Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
As a foolproof way of determining if Jaws is “going off,” a “high surf warning”
needs to have been issued for the waves to be big enough to break on the deep-water
trenches of Pe'ahi. A high surf warning requires wave heights of 25 feet or greater
on the island's north shores, and this is different than a high surf advisory, which
only requires waves of 15 feet or greater. If you've only seen a high surf advisory,
then there aren't going to be 70-foot waves at Jaws.
If, however, a warning has been posted, the next step is to ask a local, since
the “coconut wireless” is always in effect whenever the surf gets huge. Thanks to
the wonders of surf forecasting, surfers are able to successfully predict just when
Jaws is going to be going off up to a week ahead of time. If you're visiting during
the winter and you're hoping to see some big surf, ask your concierge, a surf shop
staffer, or any activity or boat crew if Jaws is going to be going off at any point dur-
ing the next week. Since the island surf community watches the surf forecast like a
trader watches stock futures, they'll be able to pinpoint your exact chances. If Jaws
is going to be breaking, get there during the morning hours, because by the time the
wind comes up in the afternoon, most of the surfers have already left.
Surf Schools
Given the advanced surf conditions of the island's North Shore, there aren't nearly as many
surf schools in East Maui as there are on parts of the island such as Lahaina or Kihei. There
are a couple of highly personalized instruction services where you can learn from the is-
land's top surfers.
One of the best surf schools on the island is Rivers to the Sea (855/6284-7873,
www.riverstothesea.com ) , a first-class operation run by local Maui surfer Tide Rivers. Two
of the island's top surfers, Tide and his brother Kiva have gained a reputation for giving
surf lessons to celebrities who pass through the area. All lessons are customized to the cli-
ent's ability level, but before venturing out on to the North Shore, take a lesson on the user-
friendly waves of the south shore to get a firm grasp of the basics. Tide will meet beginners
at a predetermined spot outside of Lahaina and guarantee to have you up and standing be-
fore the end of the 1.5-hour lesson. All instructors were born and raised in Hawai'i. Lesson
rates are $160 for a private lesson, $220 for two people, and $85/person for private groups
of three or more. Photo packages are available.
Professional longboard surfer Zack Howard (808/214-7766,
www.zackhowardsurf.com ) also offers the opportunity to surf on the North Shore. While
most of his lessons are conducted at locations on the south shore on the road to Lahaina,
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