Charley Young Beach: Kīhei's Hidden Pocket Beach
A low bluff, a dead-end residential street, and a single concrete stairway keep one of South Kīhei's prettiest stretches of sand off most visitors' lists. Here is where Charley Young Beach hides, what to expect on the sand, and why it is worth the 8-minute walk north from The Hale Pau Hana.
Charley Young Beach is a sheltered pocket of golden sand at the north end of Kamaʻole Beach Park I in Kīhei, Maui, reached by a concrete stairway at the end of Kaiau Place off South Kīhei Road. Screened from the road by a low bluff and beach homes, it stays noticeably quieter than the neighboring Kamaʻole beach parks, with calm morning swimming, snorkeling along the lava rocks at its north end, and no lifeguard tower of its own. From The Hale Pau Hana, the oceanfront condominium property at 2480 South Kīhei Road, Kīhei, HI 96753, Charley Young Beach is 0.4 miles north, about an 8-minute walk.
Key takeaways
- Charley Young Beach forms the north end of Kamaʻole Beach Park I in South Kīhei, entered by a concrete stairway at the end of Kaiau Place, one short block off South Kīhei Road.
- A hidden residential entrance and a small parking area keep crowds light; it is the locals' pick among the Kamaʻole-area beaches.
- There is no lifeguard tower at Charley Young Beach; the nearest lifeguards are at Kamaʻole I, a short walk south along the same sand, on duty daily from 8am to 6:45pm in summer and 7:30am to 6:15pm in winter.
- The lava rocks at the beach's north end hold some of the best shore snorkeling in the Kamaʻole stretch, with tropical fish and Hawaiian green sea turtles; mornings are clearest.
- Water conditions follow the South Maui pattern: glassy in the morning, with trade winds and a small shore break building by afternoon.
- The Hale Pau Hana, the only condominium fronting Kamaʻole Beach Park II directly, sits 0.4 miles south; guests walk to Charley Young in about 8 minutes for a quieter morning swim.
Where is Charley Young Beach?
Charley Young Beach sits at the far north end of Kamaʻole Beach Park I in South Kīhei, on Maui's leeward southwest coast. Maui County administers it as part of Kam I, but a low bluff, a row of beach homes, and its own entrance give it the feel of a separate beach, which is how locals treat it. It is the northernmost sand in the Kamaʻole sequence: Charley Young, then Kamaʻole I, Kamaʻole Beach Park II, and Kamaʻole III running south. From Kahului Airport (OGG), the drive to this stretch of South Kīhei Road is about 16 miles, about 25 minutes via the Mokulele and Piʻilani Highways.
How do you get down to the sand at Charley Young Beach?
The main entrance is a concrete stairway at the makai end of Kaiau Place, near its intersection with Ili Ili Road, one short block off South Kīhei Road. Three loading stalls sit at the top of the stairs for dropping beach gear, and a small free parking lot sits at the corner of Kaiau Place and South Kīhei Road, with parallel street parking as overflow. You can also skip the stairs entirely and walk in along the sand from Kamaʻole I's main entrance to the south; the two share one continuous beach.
How far is Charley Young Beach from The Hale Pau Hana?
| Place | Distance from HPH | Time | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charley Young Beach | 0.4 miles | 8 minutes on foot | North |
| Kamaʻole Beach Park I | 0.3 miles | 6 minutes on foot | North |
| Kamaʻole Beach Park II | On property direct frontage | 0 minutes | At the lawn's edge |
| Kamaʻole Beach Park III | 0.3 miles | 6 minutes on foot | South |
| Cove Park (The Cove) | 0.7 miles | About 14 minutes on foot | North |
| Keawakapu Beach | 1.0 mile | 20 minutes on foot, 4 minutes by car | South |
Why is Charley Young Beach quieter than the Kamaʻole beach parks?
Three reasons, and none of them is the quality of the sand. First, the entrance is effectively hidden: there is no beach-park sign on South Kīhei Road, just a residential dead-end street with a stairway at the bottom. Second, parking is limited to the small Kaiau Place lot, three loading stalls, and whatever street parking is open, so the beach self-selects for people who walk in. Third, the lifeguard tower, restrooms, and busiest access for Kamaʻole I all sit farther south, which is where most first-time visitors stop. The result is a beach that fills with morning regulars and neighborhood families instead of tour crowds, with more open sand per towel than anywhere else on this stretch.
What are the sand and swimming like at Charley Young Beach?
The sand is wide, golden, and fine-textured, with a clean sandy bottom at the main entry and no rocks or coral heads in the middle of the swimming area. The lava-rock point at the north end and the bluff behind the beach give it a sheltered, hemmed-in feel, and ironwood trees above the sand throw patches of natural shade, a rarity along South Kīhei Road. Swimming is best in the morning, when the water is often glassy. In summer a small shore break can build, which bodysurfers and bodyboarders like; in winter the same break can get punchy, so check conditions before sending kids in.
When is the best time to visit Charley Young Beach?
Morning, without much debate. South Maui mornings are typically calm and clear, then the trade winds funnel across the island's central isthmus and ruffle the water from late morning into the afternoon, putting chop on the surface and pushing snorkel visibility down. Local swimmers do laps here before work; guests at The Hale Pau Hana can walk up after the property's complimentary morning coffee and still beat the wind. Afternoons remain good for sunbathing, shade-sitting, and bodyboarding the shore break.
Is Charley Young Beach good for snorkeling?
Yes, and many regulars rate the lava rocks at its north end as the best shore snorkeling in the entire Kamaʻole stretch. Enter from the sand south of the rocks rather than climbing over them, then work your way along the edge, where tropical fish concentrate and Hawaiian green sea turtles feed. The rocky shoreline makes the entry trickier than the sand-bottom points at Kamaʻole II, so save it for confident snorkelers and calm mornings; once the afternoon wind arrives, visibility drops quickly. For the full map of entry points, conditions, and what lives on each reef within walking distance, see Snorkeling near The Hale Pau Hana.
Are there lifeguards or facilities at Charley Young Beach?
No lifeguards. Charley Young Beach has no tower of its own; the nearest Maui County Ocean Safety tower is at Kamaʻole I, a short walk south along the same sand, staffed daily from 8am to 6:45pm in summer and 7:30am to 6:15pm in winter like the other Kamaʻole beach parks. Facilities at the Charley Young end are minimal:
- Outdoor rinse shower
- Portable toilets
- Trash and recycling bins
- Three loading stalls and a small free lot at Kaiau Place
Full restrooms, additional showers, and picnic tables are at Kamaʻole I to the south. The thin facilities are part of why the beach stays quiet; pack out what you pack in, and swim near the lifeguarded sand if you are unsure of conditions.
How does Charley Young Beach compare to Kamaʻole I and Kamaʻole II?
| Charley Young Beach | Kamaʻole Beach Park I | Kamaʻole Beach Park II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Short, wide pocket at the north end of Kam I | ~1,200 feet of flat golden sand | ~1,600 feet, longest of the three |
| Crowds | Lightest; a locals' favorite | Moderate, busiest near the main access | Steady family crowd, spread along the length |
| Lifeguards | None on this stretch | Yes, daily 8am to 6:45pm in summer and 7:30am to 6:15pm in winter | Yes, daily 8am to 6:45pm in summer and 7:30am to 6:15pm in winter |
| Parking | Small free lot at Kaiau Place, 3 loading stalls, street overflow | Dedicated lot plus street parking | Free parallel street parking on South Kīhei Road |
| Facilities | Rinse shower, portable toilets | Restrooms, showers, picnic tables | Restrooms, rinse showers, picnic tables, grassy lawn |
| Best for | Quiet morning swims, snorkeling the north rocks, photos | Long beach walks, sunbathing | Calm family swimming, snorkeling both points |
| From HPH | 0.4 miles north, 8 minutes on foot | 0.3 miles north, 6 minutes on foot | On property 0 minutes |
For the full three-way breakdown of the Kamaʻole parks themselves, see Kamaʻole Beach I vs II vs III.
How do you walk to Charley Young Beach from The Hale Pau Hana?
Two routes, both about 8 minutes. The sidewalk route: from the HPH lawn, head north on the South Kīhei Road sidewalk for 0.4 miles, turn makai down Kaiau Place, and take the stairway to the sand. The shoreline route: walk north along the Kamaʻole II sand, cross the rocky point to Kamaʻole I, and continue up the beach until the bluff and the stairway mark the Charley Young end. Many guests pair the two into a loop, sand one way and sidewalk back. It is the natural upgrade for anyone who loves Kam II but wants an emptier patch of sand for a morning swim; the rest of the walkable map is in Walking distance from The Hale Pau Hana.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called Charley Young Beach?
The beach is named for Charley Young, a Kīhei resident who built his home on the low bluff above the sand around World War II. He famously ran a freshwater hose down to the beach so swimmers could rinse off, and later installed a permanent shower. Maui County eventually folded the shoreline into Kamaʻole Beach Park I, but the local name stuck and is what you will see on maps today.
Where do you park at Charley Young Beach?
There is a small free lot at the corner of Kaiau Place and South Kīhei Road, plus three loading stalls at the top of the beach stairway for dropping gear. When the lot fills, parallel park along South Kīhei Road. Maui County's Park Maui program charges non-resident vehicles $10 a day, $50 for seven consecutive days, or $150 for 30 consecutive days at the paved lots at Kamaʻole Beach Park I and Kamaʻole Beach Park III, zone 797. Kamaʻole Beach Park II has not been added. Guests at The Hale Pau Hana skip parking entirely; the walk takes about 8 minutes.
Can you see turtles at Charley Young Beach?
Yes. Hawaiian green sea turtles, called honu, feed along the lava rocks at the beach's north end, and snorkelers see them most reliably in the morning, when the water along the rocks is clearest. Turtles also occasionally haul out on the sand to rest. Give them at least ten feet of space in the water and on shore; they are protected under both state and federal law.
Is Charley Young Beach safe for kids?
In the morning, generally yes: the bottom is sand and the water near shore is often calm. The important caveat is that Charley Young has no lifeguard tower, and the afternoon wind and shore break can build quickly. Families with small children usually do better at Kamaʻole II, which has lifeguards on duty daily from 8am to 6:45pm in summer and 7:30am to 6:15pm in winter and fronts The Hale Pau Hana directly.
Is Charley Young Beach a good sunset spot?
Yes, and a quieter one than the beach parks. The sand faces west across the channel toward Lānaʻi and Kahoʻolawe, sunset falls between about 5:50pm in mid-December and about 7:15pm in mid-July, and the small crowd means open sightlines. The low bluff above the stairway is a favorite perch for photographers, and the beach is a frequent backdrop for wedding and family portrait sessions.
Can you watch whales from Charley Young Beach?
Yes, in season. Humpback whales fill the channel off South Maui from late November through early May, and on calm days breaches and tail slaps are visible from the sand. The stairway landing at the top of the bluff adds a few feet of elevation, which helps with spotting. Guests at The Hale Pau Hana, 0.4 miles south, watch the same channel from their oceanfront lanais all season.
Is Charley Young Beach the same as Kamaʻole Beach Park I?
Officially, yes. Charley Young Beach is the northern section of Kamaʻole Beach Park I, and Maui County administers them as one park. In practice locals treat them as separate beaches, because the bluff, the beach homes, and the residential Kaiau Place entrance give the north end its own character and its own access. Lifeguards, restrooms, and the busiest access sit on the Kamaʻole I side, a short walk south along the same sand.
Can you get to Charley Young Beach without using the stairs?
Yes. The Kaiau Place entrance is a concrete stairway, so anyone who needs a step-free route should enter at Kamaʻole Beach Park I's main access off South Kīhei Road, 0.3 miles north of The Hale Pau Hana, and walk the sand north to the Charley Young end. The two share one continuous beach, so the walk is flat, roughly five minutes on soft sand.
Ready for quiet mornings two beaches from your lanai?
Every unit at The Hale Pau Hana is oceanfront on Kamaʻole Beach Park II, with Charley Young Beach an 8-minute walk north for the days you want the sand to yourself. Browse available units, then check availability or call +1-808-879-2715.
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