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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🌴 Paia Beach Overview
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
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.
🗺 How to Get to 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.
🧭 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
☀️ When to Visit Paia Secret Beach
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
🏖 Paia Beach Photo Gallery
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.
🌺 More Maui Travel Guides
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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!
- MAUI PACKING LIST: A printable essential packing list + 25 useful items to consider
- 7 DAY MAUI ITINERARY: How to see the entire island in one week
- WHERE TO STAY ON MAUI: The best places and areas to stay on the island
- PLANNING A TRIP TO MAUI: Step-by-step guide for planning your first visit to Maui
- ROAD TO HANA STOPS: The Top 25 places to visit on the Road to Hana
- ROAD TO HANA ITINERARY: How to plan for a 1-2 day self-drive.
- BEST MAUI PHOTO SPOTS: 15 best places for photographing Maui
- SECRET BEACHES OF MAUI: The 10 most incredible hidden beaches on the island
- MAUI SUNSETS: The Top 10 places & activities for watching sunset in Maui
- KIHEI BEACHES GUIDE: Photos, locations, and descriptions for all 15 beaches in Kihei
- BEST SNORKELING IN MAUI: Best snorkel spots, tips, tours, and more.
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