Founder & certified Hawaii travel expert with 20+ years of experience in Hawaii tourism.
If you're headed to West Maui, we suggest you step into the mouth of the most beautiful dragon you'll ever see. (Or maybe the only dragon you'll ever see!)
Dragon's Teeth is a good example of what can happen when forces of nature collide. As the lava from the West Maui Volcano poured into the ocean, fierce wind and waves forced it back and it cooled into a formation that resembles great black teeth. Makaluapuna Point, as it's also called, was created from one of the last lava flows on Maui. However, the lava is a little different from the rest of the lava on Maui, as it is much lighter, denser, and fine-grained.
Dragon's Teeth- also known as Makaluapuna Point- was formed from one of Maui's last lava flows.
The wind sweeping over the point caused the lava to harden in an upward fashion. The jagged points of this formation look like dragon's teeth, thus the name. Hawaiian green sea turtles (Honu) often swim close to shore, so be sure to peer over the edge to look for them.
To get to Dragon's Teeth, take Honoapiilani Hwy. northeast and turn left onto Office Road just past mile marker 30. At the end of Office Road, take a right and park in the little parking lot. You'll have to walk across the edge of a golf course to reach the teeth. As you walk, look to your right for a sign that explains that this is the home of an ancient Hawaiian burial ground known as Honokahua. Of course, please show the utmost respect when visiting this area and do not tread where you should not do so.
Dragon's Teeth is especially easy to access from the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, as you may simply walk the pathway that runs parallel to the hedges. Note that this hedge line marks the boundary of the Honokahua burial site. Continue on until you pass the golf course and soon you'll see the "teeth" pointing towards the sky.
While you're there, you may want to head to Oneola Bay or D.T. Fleming Beach, as both of these beautiful beaches flank Dragon's Teeth.
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