Peʻahi, Hawaii
beach of Peahi, Maui Island, Hawaï, USA
Peʻahi ( pay-AH-hee; Hawaiian: [peˈʔɐhi]) is a place on the north shore of the island of Maui in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It has lent its name to a big wave surfing break, also known as Jaws.
Location
Pe'ahi (Jaws) surf break is roughly three miles east of Pāʻia and makai (ocean side) of the Hana Highway (Route 36) located a few hundred feet from the north shore cliffs at 20°56′36″N 156°17′52″W.
Best viewing, when the wave is breaking, is from the Pe'ahi Overlook, located at the end of Hahana Road, a mostly unpaved road leading north from the highway between mile markers 13 and 14.
Access can be difficult, especially when wet, with 4-wheel drive vehicles only recommended if driving. Otherwise it is about a 1.5 mile walk.
There are no beaches in the vicinity. Viewing is from the top of 100–150-foot (30–46 m) ocean side cliffs.
Pe'ahi (Jaws)
The name Peʻahi originally applied to an ancient Hawaii land area (ahupuaʻa) at about 20°55′00″N 156°17′00″W. Like many ancient land areas, it extended from the northern slopes of Haleakalā to the sea-level Peʻahi gulch. It also lent its name to a reservoir formed by a dam across the Uaoa Stream.
Peʻahi means "wave" in the Hawaiian language, in the sense of a fanning or beckoning motion of the hand.
The public source identifies “Peʻahi, Hawaii” as beach of Peahi, Maui Island, Hawaï, USA. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Peʻahi, Hawaii and beach.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Peʻahi, Hawaii”, the useful work is to connect “beach of Peahi, Maui Island, Hawaï, USA” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
The strongest evidence will usually combine a dated visual record with documents produced by the authority responsible for the place. The source revision retrieved here is dated Feb 1, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q1684289. Authority coordinates are 20.939, -156.261. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank.
A single description cannot reconcile every naming convention, rebuilding phase or administrative transfer associated with a place. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
- Historic place names
- Jurisdictional context
- Routes into maps and plans
Contemporary maps, plans, listed-building records, estate papers and the responsible local or national archive.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Peʻahi, Hawaii”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Peʻahi, Hawaii primary sources, Peʻahi, Hawaii archive and Peʻahi research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Peʻahi, Hawaii”?
- What physical evidence or contemporary plan supports the description?
- Which earlier names or jurisdictions may reveal additional records?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Peʻahi, Hawaii” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.