Mākena Beach — universally called Big Beach — is the best undeveloped beach on Maui. It is a long, broad stretch of golden sand on the south coast that has been protected from development by Makena State Park, and it shows: no resort towering behind it, no jet ski rentals, just open beach and open ocean. The surf can be powerful, and shore break injuries are not uncommon — swim with caution and watch the waves before getting in.
Just north of Big Beach, a short scramble over a lava headland leads to Little Beach, a clothing-optional cove that has been a clothing-optional haven since the 1970s. On Sunday evenings, Little Beach hosts a fire dancing and drum circle that has become an institution. The Maui sunset from this stretch of coast is reliably good.