Surfing

SURFING

Maui offers many different beaches with waves suitable for all surfing skill levels! On the southern and western shores of Maui, the summer waves consist of long, gently rolling sets, ideal for learning how to surf. There is also plenty of experienced to professional world-class surfing on Maui, especially on the north coast and in the winter. Honolua Bay is world class surfing wave and home to a mesmerizing right-hand point break, and Hookipa is known as the best place in the world to windsurf. Peahi, also known as Jaws, is one of the biggest ridable waves on the planet, and can reach up to 50 feet overhead. During a southern swell, more experienced surfers flock to the Maalaea Pipeline, arguably the fastest right-hand break in the state. WSL Maui Women's Pro and WSL Pe'ahi Challenge are held here each year.

North Central Shore Surf Breaks

WAIEHU BEACH PARK

WAIEHU BEACH PARK

Very Consistent rights and lefts, that get hollow and powerful.

Best Swell: North-Northeast
Best Tide: Any
Best Surf Season: Winter
Boards: Shortboard, rounded-pin
Skill Level: All

PAUKUKALO BEACH

PAUKUKALO BEACH

Another one of the gems in the area, this surf spot gets really good. Can be very hollow and fast, and works in all types of swells.

Best Swell: North, Northeast
Best Tide: Mid
Best Surf Season: Winter
Boards: Rippers, pin-tails
Skill Level: Experienced and up

KAHULUI HARBOR

KAHULUI HARBOR

A surf spot generally reserved for the more experienced surfers, Kahului Harbor gets heavy and powerful, and holds really big swells. Short fast rights and lefts.

Best Swell: Northeast, Southwest
Best Tide: All
Best Surf Season: Winter
Boards: Shortboard
Skill Level: Very Experienced to Professional

KUAU PIPES

TAVARES BAY (KUAU PIPES)

Decent rights and lefts, most of the time. Works from small to big swells, so can be a good place for beginners, but watch out when it gets bigger. Can get hollow and powerful.

Best Swell: North, Northwest, West, Northeast
Best Tide: Any
Best Surf Season: Winter
Boards: Shortboards, rippers, rounded-pins
Skill Level: All

HO'OKIPA BEACH PARK

HO'OKIPA BEACH PARK

Large, well-shaped waves. Furthest east is Pavillions, then Middles, two fast and ledgey right point reef breaks. In between these two are less frequent breaks called Girlie Bowl or Green Trees. Then there is H-Poko (Point), a right break that is world-renowned for windsurfing. Furthest west is Lanes, an occasional left.

Best SwellS:North, West, East
Best Surf Season: Winter
Boards: Shortboard
Skill Level: Experienced

JAWS (PE'AHI)

Jaws is probably the most famous big wave tow-in surfing spot in the world. It's the place where it all started. During big winter swells, Jaws is a super fast and hollow right that only works for tow surfing. Can hold waves well over 50 feet tall.

Best Swell: North
Best Tide: All
Best Surf Season: Winter
Boards: Tow boards, jet-skis
Skill Level: Very Experienced to Professional

TURTLE BAY

TURTLE BAY

A fast, powerful and ledgey right and left reef break.

Best Swell:North, Northwest
Best Tide: All
Best Surf Season: Winter
Boards: Shortboard
Skill Level: Experienced

HONOMANU BAY

HONOMANU BAY

A hollow right and left reef coral break.

Best Swell:Northwest, Northeast
Best Tide: All
Best Surf Season: Winter
Boards: Shortboard
Skill Level: Experienced and up

West Maui Surf Breaks

WINDMILLS (PUNALAU BEACH)

WINDMILLS (PUNALAU BEACH)

A hollow, fast, powerful and ledgey left reef break. Holds waves up to 16 foot plus, and can get pretty heavy.

Best Swell: North
Best Tide:Mid
Best Surf Season: Winter
Boards: Shortboard, pin-tail
Skill Level: Experienced

HONOLUA BAY

HONOLUA BAY

The site for the final event of the ASP Woman's World Tour, and one of the best waves in Hawaii. A hollow and powerful right point reef break, with many different sections that all link together on the right days.

Best Swell: North, Northwest, West
Best Tide:All
Best Surf Season: Winter
Boards: Shortboard, pin-tail
Skill Level: Experienced and up

D.T. FLEMING BEACH

D.T. FLEMING BEACH

The Ka'anapali Kai is one of two championship courses at Ka'anapali Resort on Maui. This Arthur Jack Snyder design plays shorter and narrower than the sister Royal Ka'anapali.

Best Swell: North, Northwest, West
Best Tide:All
Best Surf Season: Winter
Boards: Shortboard, pin-tail
Skill Level: Experienced and up

IRONWOODS

IRONWOODS

Occasional right and left beach break. This surf spot can get pretty hollow and fast, and holds in pretty big surf.

Best Swell: North, Northeast
Best Tide:All
Best Surf Season: Winter
Boards: Shortboard, Rounded-pin
Skill Level: All

LITTLE MAKAHA

LITTLE MAKAHA

A long right surfable from 2 to 15 feet, and hollow left that breaks from 6 to 15 feet.

Best Swell: Northwest, West
Best Tide:Mid
Best Surf Season: Winter
Boards: Longboard or funboard
Skill Level: Experienced

S-TURNS (POHAKU PARK)

S-TURNS (POHAKU PARK)

A left hand reef break.

Best Swell: Northwest
Best Tide:All
Best Surf Season: Winter
Boards: Longboard, Shortboard
Skill Level: All

RAINBOWS

RAINBOWS

A choice of left and right reefs

Best Swell:Northwest
Best Tide:All
Best Surf Season: Winter
Boards: Longboard, Shortboard
Skill Level: All

KAANAPALI BEACH

KAANAPALI BEACH

A short and weak left reef break.

Best Swell: North, Northwest, Southwest
Best Tide:Any
Best Surf Season: Winter
Boards: Longboard
Skill Level: Beginner

MALA WHARF

MALA WHARF

A long left reef break, can be fast.

Best Swell: Southwest, South
Best Tide:All
Best Surf Season: Summer
Boards: Shortboard, pin-tail
Skill Level: Experienced

LAHAINA HARBOR (BREAKWALL)

LAHAINA HARBOR (BREAKWALL)

A fun left reef break, can be long on a good day

Best Swell:West, Southwest, South
Best Tide:All
Best Surf Season: Summer
Boards: Shortboard
Skill Level: All

SHARKPIT

SHARK PIT

Powerful rights and lefts that get totally epic. With the right swell you can get really long rides.

Best Swell: West, Southwest,
Best Tide:Mid and High
Best Surf Season: Summer
Boards: Shortboard, rounded-pin
Skill Level: Experienced

PUAMANA

PUAMANA

A fun, easy right and left reef break that can be very long on a good day.

Best Swell: West, Southwest, Southeast
Best Tide:Mid and High
Best Surf Season: Summer
Boards: Shortboard
Skill Level: All

LAUNIUPOKO

LAUNIUPOKO

An easy, right and left reef break, can get very long on good days.

Best Swell: South
Best Tide:Mid
Best Surf Season: Summer
Boards: Longboard
Skill Level: Beginners

1000 PEAKS

1000 PEAKS

Powerful and fun right and left reef break, lots of people out surfing, and lots of waves to surf. Decent beginner surf spot.

Best Swell: Northwest, Southwest
Best Tide:Mid and High
Best Surf Season: Summer
Boards: Longboard
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate

GRANDMAS

GRANDMAS

A sloppy beginner wave that goes left and right over reef.

Best Swell: Northwest, Southwest
Best Tide:Mid and High
Best Surf Season: Summer
Boards: Longboard, shortboard
Skill Level: Beginner

South Maui Surf Breaks

MAALAEA HARBOR

MAALAEA HARBOR

One of the world's fastest rights, breaks off of a jetty and over a shallow reef, only during large southern swells.

Best Swell:South
Best Tide:Mid
Best Surf Season: Summer
Boards: Rounded-pin, pin-tail
Skill Level: Experienced

COVE PARK - KIHEI

COVE PARK - KIHEI

An easy right and left reef break.

Best Swell: West, Southwest
Best Tide:All
Best Surf Season: Summer
Boards: Longboard
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate

DUMPS

DUMPS

Left reef break. This spot gets pretty heavy with a solid south swell.

Best Swell: South, Southwest
Best Tide: All
Best Surf Season: Summer
Boards: Shortboard
Skill Level: Experienced and up

LA PEROUSE BAY

LA PEROUSE BAY

A short, left reef break. This spot gets pretty heavy with a solid south swell, and can hold up to 16 feet.

Best Swell: South, Southwest
Best Tide: Any
Best Surf Season: Summer
Boards: Rounded-pin, pin-tail
Skill Level: Experienced and up

Crowds

If you've come to Maui to get away from crowds, think again. Almost all Maui residents surf in some shape or form. Some only go out once a year, others are out 3 times a day. Like anywhere, the better spots are the most congested. Honolua Bay, when it's working, is the busiest surf break on the island. Even the smaller and lesser-known spots are known by enough people to make it cramped.

Find the less perfect breaks and you'll get more waves. You should plan to have time to sit for a while and wait your turn. If you're longboarding, there are plenty of waves that can work away from crowds.

Maui, Hawaii
United States
E-mail: info@worldofmaui.com