Maui’s Wave Machine – Surf Honolua

The offshore right-break into Honolua Bay on west Maui is one of Hawaii’s best surf venues: good sized wedges and curls break consistently, occasionally reaching double-figures in height. Surfers must carry boards down a goat trail and enter at a rocky shoreline. Spectators have it made. You can drive to the point for a grandstand view,or better yet, walk down a short distance on a steep trail to a cluster of rocks that hang right above the action. Photographers need to check this one out.

Take a break from the surfers to walk a short distance to Lipoa Point, with its weird rock formations and tide pools that work for snorkeling—when surf is low. Most tourists come to this undeveloped coast (a few miles north of Kapalua) to dip fins and a mask into the Honolua Marine Preserve. Colorful schools flit along long ridges of coral. Avoid Honolua after and during rains, when stream runoff muddies the waters. See Maui Trailblazer page 72 for more.