Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Since the beaches of Central Maui face north and east, the majority of the surfing on this
side of the island takes place October-April. Some eastward-facing locations can pick up
windswell during summer, but often it's choppy, and sloppy. No surf schools operate along
this stretch of coast; anyone opting to surf around here needs to be at least an intermediate.
Since part of this stretch runs along Maui's fabled North Shore, only the spots which are
accessible to the average surfer are mentioned. As for professional watermen who surf the
outer reefs when the waves reach 70 feet or more? Thanks, but we'll watch from shore.
The most popular surf break in Kahului is
Lowers
at
Kanaha Beach Park.
If you're an
intermediate to advanced longboarder, then this is the place to come on any sort of north-
erly swell. To reach the surfing section of the park, travel down Amala Place all the way to
the end of the road and park in one of the last two parking lots. Grab your board and wear
your slippers as you walk down to the shoreline to avoid kiawe thorns and burrs. Once
you're standing on the sand, look for the lifeguard tower you'll paddle out from. The wave
at Kanaha breaks on an offshore reef, so reaching the lineup requires a shoulder-burning
paddle and at least a couple of rest stops, although a long paddle means a long ride. Given
the length of the paddle (usually about 15 minutes), Kanaha is frequented by longboarders
and stand-up paddle surfers. When standing in front of the lifeguard tower, you'll notice
a defined channel for reaching the lineup, and the surf usually won't close it out until the
faces reach 10 feet or higher. Mornings are best before the wind picks up (usually around
11am).
The most popular surf break in Wailuku is
Big Lefts
in the area known as Paukukalo. This
long left-hand wave can get very big on north and northeasterly swells, although it's re-
served for advanced surfers only and is heavily localized. Nevertheless, if you're confident
in your abilities, are well-acquainted with surf etiquette, and the wind is blowing
kona
(out
of the south), “Pakuz” can be one of the best—and most challenging—waves on the island.
To access it, turn onto Waiehu Beach Road and then make a right on Ukali Street, follow-
ing it to the end. The surf break is in front of the parking lot. Don't leave any valuables in
