If you are looking for a beach with less people, more sand, and you are on the west side of the island, than Ironwoods Beach is the place to go. Ironwoods Beach bears the full force of the Hawaiian trade winds than blow onto Maui’s northwest side. This means that there are fewer trees, less people, and larger waves. Surfers can paddle out at virtually any part of this beach which stretches about five hundred yards.The beach sits on the north facing side of Kapalua in the Oneloa Bay, and is walking distance from the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Kapalua Beach and DT Fleming Beach Park. It sits along the Kapalua Hiking Trail in which the trail takes the form of a boardwalk. There are two staircases at either end of the boardwalk segment to give access to the sand. The boardwalk is strategically placed to protect the sand dunes and their plant inhabitants from being trampled.
Unless you are coming from the Ritz Carlton Hotel or one of the condos along the trail, there is only one parking lot and entrance. You can get to this parking lot by taking Office Rd. off of Highway 30 to Lower Honoapiilani Rd. Make a Left and then your first right will be the Ironwoods Beach access parking lot. There are both restrooms and showers between the parking lot and the sand.
The south part of Ironwoods beach turns into a peninsula that points out toward the Island of Molokai. On and around this outcropping is a wildlife preserve for some of the endangered seabirds. Leave your dog behind for this stretch of the trail. Posted signs prohibit any dogs. The trail will take you through the preserve and along lava formations that create these rocky formations. There are small waterways and coves in between these formations where you will find people swimming and basking in the sun.