Paia vs. Kihei in March

We have 3-5 couples that are planning a trip to Maui in March. We are looking at two beach houses. One is in Paia, right on the ocean. The other is in Kihei just a short walk across the road to the beach. We prefer the location of the Paia house, but we%26#39;re concerned about what the beaches in Paia will be like in March. We%26#39;ve been told that the water may be high and strong which could prevent swimming and snorkeling. I would love to hear some advice from folks that have stayed in Paia in March. Thanks!

Paia vs. Kihei in March

Well, you sure won%26#39;t need any A/C in Paia in March! Friends who stay at our condo complex in February have a windsurfing son who is over there every day; it%26#39;s wild.

I%26#39;d pick South Maui, but I%26#39;m wondering where the Kihei house is. Kihei is a very long stretch of a town -- OK at the north end, OK in the middle, very nice at the south end bordering Wailea.

Paia vs. Kihei in March

we just got back from Maui and didn%26#39;t see any swimming/snorkeling beached in the Paia area. Very rough. Stick with the South Kihei area for access to nice snorkeling beaches. We found that Maui differed greatly from the Caribbean. More currents and colder water. Snorkeling was ok but it%26#39;s much nicer in the Caribbean

My pick would also be Kihei, any time of year. Unless you really like the wind or are an avid wind-surfer, then Paia is for you.

Paia is most definitely not the place for casual beginner-style beach activities. Tops for world-class wind surfing and surfing but otherwise, you%26#39;ll just be feeding the fish. That%26#39;s the nature of the windward side of most any island. On the leeward side, Kihei and the rest of south Maui is the clear choice for the calmest waters and safest beaches. This is primarily because south Maui mostly sits at the base of Maalaea Bay, essentially a large sand bowl. By contrast, most west Maui beaches lie along the open sea and fairly treacherous inter island channels from where rip currents are a lot more commonplace. This tends to make west Maui better for boogie boarding, south Maui better for swimming during typical weather days.