Today the "Women" snorkeled Hanaka'o'o Beach aka: Canoe Beach in Lahaina. Lea and Suzy paddled in a regatta hosted by the Lahaina Canoe Club and the rest of us came along for a swim and a picnic and to celebrate Lynn's birthday. Happy Birthday Lynnie!!!!
Lahaina’s Hanaka’o’o Beach is a beautiful sandy, crescent beach extending for several hundred feet to the west of the entrance. There is a grassy beach park rimming the beach with picnic tables and outdoor grills.
Snorkeling
A small sandy beach to the south of the entrance is the snorkeling entry point. This can be a hard entry into the water depending on the wave action (I know from personal experience). Be careful of submerged rocks a few feet into the water. Once you’ve cleared the beach, turn left and the snorkeling is fine. Snorkeling is best and safest along the rocks that line the shoreline to the south of the beach entry. You will find turtles of all sizes swimming along this shore. Today two medium-sized turtles found us as we were swimming back to shore. They checked us out and went on their way. Common fish in this area include Moorish Idols and Coronet Fish and wrasses of all kinds. Suzie saw her favorite fish today, the juvenile of a common wrasse, blue, yellow and fuschia with irridescent spots, beautiful.
Facilities
A restroom sits at the end of the beach nearest the highway, including an outdoor shower.
Life Guards
Yes. This beach is guarded by Maui County Life Guards from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm daily.
Skill Level:Intermediate to Advanced Swimmer
Parking
The beach has ample parking in the lot behind the restrooms, along the access road and at the cemetery across the access road. If these are full, go south on the highway about two blocks and turn right into the parking lot for the north end of the Wahikuli Beach Park. Park your car, then walk along the water’s edge back to the beach.
Location and Driving Directions
The Hanaka’o’o Beach Park is located off the Honoapiilani Highway, just south of Kaanapali Parkway. You can most easily find it by looking for a cemetery on the makai (ocean) side of the highway. There is a left turn lane on the highway to help you enter the beach drive.
Driving Directions from Kapalua, HI to Hanaka’o’o Beach, Lahaina, HI 7.5 miles – about 15 minutes
Take Honoapiilani Hwy/ State Hwy 30 southwest for 6.4 miles (past Kaanapali Parkway) and turn right into Hanaka’o’o Beach.
Driving Directions from Lahaina Wharf to Hanakao’o Beach, Lahaina, HI
3.4 miles – about 10 minutes
Head northwest on Front Street for 243 feet; turn right at Dickenson Street for .3 miles. Take the 3rd left onto Honoapiilani Hwy/ State Hwy 30 and proceed for 3 miles to Hanaka’o’o Beach.
Driving Directions from Azeka Shopping Center, Kihei, HI to Hanaka’o’o Beach, Lahaina, HI25 miles – about 45 minutes
Head north on South Kihei Road for 2.5 miles. Turn left at the traffic light onto N. Kihei Road and proceed for 3.4 miles. Turn left onto Honoapiilani Hwy/ State Hwy 30 and proceed for 18.7 miles to Hanaka’o’o Beach.
Interesting Stuff
The Lahaina Canoe Club is a member of the Maui County Hawaiian Canoe Club Association. The Association members are non-profit organizations dedicated to the preservation of the ancient Hawaiian tradition of outrigger canoe racing and passing the art of canoe paddling to the next generations. The Lahaina Canoe Club owns The Lehia, the last ocean-worthy outrigger racing canoe made from a single piece of koa wood. Three times a season, in June and July, the Maui County Hawaiian Canoe Association holds its Saturday regatta at Canoe Beach. The canoe clubs race almost every Saturday during the summer season at various venues around the island. The events last all day and feature canoe races, food and lots of local color. To get a schedule of the races, visit http://mauipaddlers.homestead.com/mchca.html
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