Every morning a few snorkel boats anchor off the shore in front of Makena Surf. They are there for the turtles. The reef along this stretch of the Makena coast is what the tour companies call Turtle Town, and the Hawaiian green sea turtles, honu, feed on the algae that grows on its lava rock.
We have snorkeled here more times than we can count, and we have never come back without seeing a turtle. On calm days we can spot them from the lanai: a dark shape in the water, then a small head coming up for air.
Getting in
From F307 it's a short walk down to Po'olenalena Beach. Enter from the sand and swim along the rocks at either end of the beach, where the reef starts. The turtles stay close to the lava, often in water only a few feet deep. Maluaka Beach, a few minutes south, is the other easy entry. Its small public lot fills up early.
Go in the morning. The water is usually glassy before about 10 a.m., the visibility is best, and the afternoon trade winds haven't started to chop up the surface. In winter, a big south swell can make the entry rough. If the waves are breaking hard on the rocks, wait for another day.
Give the honu their space
Green sea turtles are protected under state and federal law. NOAA asks everyone to stay at least 10 feet away, in the water and on the sand. Don't touch, chase or feed them, and never get between a turtle and the surface when it's coming up to breathe. If one swims toward you, hold still and let it pass. That's often when you get the best look.
Bring the right sunscreen
Maui County allows only mineral sunscreen, the kind made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Chemical sunscreens are banned from sale and use here because they harm the reef the turtles depend on. A rash guard and a hat cut down on how much you need. Maui County's page explains the rules.
More than turtles
One winter a six-year-old staying at Makena Surf told us about her morning on a boogie board just off the beach. She had seen turtles, a pod of spinner dolphins and a humpback whale, all without leaving the bay. From December to April, keep an eye on the horizon while you're in the water. You can often hear the whales singing when you put your head under.
Cindy first wrote about Turtle Town on our old blog in 2017. We've rewritten it for 2026.