Surfing the Beaches of Maui

Maui, the magical island of Hawaii, is richly endowed with white sandy beaches that stretch for miles and miles. From the North Shore, where the waves pump in the winter, and can get up to 30 feet, to the leeward Lahaina side, where the water is calm and peaceful, Maui has it all. Maui is a paradise for surfers. On a windy day, you can drive by Hookipa Beach and see multi- colored wind surfer sails, as they frolic up and down the face of the waves. On a calmer day at Hookipa Beach, watch surfers ripping it up on the reef swells. On a wild ,windy day, you will see surfers flying out of the water on kite boards.

Baldwin Beach, outside of Paia, Maui ,is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Its white sand glistens in a beautiful bay front vista. There is no surfing allowed here,, but the sight of happy body boarders and body surfers is a picture to enjoy. Baldwin Beach has life guards, because this beach has currents, and there are many unsuspecting tourists,who would be fooled by the languid, sandy beach and backdrop of majestic blue sky.

Continuing on to Kihei, there are miles and miles of beaches there. Activities such as canoing, snorkeling, and sailing are the majority, not the exception. The beaches are beautiful, and the sunsets are spectacular. Kihei Road runs along the beach ,and little shacks, diners, and fruit stands spring up everywhere. between the sprawl of condominiums and hotels. There are mellow surf spots, although the breaks aren't as large as other places around the island.

The only caution to mention here is: don't go into the water right after a storm. The mud churns up the water, and sharks, feeding off shore, cannot see well in the muddy water. There have been shark attacks in the early morning in Kihei. Rare, but not non-existent. Sharks feed in the morning and evening. That is when they come near the shore. When they can see, there are no problems. They are more interested in turtles than humans.

Lahaina, the most leeward part of the island, is also the warmest. The winds are gentle here, the sea calm, and the feeling "laid back." There is a harbor, rife with boats coming and going. Sailors still come to Lahaina from all over the world. Cruise ships dock out at sea, and send their visitors in by smaller craft. Anyone visiting, is happy to sit on the relaxing beaches.

There is a natural reef that creates a good surf break in Lahaina. The Hawaiian royalty surfed this reef generations ago.. The surf is consistent. There are several surf school here. Lahana is the perfect place to start surfing.

There is a surf break for every level of surfer in Maui. From Jaws, where the pipelines are, to Lahaina where the beginners are, Maui boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.