Overview
Little Beach, also known as Pu'u Ola'i Beach, sits on the southern end of Maui right next to Big Beach, a scenic cove that mostly serves up shorepound. Most days it is skimboarding, bodysurfing, and bodyboarding territory, with beach break that can turn sizeable and strong and throw closeout barrels. On bigger, longer-period swells a surfboard option can open up off the rocks on the sides of the cove. It is also the only generally accepted clothing-optional beach on Maui.
When It Works
The cove is well exposed to swell from south through south-southwest, the most common and best-matched directions, though southwest swells get heavily shadowed. It draws from south-southeast through south to west-northwest overall, and the rarer, larger wintertime west-northwest swells that slip under Kauai and Ni'ihau can also sneak in. It works from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 2.1 m / 7 ft, roughly waist high to overhead. Swell can show all year, but summer is the best and most consistent stretch with those south to southwest pulses. Expect mostly shorepound, breaking both left and right over sand with rocks off each end of the cove.
Wind and Tide
Look for offshore wind from the east-northeast (ENE), with a workable window running from north through east-northeast to southeast. It can work across low, mid, and high tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
This one suits bodyboards, skimboards, bodysurfing, and shortboards, and there is room for everyone from beginners to experts depending on the day. The lineup stays quiet and can feel reserved, so keep it mellow. Watch the shorepound, which is dangerous, and mind the rocks on either side of the cove.
Access
Getting in is easy, off Makena Road at Makena State Park.
