Some of the best things to do on Maui have nothing to do with the beach towel. The island is home to some of the most legendary surf spots on the planet, and even if you never pick up a board, watching these waves is an experience you will talk about for years. Here is our local guide to the breaks that put Maui on the map, plus how to round out the day the Upcountry way.
Jaws (Peahi): The Monster
On the north shore between Paia and Haiku sits the most famous big wave in Hawaii. When winter swells arrive, Jaws throws up faces of 40, 60, even 80 feet. This is the birthplace of tow-in surfing, where riders get whipped into giants by jet ski because paddling is simply not an option.
Almost nobody surfs Jaws. But watching it is free and unforgettable. Park at the top of the cliff, bring binoculars, and watch the best big wave riders alive drop into mountains of water. Jaws only breaks a handful of days each winter, so check the surf forecast before making the drive.
After the cliff: you are already on the north shore, and the road up to Kula is right there. Trade the salt air for cool mountain air at Kula Botanical Gardens, eight acres of protea and native plants with the whole island spread out below. It is the perfect contrast to a morning of raw ocean power.
Maalaea: The Fastest Wave in the World
Locals call it Freight Trains, and the name is earned. On a big south swell, Maalaea Bay produces one of the fastest breaking waves anywhere on earth, a hollow right-hander that peels across the bay at terrifying speed.
This wave is fickle. It needs a very specific swell direction to turn on, so it can sit quiet for months. But when it fires, the island's best surfers drop everything and drive to Maalaea. If you are here when it is on, get to the harbor and watch some of the most technical surfing of your life.
After the harbor: Maalaea is a short drive from Kihei and Wailea, where plenty of visitors are staying in vacation rentals. Imagine coming back from watching Freight Trains to a fresh tropical arrangement waiting on the lanai. That is exactly what our Maui flower delivery is for, a little welcome-home moment after a big day.
Hookipa: The Windsurf Capital of the World
Maui's two big mountains, Haleakala to the east and the West Maui mountains to the west, squeeze the trade winds into a natural wind tunnel. That wind screams across the north shore, and it is why Hookipa, just past Paia, became the windsurf capital of the world.
On a typical afternoon the lineup is beautiful chaos: windsurfers launching off the lip, kitesurfers boosting huge airs, wing foilers gliding above it all, and surfers tucked into perfect right-handers on the inside. Few places on earth host all these sports at the highest level in one break.
Come for sunset. The wind often backs off, the surfers get it to themselves, and the light turns the whole point golden. There are picnic tables on the bluff, and the turtle beach just east is perfect for a post-session swim. If the day calls for romance, this is your spot, and a bouquet waiting back at the rental makes it complete.
Honolua Bay: Where Legends Are Made
If Maui has a spiritual home of surfing, it is Honolua. This perfect right-hand point break on the northwest coast has launched more professional careers than anywhere else on the island. Generations of Maui's most talented surfers learned to read a wave here, in water so clear you can see the reef below.
Honolua is a marine preserve, so there is no fishing and no taking, just surfing and snorkeling in one of the most beautiful bays in Hawaii. In winter it becomes a world-class point with rides that run for hundreds of yards. In summer it goes flat and turns into one of the island's best snorkel spots.
Getting there is part of the adventure. Park along the highway past Kapalua, walk the jungle trail through the ironwood trees, and emerge into paradise. Go early on a weekday if you want it quiet.
Makena: The Shore Break Show
Makena Beach, known locally as Oneloa or Big Beach, sits on Maui's south shore with one of the most powerful shore breaks in Hawaii. This is a bodyboarding and bodysurfing mecca, where waves detonate right at the sand's edge with serious force.
Fair warning: this shore break is no joke and not for beginners. But watching skilled locals thread these heavy barrels is incredible, pure athleticism inches from the sand. The beach itself is stunning, wide golden sand, clear blue water, and some of the best sunsets on the island. Walk over the lava outcropping to Little Beach next door if you want the quieter cove.
After the sand: a hot day at Makena calls for a cool finish. Head upcountry to Kula Botanical Gardens, where the mountain air runs ten to fifteen degrees cooler than the beach. Wander the paths, breathe in the garden air, and let the day settle. We are the onsite hosts and love showing visitors around.
Make a Day of It, the Local Way
Here is how we would do it. Morning at the surf spot, binoculars and coffee in hand. Afternoon upcountry among the protea at Kula Botanical Gardens, where we are the onsite hosts and happy to show you around. Evening back at your rental with fresh island flowers on the table, ordered ahead with our Maui flower delivery.
Adventure in the morning, beauty in the afternoon, flowers at sunset. That is a Maui travel guide worth following.
Flower Talk is the Upcountry Floral blog, written by our Maui team. Fresh Kula-grown flowers, delivered island-wide every day.