Visiting Hamakualoa

Exploring the Land of Hamakualoa with Respect and Awareness

Hamakualoa stretches from the ahupua‘a (land divisions) of Ha‘ikū to Papa‘aea. Although we are Malama Hamakua Maui, our work primarily focuses on the Kuiaha and Kapuakulua ahupua‘a within Hamakualoa. Notably, the big-wave surfing spot famously called “Jaws,” and later mislabeled as “Pe‘ahi,” is actually miles away from the true Pe‘ahi location.

Our baseyard is situated just past the end of the paved portion of Hahana Road. While this is a public access route and part of an Open Space Preserve, it’s essential to note that it’s a rugged road, requiring 4-wheel drive; rental vehicles are not recommended. Please also be aware that the traditional overlook for big-wave viewing is privately owned and unaffiliated with Malama Hamakua Maui.

You can easily walk to Jaws. If you choose to walk to Jaws, here are a few things to remember:

• The road is close to 3 miles round-trip.
• Winter trips: It is often muddy and slippery with puddles from December to March. The big-wave surfing place, Jaws, only breaks in the winter.
• Summer visits: While calmer in the summer, the area is beautiful year-round.
• Stay on the main road; it is obvious as it is the widest.
• Numerous cultural sites in Hamakualoa are currently under survey. We kindly ask visitors to respect these areas and remain on marked trails.
• The Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) has reported Little Fire Ants in this area and is actively working to control them.

We do not recommend that you drive to the Jaws overlook as it is a dangerous road. Please see the following page for more details and current conditions. Look for a sign with a QR code near the entrance to access latest conditions.