Ho'okipa Beach Park

Ho'okipa Beach Park is Maui's famous north shore surf and windsurfing beach near Paia, with a lookout, lifeguards, turtle viewing and powerful ocean conditions.

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Ho'okipa Beach Park, Maui

Ho'okipa Beach Park, located on Maui's well-known Hana Highway (Road to Hana), is one of Maui's most famous windsurfing and surfing beaches. Major ocean-sport competitions have taken place here, and several watersport events are held here in many years.

At this cliff-lined beach, surfers come from many places to ride the unique break. The waves can be sizeable and the currents challenging, so beginner surfing is discouraged. Spectators can watch surfers and windsurfers from an elevated overlook point. To reduce overlap between the two sports, surfers usually have the bay to themselves in the mornings and windsurfers in the afternoons.

Ho'okipa Beach has a large coral reef area that helps break up incoming waves, so when the ocean is calm, swimming and snorkeling may be possible. Still, there are better beaches on Maui for those activities. In the winter months, the waves can reach heights of 15 feet (4.6 m) or more at Ho'okipa.

The beach itself is little more than a strip of white sand behind a wide, rocky shelf. The nearshore ocean bottom is a mixture of reef and patches of sand. Because of this, the main water activities are windsurfing, surfing and fishing. Green sea turtles, or honu, are often seen resting near the shoreline, so keep a respectful distance and never block their path to or from the ocean.

Key Features

Famous north Maui surf and windsurfing beach just east of Paia
Upper lookout gives wide views of surf breaks, windsurfers, waves and the coastline
Lower beach park has lifeguards, restrooms, showers, picnic areas and beach access
Hawaiian green sea turtles often rest near the east end of the beach
Not an easy casual swimming beach because waves, reef, current and wind can be strong
Popular for surf watching, windsurfing, kite watching, photography and sunset stops
Parking is available at both the upper lookout and lower beach lot, but spaces can fill quickly
A common early stop near the start of the Road to Hana route
Close to Paia, H.A. Baldwin Beach Park and Baby Beach
Give turtles plenty of space and follow posted viewing signs or barriers

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Ho'okipa famous for windsurfing?

Ho'okipa's wind and wave setup made it one of the world's best-known windsurfing spots. On windy days, the lookout is a good place to watch experienced windsurfers and kiters handle the conditions offshore.

Can you see turtles at Ho'okipa Beach Park?

Yes. Hawaiian green sea turtles often rest near the east end of the beach. Keep a respectful distance, stay outside any marked viewing area and never touch, feed or crowd them.

What is the Ho'okipa lookout?

The lookout is the upper parking and viewing area above the beach. It gives a wide view of the surf breaks, windsurfers, waves and coastline without needing to walk down to the sand.

How is Ho'okipa different from Baldwin Beach?

Ho'okipa is more focused on surf, windsurfing, turtle viewing and ocean watching. Baldwin Beach has a longer sandy beach park setting with more room for swimming, walking and picnics when conditions are calm.

Is Ho'okipa Beach Park a good Road to Hana stop?

Yes, it is an easy early stop just past Paia, especially for the lookout, photos and ocean watching. If you are driving farther to Hana, keep the stop short enough to leave plenty of daylight for the road ahead.