Maui

Pe'ahi, universally known as Jaws, is one of the most fearsome big wave spots on the planet, located on Maui's North Shore. When large winter north-northeast swells hit between November and March, the deep-water reef acts as a ramp that transforms open-ocean energy into towering walls of 30 to 80 feet, with occasional faces exceeding 100 feet. The predominantly right-hand break detonates over a sharp coral and rock reef, producing massive barrels with lips that throw well ahead of the wave face. Originally pioneered as a tow-in spot by Laird Hamilton and others, Jaws has increasingly been paddled into by elite big wave surfers, though it remains strictly a venue for the world's most experienced watermen. Access is via a rough dirt road off Hana Highway between mile markers 13 and 14, with a 1.5-mile walk if conditions are too muddy to drive. Hazards include violent closeouts, strong currents, and the remote location that makes rescue difficult.