Kaanapali Beach
beach
A long sandy beach on West Maui’s resort coast, south of Black Rock.
Early access
Use marked public beach access along Kaanapali Parkway.
Dawn patrol surfing in Lahaina
Lahaina, Hawaii
Sunrise and first light times for planning your dawn patrol session.
First light in Lahaina means glass, empty peaks, and the best conditions of the day before thermal onshores build. These 4 spots are worth the 5am alarm.
Sunrise
6:24 AMFirst Light: 5:54 AM
Day length: 11h 37m
-1 min vs yesterday
Sunrise
6:24 AM
First light: 5:54 AM
Sunset
6:01 PM
Last light: 6:31 PM
Data from Kaanapali Beach · Updated daily
7-Day Sun Schedule
| Day | Sunrise | Sunset | Day Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today(Today) | 6:24 AM | 6:01 PM | 11h 37m |
| Tomorrow | 6:24 AM | 6:00 PM | 11h 36m |
| Tue, Oct 20 | 6:25 AM | 6:00 PM | 11h 35m |
| Wed, Oct 21 | 6:25 AM | 5:59 PM | 11h 34m |
| Thu, Oct 22 | 6:26 AM | 5:58 PM | 11h 33m |
Today(Today)
Sunrise
6:24 AM
Sunset
6:01 PM
Day Length
11h 37m
Tomorrow
Sunrise
6:24 AM
Sunset
6:00 PM
Day Length
11h 36m
Tue, Oct 20
Sunrise
6:25 AM
Sunset
6:00 PM
Day Length
11h 35m
Wed, Oct 21
Sunrise
6:25 AM
Sunset
5:59 PM
Day Length
11h 34m
Thu, Oct 22
Sunrise
6:26 AM
Sunset
5:58 PM
Day Length
11h 33m
Best dawn patrol spots in Lahaina
Featured Beaches
4 spots
Kaanapali Beach
IntermediateA long sandy beach on West Maui’s resort coast, south of Black Rock.
Lahaina Harbor (Breakwall)
IntermediateLahaina Harbor's Breakwall is a popular surf break in the heart of Lahaina, with an inside section used by surf schools and an outside section that produces steep lefts on a good south swell. The wave breaks beside the harbor's jetty over a shallow reef, so it gets shallow at low tide, but a mid-to-high tide provides fun walls up to head high. Crowds are heavy and the name "Snakewall" reflects the constant jockeying for position.
Napili Bay Beach
IntermediateA sandy crescent along Nāpili Bay on Maui’s northwest coast.
Pohaku Park (S-Turns)
IntermediateA West Maui surf park with rocky shoreline and a small sandy southern section.
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Featured Beaches(4)
Dawn patrol access guide for Lahaina
Parking and access info for early morning sessions before sunrise.
Lahaina Harbor (Breakwall)
jetty
intermediate
Lahaina Harbor's Breakwall is a popular surf break in the heart of Lahaina, with an inside section used by surf schools and an outside section that produces steep lefts on a good south swell. The wave breaks beside the harbor's jetty over a shallow reef, so it gets shallow at low tide, but a mid-to-high tide provides fun walls up to head high. Crowds are heavy and the name "Snakewall" reflects the constant jockeying for position.
Early access
Walk down to the harbor wall and paddle out beside the breakwall; beware of the rocks and barnacles on the jetty.
Parking
Park in the Lahaina Harbor public lot or at the adjacent 505 Front Street shopping center (paid); avoid parking in private stalls.
Napili Bay Beach
beach
A sandy crescent along Nāpili Bay on Maui’s northwest coast.
Early access
Use signed public beach access from Napili Place or Hui Drive.
A West Maui surf park with rocky shoreline and a small sandy southern section.
Early access
Use the public park entrance on Lower Honoapiilani Road.
Dawn patrol tips
- Glassy morning conditions before onshore winds
- Less crowded lineups at sunrise
- East-facing beaches for sunrise views
- Spots with easy parking for early arrivals
Surf Guides for Lahaina
Conditions
Frequently Asked Questions
About surfing in Lahaina
- Dawn patrol in Lahaina typically starts at first light, around 30 minutes before sunrise. This gives you the glassiest conditions before onshore winds develop.
- Early morning offers glassy conditions, fewer crowds, and calmer winds. Water temperature is also warmer relative to air temperature at sunrise.
Check it, surf it, log it
Check the forecast, surf the session, log what happened — and build the record you'll compare every next call against.
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