Peahi-Jaws

Tucked beneath the rugged sea cliffs along the Hana Highway on Maui’s north central coast, Peahi—better known as Jaws—is a world-class big-wave reef that commands respect and awe. The wave breaks over a shallow bed of lava, rock, and coral, unleashing thunderous right and left peaks that have earned this spot a hallowed place among the planet’s premier big-wave venues. When the conditions align, Jaws transforms into a heaving, hollow behemoth, drawing only the boldest and most experienced riders to its raw, unforgiving power.

Best Surf Season (October - March)

From October through March the North Pacific storm machine comes alive. Low-pressure systems intensify below the Aleutian Islands and drive long-period NNW, NW and N groundswells into the north-facing reef at Peahi. Average heights hover around 5-7ft (1.5-2.1m), but the real story is the period: 11-13s, sometimes much longer, which turns the outer reef into a heaving, grinding beast. Offshore S/SW wind windows are most reliable in December and January, and when they line up with a solid NNW swell, Jaws delivers some of the most powerful waves on Earth.