Surfing on Maui

Maui is the second-largest Hawaiian island and has over 120 miles of coastline. With a wide variety of waves to enjoy, including idyllic longboarding waves and one of the most famous big-wave surfing spots in the world, Maui is a premier surf destination.

Dustin Tester, owner of West Maui surf school Maui Surfer Girls, grew up here. Maui's waters feel like a playground to Tester, with the island offering not just surfing but also windsurfing, foiling, skimboarding and bodyboarding. "It's got everything for every water sport athlete on the planet on one island," she said.

Depending on the time of year, Maui's famous North Shore surf breaks can be absolutely pumping, while the South Shore and West Side can provide less dangerous but still fun rides during the summer swells. Whether you're just starting out or are a more advanced surfer looking to rip, Maui has you covered — as long as you know where to go. These are Maui's most popular surf breaks.

Honolua Bay means "twin harbors" in Hawaiian. This area is steeped in Hawaiian history and culture, where ancient chiefs are believed to have once surfed. By the 1960s it had become a well-known surf spot, and now it's considered Maui's "crown jewel North Shore wave," according to Tester.

This nearly flawless right-hand point break offers racing, hollow waves with the chance for an unforgettable barrel. When conditions are perfect, Hawai'i's top surfers fly in from the neighboring islands to clamber down the cliffside and catch its long rides. Whenever I'm driving by, I like to stop at one of the two lookout points flanking the bay for a bird's-eye view of the surfers below.

Skill level: Advanced

Parking: Limited street parking

Rentals: No

Lessons: No

Season: Winter

Maui's most legendary and ferocious surf break, Pe'ahi is known for behemoth waves that can reach 60 feet on the right swell, making its moniker "Jaws" quite fitting. In winter, massive north swells suddenly travel from a deep-water trench — formed over years of erosion — to a shallow reef, and this abrupt transition causes the monstrous waves. When conditions align, the world's top big-wave surfers get towed in and launched down the face of a wave, hoping to score a ride so gigantic it will break a record or win an award. Bystanders can keep a safe distance by watching the action from the Pe'ahi cliffs with a pair of binoculars.

Skill level: Advanced

Parking: Limited street parking, and you need a 4x4 vehicle to navigate the dirt road

Rentals: No

Lessons: No

Season: Winter

Just east of Māʻalaea Harbor is one of the fastest waves in the world, aptly called "Freight Trains." Although exhilarating, it's also fussy. This right-hand wave requires a perfect combination of strong offshore winds and a big summer swell coming in at the right angle to hit the shallow underwater lava rock and coral reef to actually work. But when it does, only the most advanced surfers can pump their boards fast enough to make the five speeding sections and effortlessly slip under the barrel.

Skill level: Advanced

Parking: Yes, for a fee

Rentals: Yes. Boss Frog's Snorkel, Bike & Beach Rentals in Māʻalaea rents bodyboard fins, bodyboards and surfboards

Lessons: No

Season: Spring, summer

Consistently strong trade winds hitting an unobstructed reef break make Ho'okipa the windsurfing capital of the world. Since the 1970s, this picturesque North Shore beach, located at Mile Marker 9 on Hāna Highway, has hosted major windsurfing competitions like the Aloha Classic. It also welcomes experienced surfers who don't mind some wind and rip currents in exchange for powerful waves at one of its four known peaks. Novice surfers who can't handle the challenging conditions can enjoy the view from the sand instead.

Skill level: Advanced

Parking: Yes

Rentals: No

Lessons: No

Season: Winter

South Maui's beaches are consistently ranked among the most beautiful in the world, and the area is also home to one of the best bodyboarding spots on the island. Mākena State Beach Park is a sprawling beach with turquoise waters and soft sand. To locals, the park is split into Big Beach and Little Beach, with the former offering a powerful shorebreak during summer south swells. Skilled shortboarders, bodyboarders and bodysurfers flock to Big Beach, also called Onolea, to catch one of the heavy, fast-breaking waves. It's impressive to watch them fly down the line to avoid getting slammed into the sand. The shorebreak can be dangerous, and those without much experience should keep a safe distance from the water when surf is up.

Skill level: Intermediate to advanced

Parking: Yes. It costs a fee of $10 per car and $5 per non-resident to enter

Rentals: No

Lessons: No

Season: Summer

A short drive from Kahului Airport, this surf break shows many different sides depending on the conditions, with waves breaking both inside and outside the harbor. Facing north, Kahului Harbor can fire during winter swells, with the harbor's unique bathymetry — the measurement of depth at various places underwater — creating a heavy, wedge-like wave that throws into a barrel. On smaller days, intermediate surfers, both longboarders and shortboarders, can enjoy some rides. Just be aware of the slightly murky water from boat traffic.

Skill level: Intermediate to advanced

Parking: Yes

Rentals: Yes. High-Tech Surf Sports in Kahului has a large selection of board rentals.

Lessons: No

Season: Winter

Situated along Honoapiʻilani Highway at Mile Marker 18 — the sole stoplight between Lāhainā and Māʻalaea — is a family-friendly beach park with fun yet mellow waves. As a longboarder, I especially enjoy Launiupoko's wave, as it's not too fast or steep for cross-stepping and noseriding. Since it faces south, this spot works best in summer. It's also the perfect place to spend a leisurely beach day, offering a protected shallow pool for young children, picnic tables and large grassy areas.

Skill level: Beginner friendly

Parking: Yes

Rentals: Yes. In nearby Lahaina, the locally owned LahAina Surf Shack offers board rentals

Lessons: Yes, many surf schools based in West Maui offer lessons at Launiupoko, but the spot can change based on the day’s conditions

Season: Summer

Another easygoing surf break off West Maui's Honoapiʻilani Highway is Ukumehame Beach Park, located at Mile Marker 12. This spot is a favorite among Maui longboarders for its long, gentle rides. It has even earned the nickname Thousand Peaks for the many waves surfers can choose from. Beginners will find Ukumehame to be rather forgiving, but as a reef break, the inside can get shallow during low tide.

Skill level: Beginner friendly

Parking: Yes

Rentals: Yes, Hawaiian Ocean Sports has a location in Ukumehame that rents boards.

Lessons: Yes. Surf lessons are offered by Hawaiian Ocean Sports and Maui Surfer Girls.

Season: Summer

Also check out...

Surfing on Oʻahu

Surfing in Hawaiʻi

Surf Etiquette in Hawaiʻi: What Visitors Should Know