Overview
Dumps is a left-hand reef point on the remote Makena Coast, at the southern corner of Maui. It sits in pristine, desolate countryside and can turn really good when a sizable swell arrives. The wave breaks fast over a bottom of lava, rock, and coral, throwing up barrel sections on moderate to large swells. On smaller days it slows down and fattens out noticeably.
When It Works
Dumps draws swell from south through west-southwest to west-northwest, but it's best on a solid south-southwest to southwest swell, which also happen to be the most common here. South swells pick up some shadowing, while the rarer, larger wintertime west-northwest swells that slip under Kauai and Ni'ihau can also sneak in. It's usable from 1.5 m / 5 ft to 3.7 m / 12 ft, running from head high to well overhead. Expect it to fire on a solid swell with a barrel and to be average or below on small days. Summer is the prime season, though it also works through spring and autumn.
Wind and Tide
You can count on offshore winds almost daily, though they sometimes blow strong enough to make surfing difficult. The workable wind window runs from north-northeast through east to south-southeast, with east (E) straight offshore, and even south-southeast to south still fine. It breaks on low and mid tide, with a rising tide generally the better call. Keep an eye on the reef, especially at lower tides.
Local Tips
Dumps suits intermediate and expert surfers, and it takes a wide range of boards, from shortboards and fish to funboards, longboards, and bodyboards. Expect a fairly quiet, somewhat reserved lineup with a mellow vibe; crowds stay light to moderate depending on the quality of the surf and the day of the week.
Access
You'll find Dumps just off Makena Road, with a big parking lot.
