Honokohau Bay
Honokohau Bay sits just south of Honolua Bay and offers a less crowded alternative when Honolua is maxed out. Solid right reef break with barrel sections that shares the same swell window.
Honokohau Bay surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- N (355°)
- Direction range
- 340° - 10°
- Size range
- 1.2m - 3m
- Ideal size
- 2m - 2.6m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- ESE (120°)
- Offshore range
- 90° - 160°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid
Water temp
24°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Bottom
Reef
Max wave face
4m+
Board
Shortboard
Consistency
5/10
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
4/10
Access: Trail access.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Honokohau Bay?
Honokohau Bay is a reef break in NW Coast, Maui, USA, that mostly breaks right over a reef bottom. On its biggest days it can hold faces of around 4m. A shortboard is the usual call.
What swell works best at Honokohau Bay?
Honokohau Bay picks up swell from the NNW round to the N, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the N. That's a tight window, so it needs the swell direction to line up. It starts working at around 1.2m and handles up to about 3m, with the sweet spot around 2 to 2.6m. Period matters too: aim for 14s or longer, as anything under 10s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Honokohau Bay?
An ESE wind is dead offshore at Honokohau Bay, and anything from the E round to the SSE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 11am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Honokohau Bay?
Honokohau Bay is at its best around mid tide.
When is the best time of year to surf Honokohau Bay?
The most reliable run of swell at Honokohau Bay comes Nov to Mar. Nov-Mar. Just south of Honolua. Less crowded alternative when Honolua is maxed.
How cold is the water at Honokohau Bay?
The water at Honokohau Bay averages around 24°C, so boardshorts or a rashguard will do. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Honokohau Bay good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 6/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. Expect a moderate crowd (4/10) when it's on. Solid right reef break with barrel sections. Same swell window as Honolua.
How do I get to Honokohau Bay?
The nearest airport on our list is OGG, then it's roughly a 45-minute drive. Trail access.
What other surf spots are near Honokohau Bay?
The closest breaks we track are Honolua Bay (3.0 km), Ma'alaea (28 km) and Hookipa (28 km), handy when Honokohau Bay isn't working.
Best Season
Peak: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Nov-Mar. Just south of Honolua. Less crowded alternative when Honolua is maxed.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Honolua Bay
🌺 Maui's crown jewel • Long rights • When it's on, it's ON
Ma'alaea
🚂 World's fastest wave • 300-yard barrel • Handful of times per year
Hookipa
🌬️ Windsurf capital • Multiple reef peaks • Consistent winter waves
Jaws
🦈 Where tow-in was born • Giant walls of water • Maui's monster
Sandy Beach
💥 Legendary shorebreak • Bodysurf paradise • Extremely powerful
Diamond Head Cliffs
💎 Multiple DH breaks • SE swell exposure • Heavy when on