Most surf travel guides tell you where to paddle out. This one tells you where to stand and watch, because Jaws is not a wave most surfers will ever ride, and pretending otherwise would be dishonest. It is the most famous big wave break on the planet, and on the right winter swell it turns a stretch of Maui's North Shore into the most dangerous theater in surfing.
Why Jaws (Peahi)?
Jaws, known locally by its older Hawaiian name Peahi, sits on the ocean side of the Hana Highway between Haiku and Huelo, a few miles east of Paia. Surfers John Roberson, John Lemus, and John Potterick nicknamed it Jaws in 1975 after the sudden, shark like danger of the wave.
→ A deep underwater reef, not a shallow shelf, catches north swells that have traveled straight from the Aleutian Islands with nothing in between to slow them down.
↳ That open ocean path lets the swell arrive at full strength, and the reef focuses it into faces that have been measured at 60 to 80 feet on the biggest days.
Getting There and Getting Around
- Fly into Kahului Airport (OGG) on Maui, then drive about 25 to 30 minutes to Paia, the surf town that anchors this whole stretch of coast.
- → From Paia, follow the Hana Highway (HI-36) east about 7 miles through Haiku, then turn makai (toward the ocean) onto Hahana Road, between mile markers 13 and 14.
- ↳ A short, rough dirt road leads to roadside parking and a cliff top viewing area. A 4WD helps but is not required in dry weather. A simple local trick: if no cars are parked along Hahana Road, the wave probably is not breaking that day.
Watching is free. Bring water, shade, sturdy shoes, and a long lens or binoculars, since the action is well offshore. Respect the private pineapple fields around the access road and do not block gates, since access here has been contentious in the past.
When It Breaks
Jaws is a winter phenomenon, loading up from around early November through late March, with the biggest, most talked about swells arriving every season or two. Peak faces have been reported at 60 to 80 feet. The classic right needs a north swell with east to southeast wind, while a rarer west angle swell produces long, high consequence lefts. Wind above about 20 mph degrades the wave and can end a session entirely.
Who actually surfs it: this is expert, invitation level big wave territory, first ridden by tow-in pioneers Laird Hamilton, Dave Kalama, Darrick Doerner, and Buzzy Kerbox in the early 1990s, then increasingly paddled in by surfers like Chris Bertish and the Brazilian "Mad Dogs" crew through the 2000s. Keala Kennelly, Paige Alms, and Andrea Moller are among the women who have ridden it on the biggest days. Casual paddling out here, even for a strong surfer, is treated as a serious breach of etiquette and safety, not an option.
Hazards: the rocky shorebreak entry and exit is genuinely feared by professional big wave surfers, wipeouts arrive with violent initial impact, and dozens of jet skis and boats crowd the channel on big days, adding collision risk. The cliff top itself has an unstable edge, so keep children and pets well back from it.
Surf Break
- Jaws (Peahi): A deep water reef break that turns ordinary looking winter swells into some of the largest rideable waves on earth, breaking mainly right with rare, even more dangerous lefts.
Wave: Giant, powerful, deep water reef break
Level: Expert and professional big wave surfers only. Everyone else watches from the cliff.
Where to Stay
→ Paia, about 7 miles from the Jaws access road, is the natural base. Prices below are approximate and were seen in November 2026.
Budget ($)
Aloha Surf Hostel, 221 Baldwin Ave, Paia
Right in the center of Paia's surf town strip. Dorm beds run approx. $45/night, per a recent guest review, with private rooms higher.
Mid-Range ($$)
Paia Inn, Paia
An oceanfront boutique inn at the edge of town. Rates commonly run from roughly $350 to $750 a night depending on room and season, seen November 2026.
Beachfront/Luxury ($$$)
Inn at Mama's Fish House, Kuau
A small oceanfront inn attached to Maui's famous Mama's Fish House, just east of Paia. Suites were listed from approx. $156 to $265/night, seen November 2026.
Food and Drink
- Fish tacos: Paia Fish Market, Paia
→ A Paia institution for fresh fish. Fish soft tacos run approx. $6 to $12 each depending on size, seen November 2026. - Wood fired flatbread: Flatbread Company, Paia
↳ Try the Mopsy's Kalua Pork flatbread, approx. $16.75 for a 12 inch, per the restaurant's posted menu. - Splurge dinner: Mama's Fish House, Kuau
A legendary, expensive oceanfront dinner spot near Paia. Exact current prices were not posted online at the time of writing, so call ahead.
Photographing Jaws (Surf Snaps)
A 50 foot face with a lone tow team dropping in is one of the most dramatic photographs in all of surfing, and the cliff top at Peahi is already full of long lenses on a big day. If you are shooting from up there, or you are one of the few surfers actually in the water, Surf Snaps gives that photo a real home. Upload a session once at surf-snaps.com/upload and it stays live as a shoppable gallery, with no subscription, listing fee, or storage bill, and nothing owed until a photo actually sells. Surf Snaps takes a 10% revenue share and pays the rest out monthly, and the photographer keeps copyright throughout. Surfers and fans can browse without even creating an account at surf-snaps.com/explore, with photos listed from $8.
FAQ: Visiting Jaws (Peahi), Maui
Can beginners or regular surfers paddle out at Jaws?
No. Jaws is expert and professional big wave territory only. Almost everyone who visits comes to watch from the cliff, not to surf.
Where exactly is Jaws located?
On Maui's North Shore, on the ocean side of the Hana Highway between Haiku and Huelo, reached via Hahana Road a few miles east of Paia.
What is the best time of year to see Jaws breaking?
Roughly early November through late March, with the biggest, most famous swells arriving every season or two and faces reported from 60 to 80 feet.
What are the main hazards at Jaws?
A rocky shorebreak entry and exit, violent wipeouts for anyone in the water, heavy jet ski and boat traffic in the channel, and an unstable cliff edge for spectators.
Where can I find photos of a big day at Jaws?
Check surf-snaps.com/explore, where photographers shooting Maui's North Shore list their galleries by spot and date, so you can search for a session without needing an account just to browse.
