Where is Kapalua Bay?
Kapalua Bay, located on the island of Maui, consistently ranks among the top beaches in the world. Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands and is a popular spot for tourists. Maui is full of amazing beaches, but Kapalua Bay is one of the best! You can find this protected bay on the northwestern shores of Maui, just to the north of Napili Beach. With its calm waters, you’ll find a prime family-friendly location for activities such as swimming and snorkeling. After spending a full day at this slice of paradise, I give it two thumbs up. Are you planning a trip to Maui? Learn all about Maui with Hawaii Guide.
My Adventure at Kapalua
A beautiful crescent-shaped beach sheltered by a reef on each end made this the perfect place for my family to spend the day. We arrived early and stayed till it was dark. Even in the dim light after sunset, we were still discovering new and exciting things like a GIANT sea turtle! It was so big that I assumed it was a giant boulder until I was nearly right next to it. The shock of discovery added to the excitement and was a nice cap to the day.
When we arrived, our four kids, ages two to ten, had nonstop fun. Our two oldest kids, like little fishes, were testing their strength and balance in the crashing waves before we even had a spot on the beach. Their smiles and laughter are memories I’ll never forget. The younger two were content to play in the sand and carry buckets of water up to dump on Grandpa’s toes.
Kapalua is also great for snorkeling, particularly along either side of the reef. Everyone in our family loved snorkeling, and we found the water along the edge much clearer with even more fish. Even in the middle of the day, the beach never felt crowded, and just before sunset, the beach emptied of all but a couple of photographers doing family photo shoots. Then we enjoyed the gorgeous Kapalua Sunset pictured above. I love capturing serene moments like this with nature photography. We have this print as nature wall art in our home to help us remember our unforgettable Maui vacation. Planning an adventure of your own to Maui?? Bring your adventure home with a fine art print from my Beach Wall Art Photo Gallery.
Other Places to Visit and See in Maui
Our family loved spending time in Maui and have compiled our list of favorite places to visit and see on your next adventure to Maui and Kapalua Bay. We hope you enjoy your trip as much as we did. Remember to pick a favorite Maui photo to help keep those precious memories alive!
- Ka’anapali Beach – This is near where we rented a condo for our stay in Maui, and we loved it! We had a nice pool to swim in, and our kids loved the trolley we could ride around the area. We were near the beautiful golf course as well! Check out some vacation rentals in that area and find what works for you. In addition, there are lots of hotels and resorts in the area! The beach was also gorgeous!
- Maui Ocean Center – Our family enjoyed this immersive experience at the Maui Ocean Center. Learn more about the Hawaiian culture, marine life, conservation efforts, and fun exhibits. Worth a visit!
- Molokini and Turtle Arches Snorkel Tour – This was another favorite part of our Maui adventure! We went with the Pacific Whale Foundation on a cruise and snorkel tour to Molokini Crater and Turtle Town. It was an adventure! Not all our kids love snorkeling, but we all had a great time. They even feed you and teach the kids more about sea life. Add this to the list!! I also loved that by going with the Pacific Whale Foundation, we were supporting a good cause.
- Haleakalā National Park – Our adventure here was breathtaking and ear-popping. We did the steep climb for sunset, and the wind was strong! Haleakala is a MUST for your adventure to Maui.
- Road to Hana – We only made it part of the way, but there are many cool things to see on this drive. We stopped to swim in one of the ponds near a gorgeous waterfall. It was heavenly!
- Surfing Lessons – We drove down to Kihei for some surfing lessons from a friend. Surfing was a big highlight of our trip. We even had a photographer follow us around and take amazing pictures of our family surfing. In Kihei, where we surfed, the ocean was perfect for beginners to learn. We could walk out into the ocean for a long way, which made it much more manageable. We used Surf Shack, and they were great!
- Lahaina Town – Lahaina is a cute little town with lots to see and do. Our family loved the gigantic banyan tree!!
