Kalama Beach Park, Kihei

Kalama Beach Park in northern South Kihei, Maui is one of my least favorite places on the island. It’s not because the areastinks for swimming and snorkeling due to the extended shallow, murky, rocky seabed but because the area literally stinks (due to algae blooms and sewage in the area). Even though this park is very popular for kayakers, paddleboarders and beginning surfers, I think the place is awful for water sports as I can’t imagine falling off your board and the water hardly padding you before you hit bottom. Plus, there really isn’t much in the way of a sandy beach here. There is a tiny bit at the south end but that’s as good as it gets; the rest of the shoreline is almost all boulders.

What you’re left with are 30-plus acres of beach park marked by a very large whale sculpture. Assuming you can stand the smell, there are baseball fields, soccer fields, a skate park, basketball courts, tennis courts, a volleyball net that is always in use, and plenty of pavilions. There are restrooms and showers, too. There is even a concrete path that runs the length of the water that is popular with joggers. Plenty of benches along the path for sunset viewing, too, though at this end of Kihei, you’re hardly in a good spot for those sunsets. Oh, did I forget to mention there was a shark attack in this area in late November 2012? Yeah, these attacks happen but given the water conditions at Kalama, I’m surprised it doesn’t happen more often here.

I give Kalama Beach Park 2 out of 5 stars for its activities, being close to the Farmer's Market, and the fact that it’s still in Maui. That’s not really an endorsement, though.  

DIRECTIONS: On South Kihei Road across from Foodland supermarket, just south of Shaka Pizza. Parking is on the beach side of the road. Look for the big whale sculpture and you're in the right place.