Jaws Pe'ahiLocated on the North Shore of Maui, Jaws is the biggest, heaviest, gnarliest wave in Hawaii.
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If you're looking for an epic, big-wave surf trip (and you've got the experience to handle it!), Oahu is probably your best bet. However, you'll find plenty of surf breaks all around Maui to enjoy for all levels of surfers.
Large winter storms moving south of Alaska send waves to Hawaii. These waves travel a shorter distance than from the storms in the southern hemisphere. There are also no islands between Hawaii and these storms, meaning Hawaii gets all the big waves.
The large waves, or swells, are typically generated in the southern hemisphere during winter, when large storms brew in the southern Pacific Ocean. The waves can travel thousands of miles, crossing the equator and eventually reaching Maui's southern shore, where it is summer.
Praia do Norte | Nazaré, PortugalHome to several Guinness World Records - including the largest wave ever ridden and biggest wave ever surfed by a woman - Nazaré's Praia do Norte is a rare natural phenomenon. Despite being a beach break, it is so powerful and heavy that some call it the surfboard-breaking machine.
Hilo on Hawai'i Island is often referred to as the “tsunami capital of the United States” due to the shape of its bay that magnifies the height of tsunamis, making the town more susceptible to damage.