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Charley Young Beach

The shaded north corner of Kamaole I that most visitors never notice — which is exactly why the locals love it.

Type Sandy cove, north end of Kamaole IBest for Morning swims and quiet afternoonsFrom the bungalows About 8 minutes by car
Forest and Kim Starr / CC BY 2.0
TypeSandy cove, north end of Kamaole I
Best forMorning swims and quiet afternoons
From the bungalowsAbout 8 minutes by car
ParkingSmall lot on Kaiau Place, plus street
FacilitiesShower at the stairs; restrooms at Kamaole I
CostFree

Charley Young is not really a separate beach — it is the north corner of Kamaole I, reached by a stairway at the end of a quiet dead-end street. But that stairway changes everything. The tour buses and the beach-chair crowds stay at the main entrance, and this end keeps its trees, its calm morning water, and its unhurried local rhythm.

Why we send guests here first

Kihei has bigger beaches and more famous ones, but Charley Young is the one we recommend for your first morning, because it does the thing almost no south-shore beach does: shade. Kiawe and palm trees hang right over the top of the sand, so you can stay past ten in the morning without cooking.

The north point shelters this corner from the afternoon trade winds a little longer than the open stretch of Kamaole I to the south. On most mornings the water here is glassy — an easy, sandy-bottom entry with small waves that break close to shore.

The rocks off the point hold fish, and green sea turtles cruise through most mornings. It is a smaller snorkel circuit than the points at Kamaole II, but you will often have it entirely to yourself on a weekday.

The rocky north point catches the last light — and shelters the water on windy afternoonsPhoto: Arno Hoyer / CC BY 2.0

The stairway, the story, the vibe

The beach takes its name from Charley Young, a longtime Kihei resident whose home stood above this corner of the bay for decades. Locals used his name for the north end long before any sign did, and the name stuck — you will still hear old-timers give directions by it.

Access is a public stairway at the end of Kaiau Place. There is a small free parking area at the top plus street parking nearby, an outdoor shower at the base of the stairs, and that is about it — no snack stands, no rental racks, no umbrellas-for-hire. That absence is the amenity.

It is a beach for routines. The same swimmers do their morning laps, the same fishermen work the point at dusk, and by late afternoon families drift up from the busier sand to the south looking for the shade. Bring a book and you will fit right in.

Look south and the cove opens into the full sweep of Kamaole IPhoto: Forest and Kim Starr / CC BY 2.0

Practical notes

Parking is the one constraint: the Kaiau Place lot holds only a handful of cars. Arrive before nine and it is easy; later, use street parking on the nearby side streets or the main Kamaole I lot and walk north along the sand.

There is no lifeguard tower at this corner — the staffed tower is at the main Kamaole I entrance a few minutes' walk south. On high-surf days the shorebreak here gets the same power as the rest of the Kam beaches, so the usual rule applies: watch the water for a few minutes before you get in.

Sunset is superb, and the after-beach logistics are easy: rinse off at the shower, then drive five minutes to Ululani's or grab fish tacos at Coconuts on the way back to the bungalows.

Good to know

  • The Kaiau Place lot holds only a handful of cars — arrive before 9 am or plan on street parking.
  • This is one of the only naturally shaded beaches in Kihei; claim a spot under the trees early.
  • Snorkel the north point on calm mornings; enter from the sand beside the rocks, not off them.
  • No lifeguard at this corner — the staffed tower is a short walk south at Kamaole I.
  • Reef-safe sunscreen only; it is Hawai’i law.
  • Stay for sunset — the point frames it, and the crowd is a fraction of Kamaole I's.

Questions

Charley Young Beach FAQ

They share the same sand — Charley Young is the local name for the north corner of Kamaole Beach Park I, reached by a public stairway at the end of Kaiau Place. It feels like a separate beach because the entrance, the shade and the quieter crowd give it its own character.

A small free lot sits at the end of Kaiau Place, right at the top of the beach stairway, with street parking on the surrounding blocks. It fills early in high season; the fallback is the main Kamaole I lot, a short walk south along the sand.

Yes — mornings especially. The entry is sandy, the north point knocks down the wind chop, and the water stays calm more often than the open beaches nearby. On winter high-surf days the shorebreak strengthens, so take a minute to watch conditions first.

Just the essentials: an outdoor shower at the base of the stairs and public parking up top. Restrooms and the lifeguard tower are at the main Kamaole I entrance a few minutes south — the lack of infrastructure is a big part of why it stays quiet.

Keep exploring

Beaches

Kamaole Beach Park I
Beaches

Kamaole Beach Park II
Beaches

Sugar Beach
Restaurants

Coconut's Fish Cafe
Restaurants

Kihei Caffe
Trails

Wailea Beach Path

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Four beachside bungalows in North Kihei, hosted by Megan & Bryan since 2012. 4.9 stars across 421 reviews.

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