small white tip shark, lots and lots of species of fish. Beautiful water and reef!!!!! Shore is rocky, not a beach, but not hard to traverse. HIGHLY recommended and cheap!!!!

Right side of the bay (when looking out to see is the best)

This is one of the most beautiful spots on the island, in my opinion. You park up top on the side of the road and then hike down to the "beach". The walk down is really cool if you go through the forest and across the stream. The beach is not a beach at all - it's actually a bunch of medium to large sized rocks. So this isn't necessarily a place to hang out and relax for the day. But, the snorkeling is top notch. Bring fins because you end up swimming a decent distance to get to the reef. Once you're there, it's awesome! After you're done snorkeling, I would recommend that you drive up to the top of the cliff that overlooks Honolua Bay. There's a little stand selling great smoothies and food. You can drive to an area to park and then get some breathtaking views of the Bay and most likely a bunch of surfers. This little adventure is a must if you are an avid snorkeler!

When the weather is conducive this is an excellent spot to snorkel...if it has been raining or is too windy it is not a good spot to go...that said, you can still go for a little walk any time if in the area...the path is beautiful with various tropical plants and trees and a lot of rosters/chickens.

Parking is limited.

This is a very nice bay to snorkel. We'd be warned about car break-ins, so we decided to transport all of our gear down to the water. There is a trail/walk into the beach area that is rather long but enjoyable for the most part. This is a popular spot on a rocky shoreline. You have to carve out your space and just set up camp. There is an old boat launch here that aids getting in/out of the water. Other rocks can be slippery. I'd recommend reef socks or shoes with good traction and not flip-flops. Portable bathrooms are located at the top of the trail, so a bit of a hike back from the water. Snorkeling here is good. We saw some very large turtles in the left hand side of the bay (as looking from beach) but enjoyed the topography and fish more on the right side. There's not much to see in the middle of the bay, but it's easy enough to swim across. As if there were not enough people accessing this bay from the shore, this is also a popular spot for snorkel tours. Most often saw 2-3 boats visiting at a time. Due to all the people in the area, we decided it would be best to leave someone on-shore to watch over our belongings.

When the surf is on here it is among the best waves you will ever surf. When it's flat the snorkeling is among the best you will find anywhere. Tons of sea life and it's so tranquil.

My daughter had never snorkeled or really used her goggles in the ocean so we decided to come here to let her just use her goggles to see the fishes and see what she thought (some kids freak out) - water was clear, crowd was small and manageable mid-day. We saw lots of different fishes and felt really safe in the seclusion of the bay.

The snorkeling here is outstanding. Tons and tons of colorful fish and turtles. We spent five weeks in Hawaii and this was hands down one of the best snorkeling places (with two-step near Kona).

When it’s calm, this is a great spot to snorkel. We saw so many fish and turtles here. Great little walk from the park to the beach.

Outstanding! We stopped here to go snorkeling one day and we loved it. We saw more fish and a greater variety by far then we saw at Molokini. Tons of coral and fish and clear water. We didn’t love that the shore is all rocks and no sand but it wasn’t a huge deal. This is a great place to go snorkeling - we highly recommend it.

When I was there the water was calm as there were no waves. The good snorkeling spot was on the east side of the bay about 1/2 way out. There the visibility was good, lots of coral heads, many individual fish and several large schools. Depth was up to 30 feet or so as the bottom sloped away from the shoreline.
There was little to see right in front of the beach where the people are so that’s not the good spot.
There were maybe 30 or so snorkelers when I was there, obviously a larger number when the tour boats come in.
The beach is rocky, so not nice to sit on but it does make the water visibility better.
There no facilities so you need to bring all water, chairs, etc with you. No bathroom so everyone has to use the blue loo.

My family came here to snorkel. I don't, but even so, this is an amazing spot. Get here early (by 8:30) if you want to find parking. Otherwise, you will be going around a windy road trying to squeeze in. It's not worth it, and the snorkeling is better when the water is calmer in the morning. Park and then you go down a path for 5-10 minutes before getting to the bay. The walk is AMAZING. I have never seen trees as cool as this before. They are huge, with weeping vines. Also there are roosters and chickens everywhere on the path. We loved looking at the baby chicks.

Make sure you have snorkel gear or water shoes. You can walk on the rocks without these, as well as be fine if you stay near the entrance, but once you start heading to the right (looking at the water), there is a lot of coral and sharp rocks. We ended up scratching our legs and feet because what started off as smooth rocks and sand, turned into jagged coral.

Even without snorkeling, I was able to see many fish just by looking through the water. The water was calm, and I would recommend bringing a boogie board to float.

We had a great time (cuts and all). But the first day we tried coming at 10:30 and did a few loops- parking was full so we headed back empty handed.

This is not a sandy beach to sit and relax. But for snorkeling it is really good, both sites left and right.

Stroll down the jungle path and arrive at a rocky cove. Snorkel into the water and fish are around you immediately. Get out to depths of 30 feet and it becomes some of the greatest snorkeling. Turtles, pairs of fishes, beautiful coral. Spectacular. It is a couple hundred yard swim to the good stuff.

A trip to Maui would not be complete without a visit to Honolua Bay. Breathtaking scenery with a laid back vibe. Come and watch the surfers ride the waves!

This is a fantastic snorkel spot! But it’s a ROCKY beach. No sand so wear good shoes. And flippers walking out to the water. We saw 3 turtles! We felt the far left side was the best snorkeling or of your a strong swimmer wayyy out to the right. The jungle you walk through to get to the beach is AMAZING!! Video/photograph that whole walk. The sounds are amazing.

This beach is popular and parking can be a problem. It is a beautiful walk to the beach (a quarter mile??). The beach is pretty rocky and you will definitely want reef shoes. There was an odor to the beach when we were there...maybe from all the chickens! So while this was not a great lay on the beach kind of beach, the snorkeling was FANTASTIC. The water is pretty clear when you get away from the beach and the variety of fish is super...also saw a turtle!

I took my family here and soon discovered there is a small hike into the cove. It’s through the trees and is a wide easy trail. But be prepared to carry your stuff in a short ways.

There is no beach really it’s just rocks and not sand. There are a couple of picnic tables but plan on leaving your things on the rocks. There is a dock ramp you can walk down close to the edge but will still have a rock or two to climb over. The cove was quite calm there and provided a great view and pictures.

I went for snorkeling and it was great. Close in on either side I found lots of fish. The further our along the side I went I saw more things. Even a green turtle. I would definitely go back to this place. I’m told early morning is the best time to go. I went mid-late afternoon.

This is a great place to snorkel! We saw sea turtles, an octopus and a shark plus an amazing number of fish and sea critters. The shore is rocky so getting in and out is slippery but very doable. Do wear water shoes to protect the toes. The "beach" is mostly rocks but we spent most of our time in the water. There are port-a-potties near one entrance which were clean. At the same entrance there is a drink truck with smoothies and juice etc. I don't recall seeing food anywhere. This will be our first place to snorkel when return!

saw some great fish underwater and some whales above. was able to whale watch from the shore. the snoring was also great as always

Our family viewed Honolua Bay during the day from a pull off above the bay and saw many catamarans and snorkelers so decided to wait and go later in the afternoon. It was a good decision. If you arrive in the afternoon you have a better chance to find a close parking spot and then you have fewer people in the water with you. The water is clear and the marine preserve is amazing. We saw eels, turtles, sea cucumbers, tons of fish, and many varieties of coral. Well worth the visit!

This is a must for anyone who loves to snorkel. There is no fishing so the area is well populated with diverse fish species, turtles, eels coral - you can easily spend an hour or longer just easily floating around in this bay. Be aware though of the in and out of the surf - tides change - some moments are very calm and others require a certain immediacy of getting past the small waves that come in. Once you get past the breaking waves though the Bay is quite calm.

Just to let you know, I am a scuba diver and am used to the ocean and what is beneath it, my wife is very nervous about going into deep water and has never been scuba diving or snorkeling. While we were in Maui this year I finally was able to convince her to go snorkeling. The shop that we rented our gear with suggested Honolua bay so we decided to go there the next day. We arrived there about 8 am and there were about 3 other cars there already. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to get to the bay. It is very secluded, and rocky around the shore. After getting into the water we were amazed just how clear the water was and lots of fish. The closer we got to the coral area the more fish there were. During our 3 hours there we saw 3 turtles and countless beautiful fish. My wife said that it was the most beautiful day in Maui ever. Later on we scheduled that took us to Turtle bay by Kihei and then to the Molokini Crater which as just ok after going to Honolua Bay. I could spend a whole day there. Just remember that there are porta pottys where you park but none by the ocean. Also remember because this is a protected bay you can't touch the turtles or the coral. While we were there we saw 2 other charter boats arrive with Snorkelers.

We passed this park on the way back from the blow hole on highway 30 north of Kaanapali. You can park off the side of the road and you walk through the rain forest to get to the bay. The walk is very pretty with a number of unique trees. One magnificent tree has vines of roots hanging down making it look almost magical. The short walk ends at the bay. The bay is covered with rocks and so there isn’t a good place to sit, but I saw a number of people snorkeling. Not sure how good it was, as we didn’t go in the water. On the right side is private property which is clearly marked. I would return here again with snorkel equipment next time.

Very beautiful bay in Maui. Lots to do and see. Free parking and observation points. Known place for snorkeling and surfing. Highly recommended stop.

We heard some many great things about this bay and that the snorkeling was amazing, but unfortunately the day we showed up was windy and the water was really choppy and murky. We tried to see some fish, but it just wasn't our day. I hope to come back since we have hear so much about Honolua Bay.

Very rocky beach. The smooth rocks even hurt a tender foot like myself. Once you're away from the beach there are numerous types of fish. We even saw a Reef Shark, just hanging out.

There aren’t many bad spots to snorkel from Makena all the way up to Honolua. It depends on the swells, tides, sunlight, etc. today was a good day. A little rocky getting in after a couple hundred yard walk down a cool path through a heavy forested area. Very little sand here so be aware. Fortunately didn’t see any urchins close to shore though. Later we drove to the hill on the north side and watched the surfers. Amazing view of the bay...even saw a large shark cruising the reef...you never know. Be safe, go with a group. Get in the water!

We travelled in July 2017 and found the bay lovely.

You start with walk through a mini Rainforest to get to the beach. Its not really a beach but a rocky bay so I would suggest wearing reef shows or wetsuit booties.

Once there it is a very pretty sheltered bay with minimal current. The day we were there the visibility wasn't great but the snorkelling was still good, so with good visibility it would be magic.

The reef and marine life was far better than what we saw at Molikini and turtle town.

Lots of fish didn't see any turtles but saw 3-4 sharks in a group either reef sharks or maybe juvenile tigers.

Highly recommend the trip, I would certainly drive there for free rather than go on one of the organised tours unless you really want a boat ride. I would suggest going early as there is not a lot of parking, we got lucky and pulled in as someone was pulling out.

We parked on the road and walked through a beautiful green forest/jungle. There is a sign that says if the surf is up and/or the water is brown then the snorkeling won’t be very good but we didn’t see that until after. Sure enough, the surf was up and the water was brown and we ended up not snorkeling. A couple that did go said they saw a few big fish but visibility was pretty limited. The bay seems to be protected from waves so water was calm. Nice visit overall, wish we could have snorkeled.

Favorite place we snorkeled on Maui though for turtles I recommend Makena landing in the south for fish and a protected spot I would say go here.
It is a cute little walk on a flat path to the snorkeling area which is rocky so don't expect to find a beach to layout. Snorkeling is better to the right and the coral extends more. Please be careful not to touch the coral so it will continue to exist also many sea urchins so you don't want to touch those. I'm a diver and truly enjoyed snorkeling in this location. You can totally do this on your own so don't bother paying for a snorkel experience bring your own gear or rent at shops like snorkel bob's and enjoy the day. Best way to layout is to bring a hammock and attach to the trees. Beautiful place to view the sunset.
Very protected, calm waters good visibility.

We are avid snorkelers and have visited most of the recommended snorkeling beaches in Maui over the past few years. We always stay in the south so traveling to the west and north takes some planning because you don’t want to go all that way (traffic) to be disappointed. What a great snorkeling spot but here are my recommendations:

Go early! Be there between 7 30 to 8 00 to find a decent parking spot and enjoy an uncrowded experience. We could not believe the crowds rolling in as we were leaving at 10 am after 2 hours of great snorkeling.

Long swim to get to the good stuff. There’s nothing to see close to shore except boulders and murky water. It doesn’t look far from shore but it can take several minutes of solid swimming. As other reviewers say, keep to the right. Maybe with totally pristine conditions there’s more to see near shore but that wasn’t our experience on 2 separate occasions. Know your limit before heading out or wear a floatation device. We saw a young woman approach a tour boat asking if she could hold onto the ladder and rest. She wasn’t part of the tour and said she underestimated her swimming ability.

Beach is rocky but if you go early, there’s a nice bit of sand as you enter the beach to your left. Again, when we were leaving, there were lots of people squishing their chairs into this small parcel.

Don’t bring beach chairs! No where to put them on the rocks and it’s a short hike in so you don’t want to carry more than you need to.

Boat tours arrive by 9 or 9 30 and it can get crowded and loud! Snorkeling etiquette can take a hit so best to stay clear. But if you come early you can avoid all that.

We saw huge parrot fish, eels, turtles, groupers and one of the largest trumpetfish we’ve ever seen. Busy and interesting reef if you take the time to hover and watch.

Well worth the drive!

The walk to the Bay is actually pretty, through a cool jungle. Just don't stop because the mosquitoes will feast! Getting into the water was a bit tough - very rocky and a lot of vegetation floating for the first 10 feet or so - then it gets spectacular. I was looking at all the folks on the snorkeling boats who had spent a fortune to snorkel someplace readily available from a parking lot.

This is a great beach, but make sure you watch the flag warnings. Pay attention to your surroundings. We spend a fabulous day here.

This was our fourth and final snorkel spot and I wish we would have gone here first because I would have come back daily. We saw every type of fish imaginable, coral, eels, urchins, and five turtles. The water by the shore was really murky, but we had stopped on the cliffs to check out the water from above, so we knew it was clear if we swam way out, so that’s what we did. We went to the right and almost all the way to the edge of where the surfers were. The coral reef out there is amazing. Be careful because many parts of it come almost to the surface. So you have to stay aware of your surroundings I make sure you don’t harm anything. It requires about half a mile hike to get to the water from the tiny parking lot. If you don’t arrive early, you’ll have to walk even further. We got there at 8:30am and were the only ones snorkeling at the time. By the time we left just before 10, people were pouring in. The entry to the water is very rocky, not much sand, so it might be a little challenging for some people to navigate. There are ports potties, but they are all the way back at the parking lot. There are no restrooms near the water.

We went here twice around 3pm both times - by then, the daytrip boats had left and it was pretty quiet. Probably less than 10 people in the water and most of them stayed near the shore rather than going out to the reefs. Visibility was good although perhaps it would be better first thing in the morning.

We snorkelled around the reefs to the right-hand side, near the entrance of the bay - make sure you have fins as it's a bit of a distance to swim out. Loads of fish and many turtles. I recognised a turtle on our second trip who had a slightly deformed shell on one side. Seemed to be more sealife around the deeper reefs rather than near the shore.

On our second trip I put our car key, phones and cash into a see-through waterproof dry-bag intending to swim with it, but accidentally left it on a rock in full view next to our towels. After 45 minutes in the water, nobody had touched it! Perhaps we were lucky.

ONce we found the place to park and walk down we loved it. Easy to get in, nice swim, and we even saw an octopus and eels. GIve it a try.

Amazing sea life!!! Saw schools of fish, so many rainbow fish, eels, and an octopus! Truly amazing! We did the the Molikini crater the day before and it did not compare! Better not going on a tour and just hiking the mile to get there!

The snorkeling here is amazing! I was able to see an incredible amount of fish and coral and being in a bay there wasn't nearly as many waves pushing and pulling you. I also note that there were a few tour boats there but I didn't feel surrounded while swimming. Plus just think that people are paying to be where you are and you aren't paying!

The walk to the beach is absolutely beautiful! The trail is very easy to walk but is a little long. The trail is surrounded by lush plants and amazing trees! There are also porta potties available at the entrance!

The beach is a rock beach but you can bring chairs to sit on. You will also find yourself surrounded by a few chickens but they don't bother you.

I also highly recommend that you get a banana muffin and smoothie from the Honolua Food Truck across from the entrance!

This was the best snorkeling I’ve ever experienced from the gorgeous walk through the trees to the rock beach to the crystal clear waters, coral reef, swimming with sea turtles and amazing schools of fish . Better than Molokini crater and hanauma bay.

If you are willing and able to swim out about 100 yards to the right side (facing out to the water) you will be able to see a lot of fish and turtles. Snorkel around the colorful coral. Get there before 9am if you can in order to find parking. Only bathrooms (portable toilets ) are in the dirt parking area before walking down the trail.
There are some flat areas to put chairs but the beach area is all rocks. Enjoy!

The hike to this beach is just amazing...very jungle like....good walking trail too. Once you reach the beach...well lets just say ROCKS....lots of ROCKS! Hard to find a comfortable place to sit & trying to walk over the rocks it kills your bare feet. The snorkeling is just ok...at least when we were there. Maybe in the morning it would be better. There is also lots of chickens on this beach....& they want your food you are eating... Makes it fun to watch them begging from the beach goers!

Rocky beach, awesome for snorkeling when waters are calm. Best snorkeling is on right if facing water.

Weather was overcast and water was murky but we gave it a try. Underwater visibility was very poor so we swam for a while to try get better conditions but it didn’t get any better. We spotted some colourful fish, but we could barely see them due to poor water conditions. Coral was pretty sparse and/or dead. No turtles. Very disappointing, given all the good reviews - it must have been a bad day.

Honolua Bay is amazing and we thought lots of more wildlife to see than Molokini and costs nothing. Not as clear as Molokini of course but greater varieties to see and no long all day boat ride and cost. Highly recommend staying in the area so you can beat the crowds and get there when snorkeling is the best. There are also lots of great little places to eat nearby and an amazing adventurous drive beyond - not for the faint of heart - to show you the far side of Maui. This place is simply amazing!

We were driving this portion of the island and stopped off at a vantage point for photos when we saw the bay from above. It is beautiful but should have limited access to preserve it. As we drove further you can see an access point, parking is very limited on a very narrow curvy road. We found a couple turn outs beyond the bay but you can not park just anywhere, some areas are private property so be considerate to watch for signage, we did see some trespassers and I would just note when visiting be respectful of others property and park only where it is open to public to park but as mentioned it is very limited but free parking is available,

You have to hike down a hill/path and through a jungle to a rocky shore. We understand the snorkeling is beautiful but we did not partake this trip as we had not planned our day for snorkeling. It gets windy and the wind and current can carry you out to the channel so I would say you should be a good swimmer. Not sure what reviewers mean by protected, this pay does open to the channel and this side of the island is prone to wind, the week prior to our arrival we understand winds ripped through at 50MPH. The day we went the trade winds were dying down but it was still windy.

We took a Trilogy snorkeling tour out to Honolua Bay. The water was really cold, but the views were great. Tons of coral-watch out for it. I got scraped. We swam near 3 different sea turtles. Saw lots of fish. Other snorkelers here, but we left before it got too busy. Boat captain said he preferred snorkeling here to Molokini.

We parked on the road and walked in. About a 10 min walk to the beach. The walk alone is amazing under some huge old trees and feels like a real jungle. Once at the beach, there is only rocks. You must know you will not flop down a chair and chill out all day It's hard to walk in and out of the water. However, once in the water the snorkeling is great. This is a spot many tour boats go to snorkel as well so don't be alarmed when there are 2-3 boats anchored up in the water. TO see the good stuff you need to get out there. If you stay just 100 feet out you missed the views. Get out as far are you feel comfortable and enjoy. We saw so many different fish and turtles. In the water its amazing. The parking along the road is a mess. Need to arrive early to find a spot. You really only need to be here just enough time to snorkle but I don't see spending a day here. Too hard to walk around to do that. Just snorkel and move along.

Honolua Bay is a Marine Life Conservation District and my favorite snorkeling spot in Maui. I liked that you have to hike downhill to get to the ocean through the trees. Super cool. What a beautiful place. Tons of marine life, large schools of fish and it's not crowded. Get there early because there's not a whole lot of parking areas. Wear comfy shoes as it is very rocky- water shoes if you have one. I highly recommend Honolua Bay.

If you want to snorkel, this is one of the best places on Maui. Easily accessible, very calm water most of the time, a beautiful, easy walk through a tropical forest (with a lot of wild chickens) for access. This is where the boats from Ka'anapali bring people to snorkel. FYI, here are no fresh water showers. We did scuba dives around many parts of the island, but snorkeling here was one of the highlights of the trip.

Excellent surfing and snorkelling spot, epic views from the top too.
You will need a 4WD car to drive down to a carpark, but surfing was so worth it.
Sunset surfing was certainly a highlight.
Strong waves but once you are over those spot provides a great snorkelling destination with families of turtles, colourful reef and abundance of tropical fish.
Totally recommend for both surfing and snorkelling!

I'm sure the snorkeling is amazing but we never made it out there. The short path crosses a river. It's not a long path but it's shaded and from the parking lot to the beach I got almost a dozen mosquito bites. The beach itself is all rocks. I couldn't walk on the rocks with my flippers on but trying to get them on in the water is frustrating. The first 10 feet is so murky and full of debris that when I finally got the flippers on they were packed with debris. It's impossible to see the rocks below the surface and with the waves crashing I got knocked backward and landed on a rock with my tailbone. We gave up after several attempts to get to the deeper water. I had debris in my bathing suit for the rest of the day and got more mosquito bites on the way back to our car.

Family went snorkeling here while my husband and I sat under the shade of the trees on level ground above the rocks. Enjoyed the walk through the magical, mystical trees from the parking area to the beach. The snorkelers liked this spot! Lots of roosters and chickens, too.

This is my favorite snorkeling place on the island. The walk in is just breathtaking amongst the vines and banyan trees of the jungle. There is an energy on the path into the bay that I can't explain. Perhaps it's because this is an ancient burial ground. The snorkeling is outstanding. Coral in great condition. A little tricky entry, which was challenging for my 5-year-old, but the reef conditions and fish variety were well-worth it. Must see when on Maui.