About three miles east of Honolua Bay is Honokohau Bay, tucked away in the lush Upper Westside of Maui. This spot isn’t as polished as Honolua, especially during peak swell season, but it serves up both rights and lefts with a more relaxed vibe. For surfers looking to escape the crowds, Honokohau offers a solid option with waves that are worth checking out.

The right at Honokohau usually delivers the best quality, with powerful walls that can stretch all the way to the shore made up of boulders. It works well with NNW to NNE swells and can handle sizes from about 5 to 8 feet (1.5 to 2.5 meters). However, the ride can be broken up by tricky sections that change from fat to fast. The left tends to be less consistent, but on a solid NNW swell, it has its moments. Just a heads up, there are some exposed rocks in the water, especially on lower tides, so keep an eye out for them.

Getting to Honokohau is pretty easy; just park off the road right in the bay. Crowd levels can vary, often sitting at a moderate level, depending on surf quality and the day of the week. Whether you’re riding a shortboard, funboard, longboard, or even bodyboarding and bodysurfing, this spot can cater to a range of abilities, from expert to seasoned intermediates. The conditions are generally best in the winter, but autumn and spring can also provide fun sessions. Overall, Honokohau is a great alternative if you want to avoid the more hectic lineup at Honolua.