To escape the burning pain of the hot sand, swimmers and snorkelers sprint towards the inviting and refreshing ocean. Diving into the waters, they enter the home of a diverse array of sea creatures, witnessing the phenomenona of the heart of the sea.

Wailea Beach, the backyard to the Four Seasons Resort and the Grand Wailea, seemingly provides various amenities to the public, such as parasol chairs and beverages; however, little do beachgoers know that those particular facilities are only available for hotel guests. Everyone else must find his or her own shelter from the sun, which proves difficult as there are very few overhanging trees along the beach.

Both hotel guests and everyday beachgoers have access to the beach, resulting in larger crowds on average, especially because the resort umbrellas and lounge chairs occupy so much of the available beach space. While the multitude of visitors evidences its popularity, the beach itself also proves to be a literal “hot spot” for tourists and islanders. Large rocks alongside the shore’s perimeter naturally create a haven for those prone to sunburns, while the soft, burning sand makes an efficacious tanning salon (after sunscreen is applied).

While the water’s edges may captivate visitors, a glance at the beach’s surroundings also proves beautiful. The well-maintained paths to enter the beach are surrounded in lush vegetation as lines of palm trees in the background dance with the wind, and the scenery of the horizon and the hotels is one like none other.

Wailea Beach is even more breathtaking underneath the waves, however. Diving into the cool, azure water, swimmers and snorkelers find themselves in an entirely new world. Not far from shore, schools of blue cravalle can be spotted swimming against the current towards rocks abundant in algae, while solitary unicornfish flow with the waves. Lucky snorkelers will also be able to catch a glimpse of the breathtaking green sea turtles, known to native Hawaiians as “honu.” The farther from shore, the greater the variety of sea creatures that are nestled among the rich corals and the sharp rocks.

On days of high tide, although the waves are still milder than those of other beaches on the island, snorkeling and surfing amateurs should avoid entering the water and instead focus on beachside activities such as playing volleyball, reading, or just soaking up the beautiful Maui sun.

Despite the limited accessible space, Wailea Beach offers a myriad of activities for all types of visitors, from toddlers creating forts with wet sand to scuba divers swimming around the crevices of the rocks. For those looking for an adventure less intense than Makena Beach but more intense than Ulua Beach, Wailea Beach is sure to satisfy their maritime needs, capping off their experiences with the spontaneity of the sea’s wonders.