Maui Surfing

Hawaii and surfing are inseparable to many people. After all, surfing was the sport of the ancient Hawaiians and is even more popular today. Maui's abundant coastline offers big waves for veteran surfers and spots suitable for beginners.

Some surfing companies boast that anyone can be riding the surf in just one lesson and that, indeed, was the case when my son Austin tried it the first time. There are some great Maui surfing companies, some of which have instructors who have been on the professional surfing tour circuit.

Expert surfers visit Maui in winter, when the surf’s really up. The best Maui surfing beaches include Honolua Bay, north of the Kapalua Resort (the third bay past the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, off the Honoapiilani Hwy., or Hwy. 30); Lahaina Harbor (in summer, there will be waves just off the channel entrance with a south swell); Maalea, just outside the break wall of the Mallaea Harbor (a clean, world-class left); and Hookipa Beach, where surfers get the waves until noon (after that — in a carefully worked-out compromise to share this prized surf spot — the windsurfers take over).