Best Surf Spots in South Maui

If you look at a map of South Maui, you’ll notice that much of it actually faces west. This means that South Maui can get waves at any time of year. The southwest swells of summer that bring the best waves, but large northwest winter swells can also wrap into select areas to provide the occasional out-of-season surf. If you’re a complete beginner, the only spot in South Maui you should attempt to surf is The Cove in South Kihei, but if you’re an intermediate or advanced surfer, there are other spots to check out.

Ma‘alaea

Ma‘alaea is one of the few spots on Maui that actually faces almost due south, which means that summer is the only time there will be waves.

The most consistent wave in Ma‘alaea is a spot known as Off the Wall. This is an A-frame, shifty peak that breaks directly in front of the harbor wall, and you can usually only surf here in the morning hours before the afternoon trade winds start howling. To access Off the Wall, park in the dirt parking area at the end of the breakwall ($0.50 per hour), and paddle to the shifty peak—which definitely beats jumping off the wall. Expect short but fun rides, and while it isn’t the best break in all of South Maui, it’s at least a nice place to get wet.

Half a mile (0.8 km) up the highway in the direction of Lahaina is McGregor Point, the fastest right-hand point break in the world. Although McGregor’s rarely gets bigger than head-high, the spot can offer a long wave and is best in the afternoon, when the wind comes up. Parking for McGregor’s is in a dirt lot on the road heading toward the lighthouse. Be careful when pulling off the highway as it is a difficult turn. . To get down to the shore, you have to clamber down a steep and narrow trail, which can be tough if you’re surfing with a longboard. McGregor’s only breaks on the biggest of south swells, but is an island classic when it does.

Kihei

The surf epicenter of Kihei is The Cove, at the southern end of Kalama Park, where all of the surf schools give lessons. While the waves are gentle, the downside is that it can get crowded. On some days you’ll swear you could walk on water across all of the longboards crammed into the small area, but in the early morning hours, before all the surf schools show up, this is still a fun, albeit small, wave. If your goal in Hawaii is to try surfing for the first time, this is where to come.

For more advanced surfers, the best wave in Kihei is an A-frame that breaks next to the Kihei Boat Ramp. This is a fickle wave that needs a big southwest or west swell to start working, and you need to be cautious of the boat traffic coming in and out of the harbor area. Access can be tricky, since you’re asked to not walk in the sand dune area that runs along the shore. If you’re on a longboard and are up for a paddle, you could always paddle from the far southern tip of Kamaole III Beach.

Shortboarding in Kihei can be found at Sidewalks on the south-central end of Keawakapu Beach. This is a beach break that offers a fast wave, and the vibe here isn’t nearly as localized as at the boat ramp or farther south. Nevertheless, it’s still an intermediate wave that isn’t suitable for longboards or beginners. Parking for Sidewalks is at the public lot on the corner of Kilohana Drive and South Kihei Road.

Rental Shops and Schools in Kihei

In the area surrounding The Cove there are five or six operators crammed into the same city block. Even with the wide selection, it’s best to make a reservation. Nearly all lessons take place in the morning between 8am and noon, before the trade winds fill in, and all operators offer standard two-hour lessons. If you’ve moved past the phase of learning how to pop up and ride straight, most operations also offer “surf safaris,” where they act as your personal surf guide for the day.

For more information on recommended rental shops and surf schools, see page 173 of Moon Maui.

Wailea

On the north side of Mokapu Beach, Stouffer’s is a local A-frame peak for intermediate shortboarders. It can pick up southwest swells in summer and large west swells in winter. Parking is at the south lot of Keawakapu Beach or in the public parking at the bottom of Ulua Beach Road.
On the southern end of Wailea is a punchy little left on the southern end of Polo Beach that’s good for intermediate shortboarding.

Makena and Beyond

There aren’t any beginner surf breaks in Makena. If you’re an intermediate or advanced surfer and have always wanted to surf naked, try Little Beach, a left that breaks on large southern swells. To reach the wave, you need to carry your board up and over the hill that separates Little Beach from Big Beach.

Greg Archer

About the Author

Greg Archer is a freelance writer who has lived on Maui since 2015. He's had the privilege of getting to know his adopted home inside and out; he loves that in just a 20- or 30-minute drive, he can go from a small-town hub to a lush rainforest or the top of a dormant volcano overlooking the entire island. On any given day, you can find him enjoying the island's kaleidoscope of adventures, from kayaking and snorkeling to ziplining and paddle boarding, or seeking out the next best sunset view. The way he sees it, there's something unmistakably magical in the air, the water, the land, and (perhaps especially) the people that trickles down to every experience on the island.

He has written about Maui in a number of media outlets, including the Huffington Post and Jetset Extra, and was an editor for luxury travel magazines such as GuestLife Monterey Bay and Canada South Magazine. His travel writing can be found in AAA's Via Magazine and DRIFT, among others.

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Kyle Ellison

About the Author

Kyle Ellison began researching the island of Maui when he first moved there at the tender age of five. Back then, the island still had three sugar mills, Wailea didn’t exist, and early mornings were punctuated by the sound of bombs falling on Kaho’olawe. The island has changed considerably since then, but Kyle’s love of Maui has remained.

A Maui resident, surfer, and diver, Kyle has led groups of divers as a divemaster at Molokini, led scuba tours on the island of Lana’i, hosted hundreds of hikers on Maui, and proposed to his wife off the island of Moloka’i while diving with hammerhead sharks. Kyle’s son can usually be found splashing in the water at Baldwin Beach.

As a freelance writer, Kyle’s work has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Travel + Leisure, Maui No Ka ‘Oi, Ka’anapali Magazine, AOL Travel, Escape, Journey Viator, Gadling, Afar, and the Huffington Post, and on the Travel Channel. His travels have taken him to 65 countries and 49 U.S. states. He also helped found a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships for students in Cambodia.

For more info on Kyle and his travels, visit him at kylethevagabond.com, or on Twitter and Instagram @kylethevagabond.

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Moon Maui

by Greg Archer

Endless stretches of golden sand, legendary surf, and epic outdoor experiences: Discover the spirit of aloha with Moon Maui.

For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.

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