Ho'okipa--this is a must visit for Kitesurfer, this will be his favorite, as you can find surfers of all kinds there--surfers, windsurfers, and kitesurfers (though not as many this year as last year). sorry not too many bodyboarders as, though it is a sandy beach, there is a rocky area right after you hit the waterline. Jaws is near here, but it's off shore, and not in season right now.
S-turns--had some good waves and saw a couple of surfers out during week 1, due to late season south swell, was told it's mostly good for snorkling at this time of year. We stayed across the street from here. It's supposed to be good surfing in the winter as well.
Lahaina--always decent, ridable waves, but very crowded, especially just south of the harbor/breakwall, as this is where all the surf schools are. Took lessons there last year and decided to go elsewhere to get my surf on as it was too crowded, and I kept feeling like I was going to run into the rocks.
Area between Lahaina & Ma'alaea harbor-- there were surfers in the water at just about every beach here, best waves week 1, then slowed. Usually between 1-4 feet according to radio reports.
Kihei--took surf lessons here, great morning session, not crowded at all, caught tons of waves, even stood on first wave, waved at dad to take a pic, but don't know if he got it. Coastline here is rocky, but has grassy park behind it and sandy area or ramp for easy water entry. This was the only time I got to surf (family obligations).
Big Beach--great stretch of undeveloped beach popular with body boarders and skim boarders. Some of the skim boarders use what looks like a really short surfboard w/out fins. Spongers are mostly locals. Waves were good size, breaking at beach into perfect barrels. Great place to watch sunset.
La Perouse Bay-- good if you're up for a hike, south swells in summer make for big waves, saw about 3 surfers out ther surfing waves that were about 10 feet or so (my uneducated measurement not hawaiian style measure). Dangerous though, saw a couple of memorial crosses near where surfers were.
I didn't get much surfing in, did some snorkeling, went to Molokai, did a lot of walking, a little shopping
, and finally made it to the Maui Ocean Center (Aquarium). The aquarium was awesome, they had some year old sea turtles (new that day to the aquarium), many different sharks, fish and other various hawaiian sea creatures.
