Why Oneuli beach is a hidden gem on Maui
Oneuli packs jet-black sand, red-cinder cliffs, and frequent turtle sightings into a quiet cove only 40 minutes from Kahului. Arrive before the trade-winds for calm snorkel water and stay long enough to watch honu bask on the shore. It’s the Road-to-Hāna photo—minus the road and the crowds.
Waiʻānapanapa’s dramatic photographs draw many visitors to the long, winding Road to Hāna, where timed-entry reservations and tour-bus crowds are now the norm. Oneuli, set within Mākena State Park on Maui’s dry south coast, offers the same deep-black sand and frequent wildlife encounters with far fewer visitors and none of the logistical hurdles.
The beach fronts a sheltered reef favored by green sea turtles, while Puʻu Olaʻi—a rust-red cinder cone—provides a vivid backdrop that rivals any scene on the Hāna Highway.
Oneuli Black Sand Beach: Essential Facts
- GPS: 20.6285 °N, 156.4481 °W
- Parking: Free; 15-car dirt lot (fills by 10 a.m. on weekends)
- Facilities: None on-site—restrooms and cold showers are 0.7 mile south at Big Beach
- Lifeguards: Zero; surf at your own risk
- Wildlife law: Stay 10 feet from turtles and 50 feet from monk seals (hefty fines apply)
- Local pronunciation: oh-nay-OO-lee—fittingly, the name means “dark or black” in Hawaiian
Why Oneuli Beach Has Black Sand
Billy McDonald/Shutterstock
Around A.D. 1790, a late-stage eruption from Haleakalā’s southwest rift spewed lava that plunged into the ocean and built Puʻu Olaʻi. The lava’s instant collision with cold seawater flash-cooled and shattered it into microscopic basalt shards, which wave action then tumbled smooth, polishing them into the jet-black grains that cloak Oneuli’s shore.
Because this leeward stretch of Maui receives little rainfall or runoff, the ebony sand stays strikingly dark and largely free of driftwood or leaf litter, arching in a 600-foot crescent that sets off the turquoise shallows and Puʻu Olaʻi’s rust-red slope.
Best Time to Visit (and What Changes Season to Season)
Water clarity, crowds, and wildlife all swing with the seasons—here’s the quick guide to hitting Oneuli at its best:
- Winter (Dec – Mar) – Larger south-shore swells can reduce visibility, but low-angle sunlight casts a burgundy hue on the cinder cone.
- Spring (Apr – May) – Consistently calm seas, active inland waterfalls, and lighter airfare demand; an excellent all-round window.
- Summer (Jun – Aug) – Morning water is often glass-calm with 80-ft visibility; prime season for snorkeling and occasional eagle-ray encounters.
- Fall (Sep – Nov) – Warm water and modest visitor numbers; plan aquatic activities before brisk afternoon tradewinds develop.
Pro Tip: Turtles typically haul out between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., when the sand is warmest.
Reaching the Beach
From Kahului Airport, follow Highway 311 and continue south on Piʻilani Highway into Wailea. Beyond mile marker 9 the resort corridor narrows; pass Big Beach’s main entrance and note mile marker 4.
Turn makai (toward the sea) onto a short dirt lane that ends at Oneuli’s parking area. The track is manageable for standard cars when dry. After heavy rain, consider parking at Big Beach and taking the 15-minute saddle trail over Puʻu Olaʻi to reach Oneuli on foot.
Things to Do When You Arrive
Billy McDonald/Shutterstock
Step beyond the kiawe trees and the scene unfolds: ink-black sand, clear topaz water, and the red flank of Puʻu Olaʻi glowing in early light.
Start with a stroll along the high-tide line; resting turtles often resemble stones until you observe subtle movement. When photographing, remain at the recommended 10-ft distance.
- Snorkel the Northern Ramp: Enter carefully from the old concrete ramp on the north end. Before 10 a.m. the water is usually calm, and a nearby lava ledge supports convict tangs, raccoon butterflyfish, and other reef species. On especially still summer mornings an eagle ray may glide past the drop-off.
- Hike the Puʻu Olaʻi Rim: A 25-minute scramble up loose cinder switchbacks rewards you with 360-degree views stretching from Haleakalā’s summit to the arid outline of Kahoʻolawe. Wear trail shoes; the cinder feels like ball bearings on concrete.
- Hop to Little Beach Overlook: Continue over the saddle to glimpse Mākena’s unofficial clothing-optional cove. Even if you stop short of the sand, the overlook offers a rare top-down view of Oneuli’s black crescent curving under red cliff.
- Tide-Pool Safari: Low tide exposes lava pockets on the south flank where neon hermit crabs parade through purple limu and pea-sized urchins. Children can explore safely here while adults snorkel the deeper ledge.
- Shoot the Milky Way: With virtually no artificial light south of Wailea, Oneuli becomes a night photographer’s playground. Between May and August, the Milky-Way core rises over Puʻu Olaʻi around 10 p.m. Set a 14 mm lens at f/2.8, ISO 3200, 20 seconds and let the basalt foreground anchor the starry sweep.
Planning Essentials
Bring a soft cooler with water and fruit; shade is scarce after mid-morning, and the black sand heats quickly.
| Item | 2025 Price | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Parking | Free | Lot fills by 10 a.m. weekends |
| Snorkel set (Wailea) | $18/day | None to rent on-site |
| Mineral sunscreen | $14 | Keeps reef polyps alive |
| Fish-sandwich at Maluka Paniolo truck | $17 | Only hot food within 5 mi |
Suggest Half-Day Itinerary
Kihei, HI / USA – October 1, 2019: Jawz fish tacos food truck is located on the parking lot of Makena Beach in Kihei, Hawaii on Maui/Felipe Sanchez/Shutterstock
Begin with a morning snorkel and turtle watch at Oneuli, pause for a fish-sandwich lunch at the Big Beach food truck, then drive to La Perouse Bay for an afternoon walk through Maui’s youngest lava field. Return north via Keawalaʻi Congregational Church—a lava-rock chapel dating to 1832—for a brief look at local heritage before sunset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oneuli Beach safe for kids?
The tide pools stay shallow and calm, so they’re great for supervised beachcombing and crab spotting. Swimming is fine on flat summer mornings when the reef knocks the waves down, but if you see whitecaps, it’s best to stick to wading and sand play
Do you need a 4x4 to visit the beach?
When the lane is dry, a regular rental sedan handles the ruts just fine. After a heavy rain the track turns muddy and slick, so most visitors park at Big Beach and take the 15-minute walk over the saddle trail instead.
Will you see sea turtles at Oneuli Beach?
In midsummer the odds are excellent—turtles often haul out between late morning and mid-afternoon. Spring and fall still offer frequent sightings, while in winter you’ll likely spot them feeding just offshore rather than on the sand.
Last Word
Oneuli remains quieter than many of Maui’s better-known beaches thanks to its limited parking and lack of facilities. Allocate a full morning—ample time for the black sand to warm beneath your feet and a turtle or two to emerge from the shallows—and you will come away with photographs and memories fully equal to those of the Road to Hāna, achieved in a fraction of the driving time.