I too feel it's a privilege to surf The Bay, and I am impressed with the surfing skill of the locals there. In fact the women in the lineup surf way better than I ever did, or ever will!

I've found if you visit the lineup there (or other spots on Maui) with a healthy dose of respect and friendliness that the Hawaiians will be more than accomodating. Still, it's a very competitive situation. You gotta work for each wave!

"Hi Dogman!

"I just got back on tues from a week in Maui with my family. By amazing good fortune a solid N swell hit for the last 2 days of our trip and I got to surf the bay, the first day was solid 2x and the second day was a good 1.5-2x at Caves, a bit smaller at the point. I'd never surfed it before so it was pretty challenging getting it wired that first day.

"I made the mistake of thinking Caves would be the easier spot to start at since it was closest to the channel, but I was wrong. That's a steep ledgy wave breaking in front of the cliff, and the bayÊ wasn't as clean as on your pix (tide was high and the wind wasn't offshore) so I was struggling to make any waves on my 6'8". Definitely coulda used a bigger gunnier board there, but that's all I'd brought. The wave felt a lot like ????? but without the soft spot after the take off. And getting caught inside was even less fun than ????? since I was never quite convinced that I would get swept past the caves (as opposed to into them) should I give up the struggle. I got absolutely drilled on my first wave, a guy deeper than me couldn't get in so I spun and went for it. Discovered how ledgy and steep it was, made it to the bottom but not balanced and fell. I bagged 3 waves after that, gave up a lot more (there was always somebody deeper) and then went in. Ended the session with some "fun" rock climbing as I missed the proper trail back up the cliff.

"The next day I was back for more. It was bumpy again but a more manageable 1.5-2x. Again I started at Caves, got 2 waves there and gave up a lot more before figuring my chances were better at the point. The point was smaller but less contested since it's not as focused a peak. Got a bunch of waves there including one long ride with a short barrel that generated some hoots. I finally went in when I couldn't paddle anymore. This time I went in at the little beach cove, and forewent the rockclimbing. This session definitely went better, and I was sure glad to get that second chance at the bay."

Leo, like your comparison of The Bay to ?????, a place we both like to surf here in Santa Cruz. We probably have shared some waves out there over the years.

I usually try to catch waves up one break toward the point from the Cave, and then connect them thru. I find this is hard, but if I can pull it off the crowd will yield to me, and it's ezr than making that critical ledgey take off. Plus, it just feels good!

Haven't yet been caught inside there, in all my years of visiting, but I must say I am NOT looking forward to it. I have taken more than my share of punishment inside at ?????. Can you say ICECREAM HEADACHE!!??

"Liked your photos of Honolua. Here's another story. Surfed it last January for the first time since 1962, call it a 40th anniversary! Caught it on that big swell of early January. Had one uncrowded day at about 6 foot. I still regret passing on a perfect double overhead day, but thought I needed something smaller for my first paddle out. The break is still pretty much the same, fast, but the scene is not what it was 40 years ago. If you can imagine a spring break in 1962 with three of us camping at the Bay for a week, walking to Honolua Store for supplies ( we had no car), bodysurfing Slaughterhouse and riding Honolua alone. But hey the magic is definitely still there, despite the development of what was then the very epitome of country--Maui."

Rog, I didn't visit Maui for the first time until the 80's, so I can only imagine the scene you relate from '62. Even in the years I've been vacationing on Maui the amount of development North toward The Bay, and South into Makena is incredible.

I still enjoy the place, and always look forward to surfing Honolua, but the changes on the island just make me shake my head. I realize the economics of people like me are part of the driving force.

But for surfers, as you said, the break is still the same. The magic of a ledgey wave at the Cave is still there. Cranking to the right, down the line, faster and faster, will I make it? It's a legendary break, and rightly so.

W writes about the more recent column, "Water Cam in DogLand" but couldn't resist a mention of the Bay:

"..... Hope you guys are getting something up there, it is basically flat here... P.S. I am on a Mac using Netscape and when I click on the MPEGS it goes to a page with a bunch of code?!? It used to work a couple of months ago, but hey, I can't expect you to make it work for everyone. I look at all your pics though, man I gotta get to Honalua, it has mystique and well as perfection. As for Windows = Hell. Later, and hope you score this weekend. W"

W, Yeah you DO have to surf Da Bay, at least once in your life. I too am a MacMan, and have spoken with the main man at PWR about the MPEGs. Once I get them working again for me, I'll let you know how I did it. Basically what I hear is that MS has a Media Player version for the Mac, and you and I have to get it!

And that's the end of the Honolua Bay thang, at least until next Winter when I hope to return to Maui, and get some more juice at the Bay. I certainly hope you enjoyed all the pix and wordz about the most beautiful and perfect right point break in the world.

CU Out There,

DogMan