South Maui is often introduced through its sparkling beaches, sunset dinners, and resort pools, yet there is a deeper story woven into this coast. Ancient fishpond walls still catch the light at low tide. Lava flows remember the island’s most recent eruptions. Whales, turtles, and native birds return season after season, following paths that have existed long before any shoreline condos or beach paths.

This guide highlights some of South Maui’s lesser known cultural and natural landmarks, along with insight into why this coastline continues to captivate those seeking serenity and scenery.

Makena Landing and Turtle Town

Today, Makena Landing is known as a launch point for kayakers, snorkelers, and divers who head toward Nahuna Point and the famous Turtle Town, where underwater lava arches shelter coral and abundant marine life. Endangered green sea turtles rest beneath rocky ledges, colorful reef fish move through the arches, and on special days manta rays or even a Hawaiian monk seal may glide by.

Long before it became a snorkel stop, this coastline was home to small Hawaiian villages connected by Piʻilani’s famed King’s Highway, a foot trail that once encircled the island. In the 1800s, Makena Landing served as a busy port, shipping produce, sugar, cotton, and cattle between islands and to the mainland. When Kahului Harbor took over as Maui’s commercial hub, Makena grew quiet again, known mainly to fishermen and kiawe harvesters.

Spending time here today is a reminder that South Maui has always been shaped by the ocean. If you visit, go with care. Give turtles space, avoid standing on coral, and move slowly in the water. It is one of the most beautiful places to see marine life, and it is also a living ecosystem that depends on gentle visitors.

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Sanctuary Visitor Center 

Each winter, thousands of kohola, the North Pacific humpback whales, travel to the warm, shallow waters of Hawaiʻi to mate, give birth, and raise their young. The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary was created to protect these whales and the habitats they rely on, with Maui’s south shore playing a central role.

Located along South Kihei Road, the visitor center sits right at the water’s edge with views of Kahoʻolawe, Lanaʻi, and West Maui. Exhibits and interactive displays share both scientific insights and Native Hawaiian perspectives, reflecting a management approach that honors culture along with conservation. From November through April, visitors often spot whales breaching or blowing offshore, even from the lawn.

The sanctuary is jointly managed by NOAA and the State of Hawaiʻi, and much of its work involves partnerships with local communities and cultural practitioners. For residents and visitors, a stop here is a chance to learn how to enjoy whale season with respect, including keeping proper distance and reporting any animals that appear entangled or in distress.

Ko‘ie‘ie Fishpond at Kalepolepo

Just offshore from Kalepolepo Park in Kīhei, a low stone wall arcs across the shallows. This is Ko‘ie‘ie Fishpond, one of the last remaining intact traditional fishponds along the South Maui coast and a remarkable example of early Hawaiian aquaculture.

Believed to have been built around the 1400s, Ko‘ie‘ie was maintained and repaired over the centuries by prominent chiefs and leaders, including ʻUmi a Līloa, Kekaulike, and Kamehameha I. The area later became known as Kalepolepo, a name tied to the clouds of dust raised when long lines of people carried stones to rebuild the pond.

Today, ʻAoʻao O Na Loko Iʻa O Maui, the Association of the Fishponds of Maui, leads ongoing restoration efforts. Volunteers, students, and community groups work stone by stone to repair sections of the wall using traditional methods. The pond serves as both a cultural site and a classroom, teaching visitors about food systems that once supported entire communities and the values of communal stewardship.

If you visit, move gently around the stones, respect any work in progress, and take a moment to imagine this shoreline when the pond was a central source of food for the aliʻi and their people.

Kamehameha I Lands In Kihei

Long before Kihei became a relaxed beach town with cafes, condos, and surf breaks, it was known as Kamaʻole, meaning “barren” in Hawaiian. The landscape and lifestyle looked very different. Fishermen and kiawe harvesters made their living along this arid shore, and in 1790 it became a turning point in Hawaiian history.

This coastline is recognized as the first landing place of Kamehameha I and his warriors on Maui. Here, he famously burned his canoes, forcing his army to advance inland toward Wailuku for the Battle of Kepaniwai, a pivotal conflict in his campaign to unite the islands under one rule.

Development did not arrive in earnest until the mid 1900s, with major growth in the 1970s. Today, Kihei is home to families, small businesses, schools, beaches, and a growing number of people who work remotely, drawn to the balance of everyday convenience and coastal living. Yet just steps from modern life, places like Ko‘ie‘ie Fishpond and the whale sanctuary visitor center remind us that Kihei sits on historically significant ground.

Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge

Between Kihei and Maʻalaea, Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge stretches from mountain to sea, protecting one of Hawaiʻi’s most important remaining coastal wetlands. The name Kealia refers to a “salt encrusted place,” and the landscape shifts throughout the year as water levels rise and fall with the seasons.

The pond and surrounding wetlands provide critical habitat for endangered ae‘o, the Hawaiian stilt, and ʻalae keʻokeʻo, the Hawaiian coot, along with indigenous black crowned night herons and one of the largest populations of migratory shorebirds in the islands. The refuge also manages coastal strand habitat that supports native plant species, nesting seabirds, and both hawksbill and green sea turtles.

Historically, this area included an ancient fishpond and later served as an airstrip and military training ground. Today, the refuge offers a peaceful boardwalk and viewing areas where visitors can observe birds in relative quiet. It is an ideal place to slow down, listen to the wind and water, and remember that South Maui’s story includes wetlands and wildlife, not only beaches and resorts.

ʻAhihi Kinaʻu Natural Area Reserve

At the far southwest corner of Maui, ʻAhihi Kinaʻu Natural Area Reserve feels like another world. The lava underfoot is some of the island’s youngest, dating back a few hundred years to Haleakala’s most recent eruptions. The reserve protects more than 1,200 acres of land and sea, including rare anchialine pools, pockets of native dryland plants, and a rich nearshore marine environment.

The bay’s shallow, clear waters and healthy coral reefs make it one of South Maui’s best snorkeling spots, with reef fish and Hawaiian green sea turtles commonly seen. At the same time, this is not a typical beach park. ʻAhihi Kinaʻu is a reserve first and foremost, created to protect fragile ecosystems and cultural sites. There is no fishing, access is limited to designated areas and hours, and visitors are asked to stay on marked paths, avoid anchialine pools, and avoid touching or approaching wildlife.

La Perouse Bay

La Perouse Bay, known in Hawaiian as Keoneʻoʻio, marks the end of the road in South Maui and the visible edge of Haleakala’s last major lava flow. Drivers wind past sweeping fields of aʻa lava between mile markers 5.5 and 7 on Makena Alanui Road until the pavement ends at the bay.

This coastline is rich in both natural and cultural history. The lava fields conceal remnants of ancient fishing villages, heiau, salt pans, and anchialine pools, all set against a rugged shoreline where spinner dolphins, turtles, and reef fish are often seen offshore. The historic Hoapili Trail, which continues beyond the parking area, follows a traditional route along the coast over jagged stone, rewarding prepared hikers with wide open views and a strong sense of place.

La Perouse is a powerful reminder that South Maui is still very much a volcanic landscape. It is also a place where visitors are encouraged to tread lightly, stay on the established trail, carry plenty of water, and remember that the ruins and cultural sites they pass are part of living Hawaiian heritage.

Whether you are a longtime resident, new homeowner, or visitor considering South Maui as a future home, these landmarks invite a different way of seeing this shoreline. As you explore, travel thoughtfully. Keep distance from wildlife, stay on marked trails, respect restoration projects, and take the time to learn about the histories connected to each place. In doing so, you help ensure that South Maui remains not only a beautiful place to live and work, but also a place where its stories and landscapes are honored for generations to come.