Ma'alaea
Ma'alaea (Freight Trains) is considered the world's fastest rideable wave—a 150-300+ yard barrel that fires only a handful of times per year when huge south swells slip through the gap between Kahoolawe and Maui. When it runs, it's one of surfing's greatest spectacles.
Today's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to OGG, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when Hawaii is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in Hawaii — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
Get the full Ma'alaea trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- S (190°)
- Direction range
- 160° - 210°
- Size range
- 1.8m - 3.6m
- Ideal size
- 3.1m
- Height multiplier
- 0.92×
- Ideal period
- 16s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NNW (340°)
- Offshore range
- 290° - 10°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- low to mid
Water temp
25°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Bottom
Reef
Max wave face
4m+
Board
Shortboard
Consistency
1/10
Difficulty
9/10
Crowd level
4/10
👥 Summer Break (Jun 15 – Aug 25) — expect extra crowds
Access: Access from Ma'alaea Harbor area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tide is best at Ma'alaea?
Ma'alaea works best on a low to mid tide. The tide chart above shows today’s strike window.
What wind direction is offshore at Ma'alaea?
Offshore wind at Ma'alaea blows from the NNW (340°). Anything in the 290° to 10° range grooms the faces; outside it, expect chop or bumpy conditions.
What swell size and direction work best at Ma'alaea?
Ma'alaea wants S swell (160° to 210°) between 1.8m and 3.6m, with a period of 16s or more for quality waves.
When is the best time of year to surf Ma'alaea?
The main season at Ma'alaea is May-Sep. May-Sep. World's fastest rideable wave. Fires only a handful of times per year.
How do I get to Ma'alaea?
Fly into OGG, then allow about 20 minutes by road. Access from Ma'alaea Harbor area.
What kind of wave is Ma'alaea?
Ma'alaea is a reef break, a right-hander over a reef bottom. Difficulty is rated 9/10.
Best Season
Peak: May-Sep
May-Sep. World's fastest rideable wave. Fires only a handful of times per year.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Hookipa
🌬️ Windsurf capital • Multiple reef peaks • Consistent winter waves
Honokohau Bay
🌊 Honolua's neighbor • Less crowded • Solid right reef
Honolua Bay
🌺 Maui's crown jewel • Quarter-mile rights • When it's on, it's ON
Jaws
🦈 Where tow-in was born • 30mph walls of water • Maui's monster
Pine Trees
🌲 Kona's most consistent • Multiple peaks • Local favorite
Sandy Beach
💥 Legendary shorebreak • Bodysurf paradise • Extremely powerful