Maui’s ‘Jaws’, the site of some of the heaviest, most unruly waves ever ridden and made famous by Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama among others is in danger of completely losing it’s access ramp used for launching jet-skis and rescue vessels. The walkway at the Maliko boat ramp, also used by canoe paddlers, divers and fishers has taken some pretty solid blows by strong storms that have moved through the area over the last couple of months.

Aside from the damage the ramp has taken from the storms, the state failed to renew its easement, or right-of-way, with A&B properties. It expired in 1997 and has locals worried about the possibility of a private ownership of the land. If this access point is lost, the nearest place to launch becomes the heavily used and always busy Kahului Harbor. The 40-50 minute distance over rough waters would put a serious wrinkle into any sort of rescue effort needed for the area.

This has all the writings on the wall of another slow, if any at all, reactionary move by the Hawaiian bureaucracy. It appears that they cannot clearly see the financial benefit (tourist dollars) of taking immediate action and therefore risk this losing this vital access point to one of the great tow-in waves in the world. When conditions come together at ‘Jaws’ it has provided the backdrop for filmmakers to shoot some of the most breathtaking footage of big wave surfing ever taken.

Deborah Ward, spokeswoman for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, said her department is considering all options. Let’s just hope it doesn’t become another case of ‘too little too late’.

Posted by Shaun on Tuesday, February 12th, 2008 in Surfing.

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