On the south side: park at Makena State Beach and walk back 100 yards to a cove that is calm and like an aquarium from the moment you start snorkeling. We only discovered it when the entry point in the ocean surf by the Makena parking lot (and this is the farthest parking lot associated with the State Beach) looked too rough to navigate. Now, we go to that cove 2/3 times per trip. It may be called the secret cove. Don’t be put off by the very narrow road.

On the way to or from Makena do not fail to stop in at the historic Keawala’i Congressional Church, founded in the 1830s.

On the west side: there’s a cool blow hole, Nakalele, about as far as you will want to drive as well as a cove, much closer to Napili Bay, where boats day trip but can also be accessed from the road down a quarter mile trail. It’s past Honokowai Beach park, I think, and there is parking for about 8 cars with a couple of porta potties in the parking lot. It’s a very pretty trail to the beach and you will know that you are in the right place because a local will be there (near the beach, not parking lot) at a table ensuring that the beach is respectfully treated, the correct kind of sunscreen is used, etc. We call it the secret beach, but I don’t know if it the semiofficial name. Somebody else probably will. We have had good and bad luck with visibility.