World class surfing

Ho’okipa Beach on the north shore of Maui alongside the Hana Highway (a few miles past Paia) is perhaps the most renowned windsurfing site in the world, but it has more! It also provides a great vantage point to watch local surfers and kite surfers enjoying the big waves and the beach is usually covered with sea turtles.

SECRET: The best place in Maui to see honu (sea turtles) on the sand is at Ho’okipa.

Late afternoons and evenings are the best times to go, so it makes it a perfect stop before dinner at Mama’s Fish House (Caution: Your hair will look like you stuck your head out the window after this stop!) or on your way back from the Road to Hana (restrooms available). Parking is limited, but you usually don’t have to wait long for a spot.

Panorama views from Ho’okipa Lookout

Start at the lookout above the beach next to the parking lot (Hungry? The food truck here has tasty hot dogs!). Take in the views from all angles. You can see the turtles on the sand from up here (they could easily be mistaken for large rocks from this distance), but ignore them for now. You’ll get closer. The point is for watching the action in the water. Depending on the height of the surf, it may or may not be safe to wander down the dirt path next to the cows to get a little closer. I prefer to stay safe and on the other side of the fence. When you’ve had enough of the surfers, walk down the road to the beach.

SECRET: I recommend leaving your car and walking down to the turtles as parking at the beach is even harder to find.

Honu line the beach

If you don’t want to walk on the sand (or the surf is up and you have little ones), you can view the turtles from just above them. To get closer, you need to walk down the stairs and through the thick, usually wet sand. Please obey the signs and stay the appropriate distance away from the turtles. Also note that this is a local’s beach so give the surfers their space and don’t act like a stupid tourist and try to swim here (it’s not safe).