Makena State Park
Makena State Park comprises 165 acres (0.7 km2) in Makena, south of Wailea on the island of Maui, Hawaii.
Big Beach, also known as "Oneloa Beach" and "Makena Beach", is a popular spot for sunbathing and bodyboarding by both tourists and locals. Big Beach is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and more than 100 feet (30 m) wide. The shore is fairly protected from wind. The "Makena cloud" that stretches from the top of Haleakala to Kahoʻolawe is often overhead, cooling the sand.
Little Beach, also known as "Puʻu Olai Beach" is a small beach just North of Big Beach separated by a steep lava outcropping (the tip of Puʻu Olai) and a 5-minute hike. On Sunday afternoons/evenings Little Beach is host to celebratory drumming and fire dancing. The beach is only 660 feet (200 m) long and can seem crowded at peak times. Little Beach is one of the few Hawaiian beaches where local police tolerate nude sunbathing, though the proliferation of video cameras and cell phones has greatly reduced the number of people who take it all off. (Another is Red Sand Beach near Hāna).
Puʻu Olai is a dormant volcanic cinder cone in the center of the park with a height of 360 feet (110 m).
It is located on Makena Road at 20°37′52″N 156°26′46″W / 20.63111°N 156.44611°WCoordinates: 20°37′52″N 156°26′46″W / 20.63111°N 156.44611°W. Just to the south is the ʻAhihi Kinaʻu Natural Area Reserve.
Gallery
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Aerial view of the Big and Little Beach in Makena State Park
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Big Beach with a 13-second night exposure
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Photo of sunset taken from the Big Beach in Makena State Park
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View of "Black Sand Beach" a.k.a. Oneʻuli Beach or Naupaka Beach[1] from top of Puu Olai
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"Little Beach" (Puʻu Olai Beach) from Makena Point
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Old lava flow at north end of "Little Beach"
