Five Graves Beach sits along the volcanic Makena coastline where the advanced snorkel and dive site known variously as Five Graves, Five Caves, Nahuna Point, and Turtle Arches creates some of Mauis most dramatic underwater terrain featuring lava tubes, swimthrough arches, vertical walls dropping beyond 60 feet, and the diverse marine life including Hawaiian green sea turtles, white-tip reef sharks, octopus, moray eels, and massive schools of tropical fish that make this site legendary among experienced water enthusiasts willing to accept the challenging rocky entry, strong currents, significant swim distance, and complete absence of facilities in exchange for world-class underwater exploration that rivals the best dive and snorkel destinations in the Hawaiian Islands. The beach takes its name from a small family graveyard containing five grave sites located just above the tiny cove where the entry trail begins, creating the somber reminder that this beautiful coastline holds cultural and historical significance beyond recreational value while the dramatic lava formations, crystal-clear water, and spectacular underwater caves create scenery both above and below the surface that defines South Mauis volcanic character. Located off Makena Road approximately 1000 feet south of Makena Landing with roadside parking or a small dirt lot near the beach access sign at 5034 Makena Road, Five Graves offers experienced snorkelers and divers direct access to the underwater cave systems that give the site its alternative Five Caves name, though most visitors use nearby Makena Landing as a more convenient entry point for the swim south along the coast to reach the premier snorkel and dive terrain around Nahuna Point.
The underwater topography at Five Graves includes multiple lava tube caves and arches creating the exceptional diving and snorkeling that attracts tour boats from Maalaea Harbor and Kihei, with the most accessible caves including the Shark Cave where white-tip reef sharks rest in sandy pockets, the Bubble Cave featuring an air pocket inside where divers can surface within the lava tube, and the Mini Cathedral cave where light filtering through cracks in the lava creates ethereal underwater scenes illuminating the geological formations. The diversity of marine life includes large Hawaiian green sea turtles surfacing for air after feeding on algae, octopus camouflaged against rocks and extending tentacles from coral crevices, moray eels peering from holes with mouths agape in their characteristic threatening appearance despite generally docile nature, and reef sharks gliding through deeper water beyond the caves where walls drop vertically into blue water descending past recreational diving limits. Current can be substantial even during calm conditions, requiring strong swimming ability to cover the distance from entry points to the caves, fight back against alongshore flow during the return swim, and manage surge that sweeps through the lava tubes creating potentially dangerous conditions inside the caves when swell is present. The rocky entry at the small cove involves navigating sharp lava and coral, timing wave sets to enter safely without being swept against rocks, and managing exit when surge and wave action make climbing back onto the rocky ledge challenging, making this entry point suitable only for very experienced ocean users while most snorkelers and divers use Makena Landings easier entry for the longer but safer swim to the Five Caves sites.
No dining options exist at Five Graves itself, with the remote beach location and complete absence of development requiring visitors to rely on nearby Makena and Wailea areas for restaurants including the Red Food Truck just 200 feet from Makena Landing serving American fare, Jaws Taco approximately half a mile away providing Mexican cuisine, and Gather on Maui less than one mile north offering contemporary American food with panoramic ocean views of Molokini Island and Haleakala volcano. The Wailea resort area three miles north features world-class dining including Ko Restaurant specializing in seafood and Hawaiian plantation-era cuisine at the Fairmont Kea Lani, Ferraros Bar e Ristorante serving authentic Italian dishes in a romantic oceanfront setting, Morimoto Maui presenting Chef Morimotos Japanese-Western fusion menu at the Andaz Resort, and Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman featuring farm-to-table Hawaiian regional cuisine with locally sourced ingredients. Kihei town approximately 15 minutes north on South Kihei Road provides grocery stores including Safeway and Foodland Farms, casual restaurants, food trucks, shave ice stands, and beach supply shops for visitors needing snorkel equipment, reef-safe sunscreen, or picnic provisions, while The Shops at Wailea delivers upscale shopping, art galleries, and additional dining options including Lineage, Tommy Bahama Restaurant Bar Store, and boutiques featuring Hawaiian-made products.
Parking at Five Graves consists of limited roadside spaces along Makena Road or a small dirt lot that accommodates perhaps a dozen vehicles and fills quickly by mid-morning as snorkelers, divers, and kayakers claim spots for accessing the exceptional underwater sites along this dramatic coastline, making early arrival before 8am advisable particularly during peak winter whale watching season when tour boats and independent visitors combine to create significant beach traffic. No facilities exist at Five Graves including no restrooms, showers, drinking water, shade structures, or lifeguards, requiring visitors to come completely self-sufficient with all necessary equipment, water, food, and supplies while relying on Makena Landing less than 1000 feet north for nearest restrooms and showers. The small family graveyard above the beach deserves respectful behavior including not walking on graves, avoiding loud conversations near the burial site, and recognizing the cultural significance of this Hawaiian cemetery that predates recreational beach use by generations. The exceptionally challenging entry, strong currents requiring advanced swimming skills, substantial distance to reach the best underwater terrain, and potentially dangerous conditions inside lava tube caves when surge is present make Five Graves suitable only for experienced snorkelers and divers with strong ocean skills, appropriate equipment including reef shoes and snorkel vests, and realistic understanding of personal limitations since the remote location, lack of lifeguards, and technical difficulty mean emergencies could have serious consequences before help arrives. The world-class underwater scenery, diverse marine life, dramatic lava formations, and exceptional snorkeling and diving reward those possessing the skills and experience to safely enjoy this advanced site where proper preparation, conservative condition assessment, buddy systems, and respect for ocean power create the foundation for memorable experiences exploring some of Mauis most spectacular underwater terrain that remains accessible from shore rather than requiring expensive boat charters to reach the premier dive destinations that define South Mauis volcanic coastline.
