South Maui

What makes Maui a special destination for surfers?

The variety of things to do on Maui – that’s what makes it special. There’s not just traditional surfing. Our island is pretty windy, so if you want to learn a wind sport, that’s the place to do it. You can drive around the island in, like, eight hours depending on how fast you go. You get to see a lot of different climates on a tiny little island, and it’s pretty cool to go from rainforest into dry desert. And there’s endless activities. It’s hard to get bored on Maui.

What kind of waves can visiting surfers expect?

It depends on the time of the year. Summertime is pretty fickle. That’s the time to longboard. Our south swells are usually blocked by other islands, so we don’t get the biggest swells. But if there is a good south swell, there’s good waves for longboarders, shortboarders, everyone. Then, in the wintertime, things change. We don’t have as many waves as the other islands do, we’re more limited due to the wind. When the tradewinds are blowing and it’s smaller, Ho’okipa is kinda the only option. But when there’s a big north swell, it just wraps around the entire west side and we have so many waves. A lot of waves turn on that don’t usually break. The only concern is consistency. But you can surf Ho’okipa, like, 350 days a year.

From a surfing perspective, what differentiates North Maui from South Maui?

Surf-wise, the north shore has way more power and consistency. Whereas the south-facing shores are more user-friendly and don’t get as big.

What’s the vibe?

It all depends on the spot, swell and conditions. You get a mixed bag of everything on Maui, and there’s a lot of factors that come into play. Like anywhere, you’re going to have your locals who command respect and dominate the lineup — it’s pretty hard to get a wave at certain spots, like Honolua Bay when it’s firing. Otherwise, it’s pretty mellow for the most part. Maui has a mix of people that’ve moved to the island over the last 20 years. I don’t feel like the vibe is super heavy, but I grew up there so it might be different for me [laughs].

What should surfers bring?

Anything and everything, from a foilboard for waves that don’t break to a 10’6” Jaws gun, depending on your surfing experience and what you’re looking for. It also depends on the season: a shortboard for wintertime; a longboard and a fish for summertime. And bring your sunscreen, but make sure that it’s non-toxic and reef-safe. For any other travel essentials you might need, you can pretty much get anything on Maui.

When is the best time to score?

Wintertime is the most consistent, so October through March for the experienced surfers who are looking to get the best waves. Everyone else, like those trying to learn, can come anytime.

What else is there to do when you’re not surfing?

Maui is windy, so it’s pretty fun to play around with different wind sports. I’ve been super into wind foiling lately – that’s all I do in the summertime. We also have endless beaches and beautiful waterfalls. Go hiking, go exploring, go out and meet cool people. Maui is all about enjoying nature. I mean, you could stay in Lahaina and go shopping – if that’s your thing – but I don’t recommend it because you can go shopping anywhere.

What’s your favorite local cuisine?

Lots of fish, some of the freshest in the world. If you’re in Maui, you should eat some fresh fish. Paia Fish Market and Nuka Sushi on the north shore – those are my two favorites. Then there’s Choice Health Bar in Lahaina and Paia — that’s my go-to healthy food spot.

Where can people learn to surf?

There’s so many surf schools on Maui. Pretty much anywhere you go, you can learn to surf. But if you really want someone legit, go get lessons from my friend Tyler [Larronde]. He’s definitely a good person to learn from.

Any other local tips?

Do your research before coming to Maui. Come with an open heart. Make sure you show gratitude, to the land and the people. If you do all that, you can’t go wrong.