Paia Beach (Maui): The Complete 2024 Guide + Photos

Paia Beach (Lower Paia Park) blog cover image.  Text overlaying a photo of a white sand beach with footsteps in the sand leading to lush vegetation and the aqua colored ocean to the left.

Paia Beach, officially known as Lower Paia Park, is a beautiful white sand beach on the North Shore of Maui. It is located, unsurprisingly, within walking distance of the historic town of Paia.

Too many people who visit the island will only see a glimpse of the incredible north shore region as they drive by it on their way to the famous Road to Hana.

Both Paia town and its tropical beach are destinations all their own for those who stop to appreciate them!

We stay in Haiku near Paia every time we visit Maui and are always surprised (and a little delighted) at how quiet these pristine North Shore beaches are.

In this guide, I will explain everything you need to know about Paia Beach including how to find it, services available, photos from our trip, and more.

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๐ŸŒด Paia Beach Overview

Footsteps lead down Paia Beach on our walk along the North Shore of Maui.

SERVICES

  • Nearest Town: Paia (voted one of the Top 10 best towns in Maui to visit)!
  • Parking: There is a large parking lot for Paia Beach at “Lower Paia Park
  • Fees: There are no fees for parking or entry at Lower Paia Park.
  • Public Bathrooms? Yes, also at the park.
  • Picnic Benches? No.
  • Showers? Yes.
  • Grills? No.
  • Lifeguard? Yes.

DESCRIPTION

The eastern edge of Paia Beach Maui.

Located within walking distance of the historic town of Paia, the appropriately named Paia Beach is a coarse, white-sand beach on the North Shore of Maui.

Paia Beach is a favorite destination for surfers and windsurfing enthusiasts and is a popular stop on the Road to Hana.

The beach is more of a pale gold than true white but is pleasant for sitting and walking. The water in Paia Bay tends to be true sea green or aqua in color.

Paia Beach is located within Lower Paia Park, which provides most of the essential facilities for visitors. These include parking, bathrooms, and showers.

A lifeguard is also on duty from 8am-4:30pm each day. You will even find a basketball court in the park, though I doubt many of you come to Maui with your hoop gear!

The beach becomes more tropical in feel toward the eastern end as the sparse vegetation transforms into healthy palms and greenery. The west end is typically quieter and less picturesque, but it does lead to the clothing-optional Paia Secret Beach.

๐Ÿ—บ How to Get to Paia Beach

The red pin in the satellite view of the Maui North Shore above indicates the parking area for Lower Paia Park.
The red pin in the satellite view of the Maui North Shore above indicates the parking area for Paia Beach.

With Navigation: To find parking and entry to the beach, you will want to enter “Lower Paia Park” into your navigation.

General Directions: Paia Beach is located directly off of the Hana Hwy with a large, clearly-signed parking area within walking distance of Paia town.

๐Ÿงญ How to Find Paia Secret Beach

Paia Secret Beach is an extension of the main beach that requires a short walk over a small overland trail that separates the two shores.

To get to the hidden “clothing-optional” beach, you will still park at Lower Paia Park and walk down the beach all the way to the western edge (walk left as you face the ocean).

You will find the overland trail at the end of the beach. Simply walk this short path to the neighboring shoreline.

Learn more about this beach in the
COMPLETE GUIDE TO PAIA SECRET BEACH

โ˜€๏ธ When to Visit Paia Secret Beach

A photo of a pristine, white sand Paia Beach with a surfer riding a wave in front of tropical palm trees.

Mornings are typically the best time to visit Paia Beach as the water and beach are usually at their calmest. This is particularly true when morning and low tide are in sync.

Sunset is also a beautiful time at the park. While the view from the beach is north facing, you will see the sun go down behind the West Maui Mountains as you look down the beach to the west.

Be careful with the strong winds and powerful currents if you plan to swim or snorkel at Paia Bay, particularly during high tide.

Discover the best places to watch the sun go down in the
MAUI SUNSETS GUIDE: Top 10 Destinations

๐Ÿ– Paia Beach Photo Gallery

  • Footsteps lead down Paia Beach on our walk along the North Shore of Maui.

Browse the Paia Beach photo gallery above to see images from a sunny afternoon on the North Shore of Maui.

If you look closely at some of the photos, you will notice a surfer riding the aqua-colored waves of Paia Bay in front of tropical palm trees.

๐ŸŒบ More Maui Travel Guides

A photo of travel blogger Sophie Marland standing on the shore of Red Sand Beach in Maui.
Discover the best Secret Beaches of Maui, including the incredible Red Sand Beach seen above.

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Before you go, you may want to skim some of the titles for other relevant Maui guides below to ensure you do not miss any epic beaches, sunset destinations, or noteworthy things to do during your visit to the Valley Isle!

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Written by
Adam Marland is a professional travel blogger and landscape photographer from Oregon. After over a decade of experience as a freelance travel photographer, Adam found national acclaim when he became the National Park Foundation's โ€œChief Exploration Officerโ€ in 2021.

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