Located on the Northwest tip of Maui, Honolua Bay is one of the most iconic breaks in Hawaii. The world-class right-hand reef break is not only picturesque, it sends perfect barrels and performance walls along a few sections of reef creating an amphitheatre-like atmosphere for those watching from the cliffs. The waves here are pretty heavy and break for up to 300 meters over a coral reef. The outside section is called Coconuts. Coconuts holds the most size and is generally a little too affected by the wind. Then the wave winds into Outside, a hollow section that has a tendency to shut down. If it stays open you’ll come into Caves, the most critical part of the wave which offers up thick, wide barrels that speeds into Keiki Bowls, the last section that favours performance surfing. The only problem here is the crowds.
What are the best surf conditions for Honolua Bay?
Gets good between chest-high and triple overhead. We recommend riding a longboard when smaller and a shortboard then step-up as the size picks up. This break is suitable for intermediate and advanced-level surfers. The surf here is somewhat consistent (5/10) and will be insanely crowded when breaking (10/10). The best winds are from the East and Southeast. The best swells are from the North, Northeast, and Northwest. Works on all tides.
We recommend wearing board shorts or a bikini year-round here. Water temperatures range from 27 to 24. See the temperature chart below for more data on this.
