The Best Maui Beaches for an Elopement or Wedding

With over 30 miles of, quite literally, some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Maui is an ideal location for a tropical beach elopement or wedding! There are so many stunning beaches to choose from that it might feel overwhelming to narrow it down, especially if you are planning your elopement or wedding from afar. As a seasoned Maui wedding photographer, let me share my top picks for the best Maui beaches for an elopement or wedding.

Maluaka Beach, Wailea-Makena (South Maui): This beach features a long stretch of white sand, some lava rocks at either end of the beach, a couple of palm trees toward the middle of the beach, other tropical trees toward the end of the beach, and a pretty rock wall at the entrance that serves as an interesting background for portraits. There is also a lovely grassy knoll toward the south end of the beach. Beach goers do use the grassy area, but there is always a possibility that the condo security might ask people to leave as this lawn area is technically part of the condo property.

Maluaka Beach is large and there is plenty of space to spread out in case there are other weddings, photo sessions, or beach goers enjoying the beach. As with most beaches on Maui, it is quite popular for locals and tourists alike during holidays and weekends. In general, I would recommend avoiding scheduling an elopement or beach wedding during the sunset hour on holidays/weekends (on any Maui beach), although this beach doesn’t get quite the crowds that some of the other beaches do.

Pros: Large, sandy beach; Variety of backgrounds with a rock wall, lava rocks, palm trees, other tropical trees, and a grassy knoll; Views of the mountain possible from the grassy knoll; Views of neighbor islands; Full bathroom facilities; Usually dry with light winds; Large parking lot at the south end of the beach.
Cons: There is ongoing construction of new condos in the area that will lead to this beach being more crowded once finished.

Palauea Beach, Wailea (South Maui): Palauea Beach, also known as “White Rock Beach”, features a moderate stretch of white sandy beach with lava rock formations at either end of the beach. The south end of this beach has beautiful greenery that offers a pop of color to images. At the north end of the beach, there are palm trees, as well as a large wall of green foliage that can provide an interesting composition for photos (depending on the tide and amount of beach erosion). There is also a tree that provides a natural arch that makes for some beautiful images as well. I love the variety of backgrounds that are possible at Palauea Beach!

This beach is usually large enough for beach-goers and wedding parties to spread out; however, in recent years during summer months, Palauea Beach is sometimes plagued with significant beach erosion that makes the north end of the beach unusable for weddings. Since the pandemic, this beach’s popularity for weddings has increased significantly, which means that it is likely there will be more than one wedding or photo session taking place during the sunset hour. For those that prefer a more quiet celebration, this beach is lovely during sunrise as well.

Pros: Large, sandy beach; Variety of backgrounds with some palm trees, lava rocks, and foliage; Views of neighbor islands; Usually dry with light winds.
Cons: Beach erosion, especially during the summer months, may limit use of the north end of the beach; Can be crowded during sunset, holidays, and weekends; No bathroom facilities, but there is access to a Porta-Potty; Street parking only.

Po’olenalena Beach, Wailea (South Maui): Po’olenalena Beach is another stunning South Maui beach for an elopement or wedding. I prefer the “Secret Beach” part of Po’olenalena Beach (sometimes also called Paipu Beach), which involves walking over some lava rocks to reach the other side. The scenery is simply beautiful here with a lush palm tree grove and interesting lava rock formations at the south end of the beach. This beach used to be a quiet, locals-only beach, but it’s popularity for photo sessions and elopements/weddings has increased a lot since the pandemic. It’s also a popular spot for beach volleyball, a drum circle, and it’s known as a nude beach. So, there can be a lot going on here, and I definitely would not recommend this beach for a sunset ceremony on a holiday or weekend. But if the timing is right, it’s a beautiful location for photos.

Pros: Stunning scenery with unique lava rock formations and a lush palm tree grove; Views of neighbor islands; Usually dry with light winds; Large parking lot.
Cons: Involves a walk over lava rocks to reach the prettiest end of the beach (not suitable for those with mobility limitations); Can get quite crowded; Known as a nude beach (might also be a pro?!? 😃); No bathroom facilities, but there is access to a Porta-Potty.

Oneloa Beach, Kapalua (West Maui): Oneloa Beach, also known as “Ironwoods Beach”, is my favorite beach for elopements and weddings on the West side of the island. This is a large beach that features unique and varied backgrounds for photos. There is a beautiful rock wall at the entrance to the beach, as well as some pretty trees and flowers (but no palm trees). The beach itself is quite large with white sand. At the west end of the beach, there are stunning lava rocks and cliffs that make for dramatic photos.

In recent times, this beach has become more popular for weddings, so it’s important to keep in mind that the best spots for ceremonies are first-come, first-serve. Passing rain showers are always possible on this side of the island, and there is usually a lot of wind. This beach is best for sunset only as the light doesn’t hit the cliffs quite right in the morning.

Pros: A variety of backgrounds with a large stretch of gorgeous white sand beach, a pretty rock wall, greenery, and stunning cliffs; Views of neighbor islands; Small parking lot (but it’s often full).
Cons: Involves a walk down stairs to reach the beach (not suitable for those with mobility limitations); Passing rain showers and wind possible; No bathroom facilities or Porta-Potties; Best for sunset only.

Baldwin Beach, Paia (Maui North Shore): Baldwin Beach is a large, (mostly) white sand beach that stretches nearly a mile. The color of water at this beach is stunning as it often appears as a tranquil turquoise. There are only a couple of palm trees at this beach, but there are a lot of other trees and greenery that line the back of the beach, as well as a couple of spots with lava rocks and views of the West Maui Mountains. At the west end of Baldwin Beach, there is red sand!

This beach is best for sunrise only as it gets quite windy in the afternoon. The light is very pretty in the mornings, and there will be very few people on the beach.

Pros: Large, white sand beach, beautiful lava rocks, and the west side of the beach has red sand; Large parking lot; Full bathroom facilities; Views of the West Maui Mountains.
Cons: Windy in the afternoon; Suitable for sunrise only.