West Maui's "Olivine Pools"

Finding a place to enjoy a dip in the ocean along West Maui's rough northern shore can be difficult. One such place is the natural lava pools dubbed "Olivine Pools" by a popular Maui guide book. You'll find them near mile 42.8 on hwy 30 past Kapalua. If you're coming from the Wailuku side they're just past the mile 16 marker. (This is where hwy 30 from Kapalua meets hwy 340 from Wailuka, so the markers change.)

If you're driving around the top of Maui this is a great place to stop and take a dip. The experience is almost surreal. Most Maui visitors will never experience sitting in these calm pools, with waves breaking all around and Maui's volcanic past recorded in the lava cliffs before them.

Look for a dirt parking lot on the ocean side of the road. Since these pools were popularized in Maui Revealed you'll find cars parked here most of the time. The pools are about a 1/4 mile off the road and about 200 feet down.

Just follow the path towards the ocean. You'll soon see the lava finger containing the pools jutting into the sea. There's a bit of scrambling down the loose dirt and lava paths, so be careful.

Once you get to the pools, remember the lava is sharp and the ocean can be unpredictable, so use caution if you decide to take a dip. If the surfs high, stay out! We've heard of people getting tossed around and injured in the pools by waves breaking over them.

You'll find "Olivine Pools" and many other interesting things to see and do on our Maui Travel Map.

Have you ever been to the pools? Why not let us know what you thought of them?