Although the Wailea resort complex is graced with numerous beaches, the epicenter of the beach scene will forever be Wailea Beach. Voted as the #1 beach in America in 1999, this stretch of golden sand which fronts the Grand Wailea and Four Seasons resorts offers everything from snorkeling and standup paddling to outrigger canoe paddling and playful bodyboarding. Fun-loving yet undeniably luxurious, Wailea Beach is the postcard of luxury you would expect from a Maui resort complex.

Even though private cabanas line the shoreline (and there is a great chance of spotting a celebrity), Wailea Beach is a public beach and is open to anyone in the community. Public parking lots are found at neighboring Ulua Beach as well as next to the Four Seasons, and a two-mile coastal path connects Wailea Beach with Polo beaches, which is a similar island favorite.

Although there is never a bad time to find yourself on Wailea Beach, summer can be a bit more prone to large surf which can make bodyboarding dangerous and churn up the visibility while snorkeling. On most days of the year, however, Hawaiian green sea turtles can be spotted off the point, and the waters are calm and clear with just enough wave action to frolick in the surf.

Or, if watersports aren’t your thing, the string of cabanas and beach umbrellas are the perfect spot for kicking back with a good book, a cold drink, and simply listening to the surf crash on the shore. Flanked on both sides by palm trees and resorts, Wailea Beach is a dream getaway for the resort-loving crowd, and even those who prefer their lodging a bit more low-key will appreciate the island beauty which radiates from the shore.