Wailea SUP Rentals

Wailea & Makena SUP Rentals – What to Know

Renting a paddleboard in Wailea or Mākena gives you the freedom to paddle at your own pace – there's no guide and no group, just you, the board, and the coastline. Rentals here come in two styles. The first is a short, on-site Makena Landing paddleboard rental: you meet the outfitter at the beach park, get an ocean safety briefing and a life jacket, and staff help you launch and land.

It's built for paddlers who already know the basics and want an hour or two exploring the Turtle Town coast without hauling a board. The second is a delivered rental. A local shop drops a board, paddle, and leash at your condo, hotel, or chosen beach anywhere on the island, gives a quick ground lesson on balance and stroke, and picks it up when you're done.

Delivered rentals run from a single day to two weeks, so you can paddle every calm morning of your trip, and smaller or more stable boards for beginners are available on request. Vehicle soft racks and life jackets can be added if you want to drive the board to other beaches.

Why Rent a SUP in Wailea & Makena

South Maui sits in the lee of Haleakalā, so the water along Wailea and Mākena is often flat and clear in the early morning, before the trade winds fill in. That makes it one of the island's most comfortable places to stand up on a board.

And the reward for paddling a short way from shore is big: the lava-rock reef south of Makena Landing, known as Turtle Town, is where green sea turtles rest, feed, and come up to breathe. From the height of a paddleboard, you can watch them glide below you in water that's often clear for 30 ft (9 m) or more.

A rental also frees you from tour schedules. Go at sunrise, go twice in one day, or hop off to float and watch reef fish like yellow tang and parrotfish. In winter, humpback whales migrate through the channel offshore, and it's common to see spouts and breaches from your board. Spotted eagle rays and, occasionally, Hawaiian monk seals also turn up along this coast.

Where to Go: Wailea & Makena SUP Rentals

The top spot to paddle is Makena Landing, a small beach park on Mākena Bay with parking, restrooms, and showers, and the closest launch to Turtle Town. From the landing, the lava coastline south toward Puʻu Ōlaʻi is where turtles are most often seen. Paddlers with delivered boards have more options.

Many Wailea and Kihei condos sit right on the water, so you can launch from the beach out front and paddle along the shoreline. Wailea's crescent beaches, from Ulua and Mokapu down to Wailea Beach and Polo Beach, are all sheltered in the morning, which makes a delivered Wailea Beach paddleboarding rental an easy way to start the day. And with island-wide delivery, you can also take your board to other parts of Maui – Olowalu on the west side is a popular reef paddle where a mask comes in handy.

• Makena Landing – Home of the on-site Turtle Town SUP rental, with staff-assisted launch and landing. Best for experienced paddlers heading along the turtle reef.
• Turtle Town (south of Makena Landing) – Lava-rock reef with resident green sea turtles and good visibility on calm mornings. Stay outside the surf line and give turtles plenty of room.
• Wailea beaches & Oceanfront Condos – Delivered boards can launch right in front of your condo or hotel, or from sheltered Wailea beaches like Polo Beach.

Types of Wailea & Makena SUP Rentals

Paddleboard rentals in Wailea and Mākena fall into three categories, depending on how long you want the board and where you want to start.

Hourly Makena Landing SUP Rentals

One- or two-hour rentals that start at the beach in Mākena, with a short ocean safety briefing, a life jacket, and staff help getting on and off the water. Prior stand-up paddleboarding experience is required, since the open-ocean reef can be challenging for beginners when wind or chop picks up. First-timers can take a beginner lesson first, then come back to rent on their own.

One-Day Paddleboard Rentals with Delivery

A full day with a board, paddle, and leash, delivered for free to your condo, hotel, or a beach of your choice. Each rental comes with a quick ground lesson on stance, balance, and stroke, and beginner-friendly boards are available on request. Book at least a day ahead for online orders.

Multi-Day Paddleboard Rentals

Keep a board for anywhere from two days to two weeks, with free delivery and pickup. It's the most flexible way to paddle in Wailea – you can head out whenever the water looks good, and longer rentals cost less per day. You'll need a secure place to store the board at your accommodation, such as a lanai or garage.

Top Tips for Wailea & Makena SUP Rentals

• Paddle in the morning. The water is calmest and clearest in the first few hours after sunrise. Trade winds usually build by late morning and can make the trip back harder.
• Head into the wind first. Start your paddle going against any breeze, so the wind helps carry you home when you're tired.
• Match the rental to your skill. The Makena Landing rental requires SUP experience. If you're new, take a lesson first or choose a delivered rental with a ground lesson and paddle close to shore in front of your condo.
• Wear your leash and life jacket. A leash keeps the board within reach if you fall, which matters in deeper water off the reef. Life jackets are included or available on request.
• Give turtles space. Green sea turtles are protected. Stay at least 10 ft (3 m) away, never touch or chase them, and steer around turtles that surface near you. Stay at least 100 yards (91 m) from humpback whales.
• Don't stand on the reef. Kneel or sit on your board in shallow water instead of stepping down onto coral, which damages the reef and can cut your feet.
• Use reef-safe sunscreen. Choose non-nano mineral sunscreen without oxybenzone or octinoxate, or cover up with a long-sleeve rash guard and hat.
• Secure your camera. A GoPro or phone in a waterproof case with a lanyard is perfect for turtle photos, but outfitters aren't responsible for lost or damaged items.
• Arrive early at Makena Landing. The free lot is small and fills quickly on good mornings.

To learn more, explore these TripOutside stories:

• Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) Guide for Beginners – Stance, strokes, and gear basics to get you comfortable before your first rental.
• Beginner's Guide to SUPorkeling – How to combine paddleboarding and snorkeling, a natural fit for exploring the Turtle Town reef.

Other Maui Adventures

If you'd like a guide on the water or something on land, South Maui has plenty more to explore. Here are other adventures in and around Wailea and Mākena:

• Paddleboarding Tours – New to SUP? Learn with a local guide on Wailea paddleboarding tours before renting on your own.
• Kayaking & Outrigger Canoeing – Paddle and snorkel Turtle Town on Wailea and Makena kayaking tours, or try a traditional outrigger canoe tour.
• Snorkeling & Scuba Diving – Explore the reef up close with Wailea and Makena snorkeling tours, or dive Molokini on Maui scuba diving trips.
• Surfing – Catch your first wave with Maui surf lessons and board rentals.
• Mountain Biking & E-Biking – Ride private ranchland above the resorts on Maui mountain biking tours or with Maui electric bike tours and rentals.
• Hiking – Explore lava coastlines and Haleakalā's volcanic landscapes on Maui hiking tours.

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