Pristine bays, championship golf, and refined tranquility
At the northwestern tip of West Maui, Kapalua offers sheltered bays, world-class golf, and a serene escape from the crowds.
Kapalua Bay, consistently rated among Hawaii's best beaches, is a sheltered crescent of sand with calm, crystal-clear water ideal for swimming and snorkeling. The bay is protected by two rocky headlands that keep the swells out, creating pool-like conditions most days of the year. It is the quintessential postcard beach.
Nearby Napili Bay offers a similar experience on a slightly larger scale. The reef-protected waters are home to frequent sea turtle visitors, and the sunset views from the sand are magnificent. Both bays are accessible to the public and rarely feel overcrowded, even during peak season.
The Plantation Course at Kapalua hosts the PGA Tour's annual Tournament of Champions (now called The Sentry). This stunning course cascades down the mountainside with ocean views from nearly every hole. The Bay Course offers a slightly easier but equally scenic round.
The Kapalua Coastal Trail winds along sea cliffs and through native vegetation for 1.76 miles between Kapalua Bay and D.T. Fleming Beach. It is one of the most scenic short walks on Maui. For a wilder adventure, the Maunalei Arboretum Trail leads through Cook pines and Norfolk Island pines into the lush West Maui Mountains.
Just north of the Ritz-Carlton, the Dragon's Teeth are a dramatic formation of wind-sculpted lava rock spires on a windswept point. The short walk there passes ancient Hawaiian burial grounds (treat the area with utmost respect) and offers views stretching to Molokai.
Honolua Bay, a marine preserve just past Kapalua, is one of Maui's premier snorkeling destinations in summer and a world-renowned surf break in winter. The bay is accessed via a short trail through an ironwood forest, adding to the sense of discovery.