Maui Log

On to Slaughterhouse Beach. Just begin a leisurely drive along Maui’s Highway 30, through Lahaina, Kaanapali, Kahana and Kapalua. You’ll find Slaughterhouse Beach just north of the 32 mile marker. There’s a parking area on the ocean side of the road. Slaughterhouse’s official name is Mokuleia Bay.

Be ready to walk down more than a 100 feet of staircase, (seems like at least 2000 steps down and then huff and puff your way up probably 3000 on the way back up, to us). What you’ll find at the bottom is a beautiful beach of white sand bordered to the front by the ocean, the back by the cliff and about the length of a football field. Because of it’s location the beach is usually shaded till mid morning and is not too crowded early in the day. During winter months heavy surf is common here so as always use caution. On calm days boogie boarding and snorkeling are favorite activities here. The cliff also shelters the wind and blocks the traffic noise. There are no facilities here.

So, you may ask, how did such a beautiful place get such a gory name. Well just imagine blood thirsty pirates rowing ashore with their treasure chests overflowing, kegs of rum and wenches for company. Their captives know the end is near. The entertainment is about to begin! Not a pretty picture is it. Yo ho ho.

The real story is a little more tame, unless you’re a cow that is. Maui had quite a beef industry in the past. The slaughterhouse where the beef was processed was located, you guessed it, near the beach. As time passed the slaughterhouse was no longer needed and was torn down. I don’t know, we sort of liked the pirate and treasure story better, don’t you?