Destination Wedding in Maui -Maluaka Beach Highlights, Location Details, and More!

If you’re looking for a special place for your destination wedding in Maui that highlights all of the beauty of the tropics, then look no further than Maluaka Beach! This Maui gem features a long stretch of golden sand and beautiful views.

We’ve got a lot of helpful info about a Maluaka Beach wedding, including how to get there, where to park, and where to dine afterwards. We’ll also outline the different options for a wedding here, since you’ll be able to choose from different times of day and different sides of the beach. Follow along and we’ll detail out what makes this spot truly spectacular for a Destination wedding in Maui!

We’ve hand-selected this beach for destination weddings in Maui because of its epic waters and beautiful greenery. Maluaka Beach is a long, narrow beach with two unique sides – each with an abundance of backdrops and each with its own parking lot!

North Maluaka Beach

The north side of Maluaka Beach is overflowing with leggy trees, lava rocks, and a great view of the ocean! This is the right-hand side of the beach if you’re looking toward the ocean.

The north side of the beach features a grassy lawn and rocky embankments. If you look to your right, you’ll see the West Maui Mountains, and to the left is a grassy hillside and views of Molokini Crater and Kaho‘olawe.

If you select the northern side of Maluaka Beach, you’ll park on the street or in the small lot near Keawala`i church. After parking, it’s just a 2-3 minute walk to the beach. There is also a pullover where you can get dropped off right by the beach. This makes it an ideal choice if anyone in your group has mobility difficulties.

The North end of the beach is best for smaller groups of about 10 or less, as the tide can make the area pretty narrow.

South Maluaka Beach

The South end of Maluaka beach is the left-hand side as you look toward the ocean. It can be busier but is also more spacious, so it works well for a larger group. It has similar features to the Northern end of the beach. If you look to the right you’ll see a broader view of Maui, and to the left you’ll see an outcropping of dramatic lava rock with Molokini Crater peaking around the corner.

The southern end of Maluaka Beach has designated beach parking lot. From there, you’ll follow a sidewalk that leads to the sand.

Maui Destination Wedding Location Details

Maluaka Beach is in the Makena area of Maui. Beaches in this prime locale are often graced with clear skies and great lighting for photos!

• 5-15 minute drive from Wailea
• 15-25 minutes from Kihei
• 1 – 1.5 hour drive from the west side.

There is plenty of parking on either side of the beach. You can access either end from either parking lot, but it’s easiest to park closer to where you’ll have the ceremony.

Morning and Sunset Weddings at Maluaka Beach

Maluaka Beach is a great choice for either a morning or sunset destination wedding in Maui!

We begin our morning ceremonies at Maluaka Beach around 8:30 AM, before it gets too hot and busy. Typically a morning wedding here has calm blue waters, clear skies, and great visibility.

The beach is fairly quiet in the morning with just a few adventurers out accessing the beach for snorkeling. We also sometimes get very welcomed wedding crashers – sea turtles peaking out of the ocean!

Sunset weddings at Maluaka Beach have a dreamy look, since the sun is shining on you from across the ocean. The exact look of the sunset varies day to day. We sometimes see a romantic golden glow, dreamy pastels, a vibrant flaming sunset, or gentle blue-gray skies.

There will be a few more people around for a sunset wedding, but we can typically find our own little spot to enjoy the ceremony.

Having a Reception after a Maluaka Beach Wedding

Whether you elope with no guests, or have a group of up to 30, you’ll probably want to choose a nice place to dine after your Maluaka Beach wedding.

This location is only 5-15 minutes away from some of the top restaurants on Maui, most of which offer a romantic setting and group dining options. You’ll want to consider any of the Wailea restaurants or resorts for a reception to keep from driving too far between locations.

We’ll be happy to recommend some great restaurant ideas for your reception, depending on your exact vision and ceremony plans for your destination wedding in Maui!

Other Considerations

• This beach for a destination wedding on Maui has public restrooms and shower stations.
• Molokini Crater and the island of Kaho‘olawe can be seen on the horizon.
• This beach can sometimes have many beachgoers, but we’re almost always able to find a semi-private spot.
• The ocean tends to be aquamarine.
• Depending on which side of the beach you marry on, this location can work for a group of 2 to 30.
• Maluaka Beach offers some of the most spectacular scenery. Keep scrolling for more!

If you’d like to see more beautiful locales, come see all of our Maui beach wedding locations! And, of course, if you have any questions, feel free to contact us!

Come see one of our recent Maui weddings: Beauty Beyond Words ~ Rebecca & Angelo’s Maui Beach Wedding