One'uli Beach / Naupaka Beach
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Address Off Makena Alanui Rd, Makena, HI 96753
 
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Hidden reddish-black sand beach that's certainly unique.
Features
• Sand Type: Black • Sand Type: Powder • Sand Type: Red • Parking: Good / Plenty • Good For: Fishing
• Good For: Kayaking • Good For: Scuba Diving • Good For: Snorkeling
One'uli Beach, or Naupaka Beach as it's also called, is a strange beach. The sand here is an unusual reddish brown color mixed in with some black sand. It creates a pretty unique look that you don't see very often in Hawaii. While it is considered a black sand beach, it's not "the" black sand beach on Maui so if you want Maui's real black sand beach check out Wai'anapanapa Black Sand Beach instead. Of course, if you want Maui's red sand beach then check out Kaihalulu (Red Sand) Beach.


To get here, look for a small dirt road entrance with a yellow (open during the day) gate between mile marker 3.5 and 4. This will be the first place you can turn towards the ocean north of the first entrance to Big Beach (Oneloa/Makena Beach) at Makena State Park. So, if you are heading south and hit that first entrance to Big Beach (Oneloa/Makena Beach) at Makena State Park just turn around and then it will be the next entrance on your left. Follow the bumpy dirt road a bit and you'll end up in a small parking lot area right on the beach.


The sand here is kind of neat, but also makes it look a bit dirty. There is also a fair amount of beach and tree debris on the beach so it's not the best looking beach ever but it is unique. The beach is wide and long and is shouldn't be crowded at all.


There can be some good fishing here, and we usually see locals fishing over on the rocks towards the far southwest end of the beach.


The diving here can be good but water access isn't the best since there is a lot of rocky reef area here. There can also be strong currents and a dangerous shore-break, depending on how the ocean is doing.

There are some nice views of Molokini Crater, Lana'i Island, and Moloka'i here and it is secluded but overall it's not really a great beach to hangout on or swim at. If you do set up shop here, don't get too close to the tall cliffs as they might be unstable and have falling rocks.