Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Lelekea Bay
After dozens of turns and numerous roadside waterfalls, the road intersects the shoreline
2.5 miles past 'Ohe'o. At mile marker 39.2,
Lelekea Bay
is a strip of rounded boulders
popular with fishers and daredevil bodyboarders. If you need to stretch your legs, this is
a great place to stroll down the shore. You'll be greeted by the thunderous rumblings of
stones rolling in the turbid surf. If you walk to the far eastern end of the beach and crane
your neck, you can make out a waterfall tumbling into the ocean. This is an out-of-the-way
beach that most Maui visitors will never see.
Nu'u Bay
Part archaeological site and part beach,
Nu'u Bay
is one of the few places on the “back”
of Maui that offers a protected inlet out of the wind. Finding Nu'u can be a little tricky.
Unless you're in a four-wheel-drive vehicle or a car with high clearance, park your vehicle
on the side of the road by the 31 mile marker and get out and walk. Follow the road 100
yards back in the direction of Hana and you'll notice a metal gate on the ocean side of the
road held in place by a metal latch (don't confuse it with the private gate which is locked
with three different padlocks and leads onto private land). Once you are inside the correct
gate (remember to re-latch it!), it's about a five-minute walk down to the shoreline. The
rock beach has areas of black sand, with remnants of ancient Hawaiian fishing villages
around the point. Just inland is the Nu'u salt pond, a naturally occurring wetland where
birders might spot the native
a'eo,
or Hawaiian stilt. Set in a dry, remote area, Nu'u is only
sparsely frequented by campers, fishers, and the rare scuba diver. Although some guides
will mention snorkeling on the left side of the bay, the currents can be strong and the surf
large, so it's best to enjoy this beach from shore.
