Big Eds
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Big Eds is an exposed Maui point break near the Kahului Harbor entrance that generally requires the right combination of swell and offshore wind to wake up. Reports emphasize that it does not work very often, so the main “skill” here is patience—being ready to go only when the window is correct. The cleanest chances come when a northeast swell lines up with southwest offshore wind. When the trades are onshore (north to northeast winds), surf can be less clean, and the site’s conditions are described as variable. It’s also described as surfable across all tide stages, but many conditions will still dictate how usable the waves feel in practice. Hazards are a central part of the spot: rocks/reef, urchins, shark concerns, and localism are all cited. Additional risk comes from the harbor setting, including sharp rocky outcrops and harbor traffic nearby. After rain, water can become murkier, which is also noted as increasing shark concern. Overall, Big Eds is a lower-frequency option that favors more experienced surfers who can handle complex, rocky, harbor-adjacent conditions. If you’re there, prioritize safety gear appropriate for rocky entries, respect local culture, and plan around inconsistency rather than expecting frequent sessions.
- Exposed point break near Kahului Harbor entrance
- Best clean window tied to northeast swell plus southwest offshore wind
- Surfable at all tide stages when conditions line up
- Significant hazards: rocks/reef, urchins, sharks, harbor traffic, and localism
- Exposed point break can line up well with the right swell and offshore wind window
- Surfable across tides when it’s working
- Conditions are highly fickle and it does not work very often
- Clean surf is rare (especially outside the best windows)
- Rocky entry and nearby harbor conditions increase risk
- No lifeguards reported
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- S, SW
- Offshore directions
- S, SW
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Mixed — South to southwest winds; wind type described as mixed.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Moderate gusts reported.
- Best Months
- December, January, February
- Shadow Zones
- Harbor walls can create localized wind shadows.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Rocks — Rocky shoreline/reef noted.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Medium — Medium wave size reported.
- Launch
- Small — Rocky shoreline entry; often requires a difficult paddle from nearby access points.
- Launch Difficulty
- Expert only — Launch described as difficult; rocky shoreline entry can require a difficult paddle.
Through the year
Usually quiet due to inconsistency, but can have a local presence when working.
November to March
By sport
What to expect for each.
An exposed, fickle point break near Kahului Harbor that does not work very often; the most reliable clean opportunities are tied to northeast swell with southwest offshore wind. It can become heavy on very large North swells.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- N, NW
- Swell Height
- 1.5–3 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides — Surfable at all stages of the tide reported; a mid-tide window is also noted in spot reports.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed point break without protective shelter.
- Wind Effect
- Cleanest with offshore South or Southwest winds; North/Northeast trades are onshore.
- Bigger Swell
- Can become heavy and difficult to manage with very large North swells.
- Wave Quality
- Average — Average wave quality reported; clean surf is described as rare overall.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Wave power described as moderate.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Wave shape described as peeling.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Peel speed described as medium.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Short to medium rides depending on how the swell wraps the point.
- Ride Length Details
- Short to medium rides depending on how the swell wraps the point.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Big Eds in the full forecast view.
Big Eds wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 4–10 ktsGusts 21 kts
- Direction
- NE54°
- Strongest day
- Fri, Oct 2310 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.4–2.2 m9s period
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C
Over the next 7 days, Big Eds is forecast for daytime winds of 4–10 kts, peaking around 10 kts on Friday, October 23 with gusts to 21 kts. The prevailing direction is NE. Waves run 1.4–2.2 m with a period of about 9s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Rocks
- Sharks
- Localism
- Urchins
- Harbor traffic
- Sharp reef
- Rocky outcrops
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards reported for this specific spot.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No rescue availability reported for this spot.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest facilities are in Kahului/Wailuku. Emergency number: 911.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Moderate localism reported.
Rules of the spot
Respect local hierarchy; this is a low-profile spot with moderate localism.
- Do not expect it to work reliably; only run when the right swell and offshore wind window lines up.
- Cleanest opportunities come with northeast swell and southwest offshore wind, so plan for a conditions-dependent window rather than frequent sessions.
- The area is known for murky water after rain, which increases shark concerns.
- Respect the local hierarchy as it is a low-profile spot.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Wailuku
- Nearest Town
- Kahului
- Nearest Airport
- Kahului Airport (OGG)
- Parking
- Limited parking available near the harbor area.
- Public Transport
- Maui Bus serves Kahului and Wailuku, though carrying large sports equipment is generally not permitted on standard routes.
- Access
- Access is typically via the rocky shoreline near the harbor entrance.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Extensive accommodation options in Kahului and Wailuku, including hotels, boutique stays, and vacation rentals nearby.
- Food & Drink
- Numerous options available in nearby Kahului.
- Equipment Rental:
- Surf/board rental is available through specialized shops around Kahului/Wailuku.
- Gear Storage
- Several schools and specialized shops offer overnight or long-term gear storage for travelers.
- Gear Repair
- Available at surf shops in Kahului; gear repair facilities clustered around Kahului/Wailuku.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
The Wailuku and Kahului coast offers quick access to water-sports logistics plus nearby hikes, scenic drives, and town/cultural stops.
Iconic volcanic summit and alpine desert.
A lush valley featuring the iconic Iao Needle.
A premier venue for concerts, art galleries, and traditional Hawaiian performances.
Historic Kahului waterfront and harbor district.
Scenic drive with waterfalls and rainforests.
Haleakala sunrise hiking experiences.
Humpback whale watching (Dec–Apr).
Local and international cuisine in Kahului town.
A popular local hub for coffee and light meals in historic Wailuku.
A wetland bird sanctuary home to endangered Hawaiian waterbirds.
Ocean safety programs and beach parks.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Big Eds?
The best overall months at Big Eds are December, January, February.
Which wind directions work at Big Eds?
Big Eds works with S, SW winds. Offshore directions are S, SW.
What skill level is Big Eds suitable for?
Big Eds suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate to Advanced.