Kāʻanapali Beach

Kāʻanapali Beach, with three miles of white sand and crystal clear water, was once crowned America's Best Beach and is undoubtedly the island's most popular and cherished beach. After visiting, you'll understand why it was chosen as the site of the island's first master-planned resort development. The Royal Lahaina Resort opened on 27 acres of oceanfront property in 1962, and other renowned resorts have followed suit throughout the years.

Kāʻanapali was Hawaii's first planned resort and has served as a model for resorts all over the world. This well-known beach is surrounded by five hotels and six condominium villages. Kāʻanapali Beach is a beautiful stretch of shoreline with powder white sand, gentle waves, and spectacular views of the West Maui highlands on the island of Maui. You can engage in a variety of water activities or simply relax on the gorgeous beach, which has been dubbed one of the best in the world. Kaanapali Beach has seven hotel fronts and outdoor shops at Whalers Village, so you won't have to travel far for necessities.

The daily cliff diving ceremony off the beach's northernmost cliffs known as Puʻu Kekaʻa or Black Rock is one of Kāʻanapali Beach's most famous attractions. Every evening at dusk, a cliff diver lights the torches along the cliff before plunging off Black Rock in a reenactment of Maui's legendary King Kahekili's achievement.

Location: Maui County, Hawaii