La Perouse Bay

Search for Hawaiian spinner dolphins in paradise

This bay, called Keoneʻōʻio in Hawaiian, is the site of Maui’s most recent volcanic activity.

History

The northern half of La Perouse Bay is dominated by a rounded peninsula that was created over 900,000 years ago by an eruption of basaltic lava that originated in the Haleakala Southwest Rift Zone.

There are a small string of cinder cones that extend inland to the northeast which marks the axis of the rift zone. Speaking of lava, La Perouse is the site of the most recent volcanic activity to happen on Maui, and although it is the youngest lava flow to have occurred on the island it is still estimated to be older than 1790 A.D.!
Location

Located ‘off the beaten path’ gorgeous La Perouse can be found south of the town of Wailea, at the end of Makena Alanui Road in South Maui. The road that leads to La Perouse is narrow and only one lane, and the last bit of it before the bay is unpaved.

A photographer’s dream, otherworldly La Perouse Bay offers incredible scenery that could only be found on Maui – the contrast between the stark lava rocks against the sparkling blue Pacific Ocean is simply stunning.

Jean – Francois de Lapérouse at La Perouse Bay

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La Perouse Bay Maui, also known as Keoneʻōʻio in Hawaiian, is named after the famed French naval officer and explorer, Jean – Francois de Lapérouse. Jean-Francois sailed to the Sandwich Islands, which are now known as the Hawaiian Islands. He was the first European to set foot on Maui in 1786, after which he surveyed and mapped the prominent embayment near the southern cape of Maui.

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The bay features multiple smaller coves that rest between rocky areas, which are often covered with tide pools. While the bay is generally protected from strong currents, during storms and heavy surf the water inside the cove is prone to turbulence.

Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve

The Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve is north of La Perouse Maui. The Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve was established in 1973 and includes a coastal lava field and its surrounding waters on the southwest coast of Maui.

The reserve is well-known for its multiple popular snorkeling and diving spots, but it is also home to numerous cultural sites. In fact, the road that ends at the entrance to the reserve marks the beginning the King’s Highway.
King’s Highway

The King’s Highway was a track that circumvented the island and was originally built by Pi’ilani later improved by Governor Hoapili, a member of nobility during the formation of the Kingdom of Hawaii, the King’s Highway is sometimes referred to as Hoapili Trail.

While much of the hand-laid rock roadway has been replaced by paved highways and development, there are traces of the track that still exist today.

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Popular snorkeling coves in the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve are Kalaeloa (aquarium) and Mokuha (fishbowl).

Fishing is prohibited at the reserve as it is a habitat for numerous endangered species, endemic fish, marine mammals, and coastal plants. Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles are also known to frequent this area.

La Perouse dolphins

La Perouse is popular with visitors who want to snorkel or participate in snorkeling tours due the influx of Spinner Dolphins that populate the Bay early in the day. If you aren’t a morning person, don’t worry, there is plentiful tropical marine life that make the journey to La Perouse more than worth it. In fact, it’s been said that there is such an abundance of tropical fish living in the coral reefs at La Perouse that it’s like snorkeling in an aquarium!

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Some of the creatures you might see while snorkeling at La Perouse include

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Manta Rays

(Manta birostris)

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Honu

(Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles)

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Hawaiian Helmet

(Cassis cornuta)

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Spinner Dolphins

(Stenella longirostris)

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Triton’s Trumpet

(Charonia tritonis)

Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins

Naia (Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins) are known for their awe-inspiring acrobatic shows that are comprised of high spinning leaps. Their fantastic performances are what inspired their name, Spinner Dolphin.
Redline Rafting offers

Here at Redline Rafting, we offer a once-in-a-lifetime Molokini Snorkeling Tour that takes you to explore the backside of Molokini – a site rarely seen by visitors – followed by a trip to beautiful La Perouse Bay!

Because our powerful and safe rafts leave from South Maui we’re able to get you to your snorkel destinations sooner than our competition. With a maximum of 24 people our tour groups are small, keeping things intimate and assuring that marine life isn’t startled away by large groups of people splashing in the water!

Be respectful of the ‘aina (land) and marine life, and you are sure to have a remarkable time as you truly connect with Mother Nature in the paradise that is La Perouse.

Don‘t splash a lot! (Dolphins and other marine life don’t like this.)

Loud noises can startle marine life, causing them to avoid you.

Don’t harass the dolphins and other marine life - let them approach you.

By swimming slowly and consistently, you are creating an environment in which marine life would be comfortable approaching you

Redline Rafting embraces its responsibility in sharing and perpetuating the culture, nature and people of Hawai’i correctly and respectfully. We proactively work with cultural advisors to illustrate this commitment. Specific to this website, we recognize the proper use of the ‘okina [‘], a consonant, and the kahakō [ō] or macron in the Hawaiian language, and we are working to apply them when we can. If they are omitted, it is to provide you with the best online experience. We continue to use them on other communication practices.
Mahalo.