Makena State Park
Encyclopedia
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
Big Beach, also known as "Oneloa Beach" and "Makena Beach", is a popular spot for sunbathing and bodyboarding by both tourists and locals. Big Beach is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and more than 100 feet (30.5 m) wide. The shore is fairly protected from wind. The "Makena cloud" that stretches from the top of Haleakala
Haleakala
Haleakalā , or the East Maui Volcano, is a massive shield volcano that forms more than 75% of the Hawaiian Island of Maui. The western 25% of the island is formed by the West Maui Mountains.- History :...
to Kahoolawe
Kahoolawe
Kahoolawe is the smallest of the eight main volcanic islands in the Hawaiian Islands. Kahoolawe is located about seven miles southwest of Maui and also southeast of Lanai, and it is long by wide, with a total land area of . The highest point on Kahoolawe is the crater of Lua Makika at the...
is often overhead, cooling the sand.
Little Beach, also known as "Puu Olai Beach" is a small beach just North of Big Beach separated by a steep lava
Lava
Lava refers both to molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruption and the resulting rock after solidification and cooling. This molten rock is formed in the interior of some planets, including Earth, and some of their satellites. When first erupted from a volcanic vent, lava is a liquid at...
outcropping (the tip of Puu Olai) and a 5 minute hike. On Sundays Little Beach is host to celebratory drumming and fire dancing. The beach is only 660 feet (201.2 m) long and can seem crowded at peak times. Little Beach is one of the few Hawaiian beaches where local police tolerate nude sunbathing
Naturism
Naturism or nudism is a cultural and political movement practising, advocating and defending social nudity in private and in public. It may also refer to a lifestyle based on personal, family and/or social nudism....
(another is Red Sand Beach
Red Sand Beach
Red Sand Beach on Kaihalulu Bay is a pocket beach on the island of Maui, Hawaii on Kauiki Head.-Location:Kaihalulu bay and Red Sand Beach lie at , on the side of Ka'uiki Head, which is a cinder cone just south of Hana Bay, on the eastern coast of Maui island.The bay name comes from kai halulu which...
near Hāna).
Black Sand Beach, also known as "Naupaka Beach", is one of the least used beaches on Maui. Black Sand Beach has its own road and a parking lot right on the edge of the beach, and allows easy access.
Puu Olai is a dormant volcanic cinder cone in the center of the park with a height of 360 feet (109.7 m).
It is located on Makena Road at 20°37′52"N 156°26′46"W.
Just to the south is the Ahihi Kinau Natural Area Reserve
Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve
Established in 1973, Āhihi-Kīnau Natural Area Reserve includes a coastal lava field and surrounding waters on the southwest coast of the island of Maui, Hawaii. It consists of on land and of ocean along of Maui's southwestern coastline...
.