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Off the Beaten Path: Picnic Locales Across Maui

Summer Time is Picnic Time

What better way is there to enjoy Maui’s natural beauty than chowing down on some food surrounded by nature or in the shade taking in Maui’s natural wonders. You can always count on sun when its summer time, so here are some of our suggestion of where to enjoy Maui away from the typical spots.

Rice Park-Kula, Upcountry

Rice Park, officially known as Harold W. Rice Memorial Park, is a 3.8-acre in the Upcountry part of Maui in the town known as Kula. The park is about 2,500 feet above sea level and offers spectacular panoramic view across the South, Central, and West Maui, making it a popular spot for picnics and sunset watching.

We suggest bring a camera and a light jacket, since anytime you head upcountry it is a cooler climate. The park is also favored among locals who stop at the park on the way home from work to drink a beer and enjoy the vantage point. Apart from running around and enjoying the views, another favorite activity among local children is sliding down the park hills on cardboard boxes.

Tavares Bay-Kuau, North Shore

About a 1/2 mile past the Paia traffic light, Tavares Bay flies under the radar. The beach parking lot can easily be spotted and be recognized as the “Blue Tile House” parking lot, it’s convenient for those not familiar with the area.

The beach is a decent sized, crescent shaped, and sandy. It sits in the area of Kuau with easy access and ample parking. Good for swimming, snorkeling, spear fishing, rock jumping, surfing and windsurfing. Tavares is a favorite among locals, so go during the week when it is less crowded. The reef here is close to shore, which keeps the shore break quite calm. Further out there is a nice surf break that can range anywhere from beginner to advanced.

D.T. Fleming Beach-Kapalua, West Maui

Flemings is easily one of my favorite beaches on the west side, it’s just past Kapalua and is the immediate left after passing the Kapalua Club House. The beach park is a public beach, so it has lifeguards on duty, facilities, picnic tables, barbecue grills, and convenient access to the beach. Flemings has a good sized parking lot and can fit a fair amount of cars, even on the busiest of days. There is plenty of beach to lounge on with  rocks on other side of the beach to go explore.

I personally enjoy this world-class beach because it is much less developed and far less touristy than Black Rock/Ka’anapali Beach. Turtles can also be found in the next few bays to the right of the beach, however, if you are not a strong swimmer please do not attempt. It’s actually a quite challenging swim because of the constant waves and wind factor.

Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park-Keokea, Upcountry

Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park is definitely off the beaten path and is within 10 minutes of Ulupalukua (known for its ranch land and growing reputation as a winery). The little park is a cute little roadside park in Keokea located in-between  mile markers 18 and 19. It sits at 2,400 feet of elevation above the south Maui coast line. The views here at anytime of the day are gorgeous, it looks out over Kihei, Wailea, Puu Olai, Makena, the West Maui Mountains (with their windmills), and offshore to the islands of Molokini and Kaaholawe.

The park was dedicated to Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, a Chinese political leader who was also the first president of the Republic of China when it was founded in 1912. He lived at his brother’s home in Kula, Maui, off and on from 1879 to 1910. The piece of property the park is sitting on was donated by the Ulupalakua ranch in 1989.

Ahihi Bay or La Perouse Bay-Makena, South Maui

Located about ¾ of a mile past the last entrance to Makena State Park is the Ahihi Kinau Natural Area Reserve. Be aware the last stretch into the reserve turns into a rock/dirt road, so just keep moving on your way and you’ll come to a recognizable parking lot when you reach your destination. The reserve is known for some of the most fertile lava rock reefs on the island and offers spectacular diving. The shoreline provides a great area to enjoy lunch or lounge around on the beach.

Giggle Hill-Haiku, North Maui

Giggle Hill, or officially 4th Marine Division Memorial Park, is home to Maui’s best playground! The playground has recently been renovated and consists of various wooden structures that almost resemble a wooden castle. I frequently bring my dogs here for late sunset strolls and the playground looks like so much fun, I’m almost tempted to go play on it myself! The park is 40 acres with ample parking, picnic benches, a baseball field, and a soccer field.

Fun fact about Giggle Hill: it was a popular location for World War II soldiers and sailors to take girls and make out with them (or attempt to convince the girls to), the sounds of girls giggling can still be heard to this day when at the top of the hill (or so they say).

Contact a South Maui Real Estate Specialist

Our team has had the amazing opportunity to have been part of Ho’olei since its inception back in 2005. We’ve been the in house team 7 days a week for the past 9 years. It truly brings a smile to my face when I see first time guests, return visitors, and full-time residences embracing their Maui lifestyle.

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Enjoy Ho’olei’s fantastic pool area

We’d like to extend an invitation to you to feel free and stop by the on-site Ho’olei real estate information office, which is open daily, before the reservation desk, from 9:00AM–5:00PM.

Mahalo,

Anthony Sayles
(808) 280-6532
Anthony@DanoSayles.com

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