Surfing and Watersports on Maui: From Ho'okipa to Jaws
Maui is one of the world's great watersport islands. The trade winds and reef setup that make it a windsurfing mecca also serve up everything from gentle learner waves to the legendary big-wave break known as Jaws.
Learning to surf
Beginners should head to the mellow, sandy-bottom breaks: Lahaina's 'breakwall', The Cove in Kihei, and Launiupoko on the west side. Schools in Lahaina and Kihei run group and private lessons; summer, with its smaller south swells, is the easiest time to start.
Wind and waves
- Ho'okipa Beach near Paia is a global windsurfing and surfing icon — come to watch even if you don't ride. Sea turtles often haul out on the sand here at dusk.
- Honolua Bay turns on in winter for experienced surfers (and is a superb summer snorkel when flat).
- Kanaha, near the airport, is the kite- and windsurf-school beach with steady trades.
Pe'ahi (Jaws)
On the biggest winter swells, Pe'ahi produces waves of 30 to 60 feet that draw the world's top big-wave surfers. It is a spectator's spectacle reached by a rough road — strictly for watching, never for paddling out.
Beyond surfing
Stand-up paddleboarding is superb in calm morning bays like Makena and Napili; outrigger canoe clubs welcome visitors; and snorkel-kayak tours along the south coast are a gentle way to find turtles. Always check conditions and respect the locals' lineup — etiquette in the water is taken seriously here.
Photo: Christopher Michel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
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