The 21 Biggest Monster Waves in Hawaii

Hawaii is home to a remarkable variety of wave action that provides both scenic views and wide-ranging challenges for surfers, and while many prefer to enjoy watching the magnificent big waves from the safety of shore, there are some big wave warriors that would leap at the chance to ride the big one coming at them. The more colossal, the better. Big wave surfers live for the waves that can meet their magnitude of personal passion for challenge. Hawaii offers the most gratifying monster waves experience for surfers from all over the world.

The 21 Biggest Waves in Hawaii

Jaws - Maui

This wave is called “Peahi” by the locals. Surf only if you dare. This is where world-class surf warriors risk their lives on the biggest waves in the world—up to 70 feet.

Banzai Pipeline - Oahu

This is one of the most dangerous waves in the world. It’s famous for its steep, fast left-hand barrel reef breaks off shallow coral reefs 100 yards from shore. Waves have been reported 20 ft and higher.

Hanalei Bay - Kauai

This is Kauai’s most famous break, reputed for its long sweeping, pumping right-hand reef break. This is one of Hawaii’s most beautiful surf spots with swell of around 12 ft. Good wave for beginners to learn.

Anahola Bay - Kauai

This beach produces waves that rank high in a place where the east wind keeps the island’s most consistent swell going year-round. It’s an awesome surfing beach and bodyboard scene. Waves have been seen as high as 25 ft.

Ala Moana - Oahu

This wave offers a left-hand reef break and is the symbol of great South Shore waves. It holds waves of 4 to 12 ft. with a steep and fast takeoff. Getting caught behind is the main risk with this one.

Diamond Head Lighthouse - Oahu

This is often the best spot on the South Shore. It offers classic 4- to 6-foot waves peel right, and the view is fantastic. Surfers take off on this wave and rip across three reefs.

Waimea Bay - Oahu

Waimea Bay on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii is thought to be the first and oldest institution for big wave surfing. Waimea Bay, Mavericks, and Todos Santos are to big wave surfers as Harvard, Princeton, and Yale are to students serious about higher education.

Backdoor - Oahu

This is a right-hand barrel wave with one of the best thick curling tubes in the world. It breaks over shallow lava and coral with swell up to 16 ft. The takeoff is located just 100 yards from shore with curtain-lip to watch out for.

Ke`ei, Kealakekua Bay - Big Island

The best waves are at the southern end, Ke`ei with mainly a left-hand reef break. It offers a steep, fast-barreling wave. Waves here have been seen up to 50ft.

Backyards - Oahu

Huge swells on this beach produce extremely fast rights from 6 to more than 15 feet. Only advanced surfers can handle these express-train barrels.

Log Cabins - Oahu

This is another of the all-time great Hawaiian waves. It offers high-performance tube surfing from steep, super fast A-frame peaks. Waves are up to 16 ft. However in 1998, Ken Bradshaw rode a colossal 85 footer here.

Upolu - Big Island

This is a big-wave rider spot more often than not with right-hand point break with frequent triple overhead swells in winter. This is secluded so you’ll need hiking and climbing experience to get in and out. Waves of 6 to 12 ft.

Ma`alaea Pipeline - Maui

This is known as one of the fastest waves in the world. It offers a right-hander works that is one of the hairiest summer surf spots on Maui. Waves of up to 12 ft.

Brennecke Beach - Kauai

This right- and left-hand beach break works best in a southwest to southeast swell. It offers a solid beach-break wave that peaks off multiple sandbars. Best in summer with swells of 6 ft.

Ho`okipa - Maui

This is the windsurfing “Mecca” of the world and host to World Cup sailing and surfing contests. Its powerful rip currents to make it off-limits to most sailors and surfers when it’s 40 feet. On smaller days it’s been called the best windsurfing wave-riding in the world.

Kewalos - Oahu

This beach offers a sweet right and left-hand reef break set out from a large lagoon with multiple takeoff points. The rights are the best with waves up to 10 ft.

Velzyland – Oahu

Waikiki - Oahu

This is the most famous surf beach anywhere—the beachfront of Honolulu, the capital city of Oahu period. It offers smaller quality 3 – 6 ft waves for beginners as well as access to outer reefs

Osterizers - Maui

This starts with a limestone and lava ledge 200 yards out that creates a big right and big drop takeoff. The reef here takes swell of 10 to 15 feet. This is a great big-wave spot when everywhere else is closed out.

Banyans - Big Island

This offers super fun reef breaks mostly right, but at times the lefts are great, too. With several reefs close to each other, it covers multi-directional and multi-sized waves of 6 -12 ft.

D.T. Fleming Beach Park - Maui

This is the perfect beach that everyone dreams about. It’s always crowded with great longboarders, bodyboarders and shortboarders. Nice waves of 6 – 10 ft.

Surfing pros will tell you that riding the Hawaii monster waves is a challenge because every wave is different, and it’s up to them to make the most of each wave. Surfing is an exhilarating thrill with a natural high. To take control of a breaking wave and actually ride it to the shore is one of the greatest adventures that can happen on the Hawaiian tropical Pacific islands.