Photos: Best of Maui's Make-or-Break Moments

Aussie tube expert and Championship Tour sophomore Chelsea Georgeson charging Honolua at the 2003 event.

Layne Beachley (AUS), celebrating her fifth and sixth consecutive World Titles at Honolua Bay.

The judges' tent, perched precariously on the cliff at Honolua Bay.

Georgeson, driving down the line at Honolua in 2004. She won the event that year, dominating the field.

Chelsea Georgeson's win over Samantha Cornish bumped her up to World No. 3.

By 2005, there were nine events on the women's CT, which culminated in Maui. Brazilian Silvana Lima -- currently No. 13 in the world -- showing her barrel prowess in pumping Honolua.

2006 saw unprecedented 12-to-15-foot waves at the Billabong Pro Maui.

Aussie Claire Bevilacqua held her own in the heavy Hawaiian pointbreak in 2006. But an in-form (and Hawaii local) Keala Kennelly eliminated her in the Semis.

Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) claimed the 2006 Billabong Pro Maui as a rookie. Few know the Bay better and few have ever assaulted the famed wave on their backhand as Miley-Dyer did.

Layne Beachley (AUS) was the other woman to go down in the Semis that year, topped by fellow Aussie (and current women's Tour commissioner) Jessi Miley-Dyer.

Despite her event loss, Layne Beachley (AUS) won a record-setting seventh World Title at the Bay.

South African surfer Rosy Hodge, soaking up Honolua in 2007, her rookie year on Tour. Since retiring as a professional surfer, Hodge has become a WSL commentator.

Six-time World Champ Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) won four of the eight events in her rookie year on the CT in 2007 and would clinch her inaugural World Title in Maui that same year.

Stephanie Gilmore's mix of power and grace paid off in Maui. It kicked off her winning streak that would see her go on to clinch five more World Titles in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014.

In 2008, the Billabong Pro Maui celebrated its 10th anniversary. A pod of dolphins was on hand for the festivities.

Despite a wave-starved event, Layne Beachley (AUS) made her usual sweep of the field until the Semis, when Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) took her down.

With no barrels to speak of, Honolua offered perfect ramps for surfers like then-junior surfer Carissa Moore (HAW), launching here in 2008.

Honolua Bay, 2009. It would be the last year of the event until 2014.

Hawaiian Alana Blanchard was right at home on the powerful righthander.

Another Hawaiian, Coco Ho, made surfing Honolua look easy. Ho made it to the Quarters that year, but was defeated by Aussie Sally Fitzgibbons.

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) was the woman to beat in 2009.

In 2009, Carissa Moore (HAW) was still a year away from qualifying from the women's elite Tour. But she was turning heads, getting attention from brands like Nike and Target, which would go on to sponsor her.

Silvana Lima (BRA), deploying her tube skills. She made it to the Semis in the 2009 event, but fell to Peruvian surfer Sofia Mulanovich.

Honolua Bay, picture-perfect in 2009.

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), on fire in 2009.

Samantha Cornish (AUS) rode one of the bigger set waves of the day. The Aussie made it to the Quarterfinals in Maui, but was outgunned by Stephanie Gilmore (AUS).

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), triumphant in 2009. Her win at Honolua was her third in a row, which also secured her third consecutive World Title. Five years later, at the event's return, Gilmore was again at the top of the rankings.

Courtney Conlogue (USA), who had been injured for a number of events in 2014, returned to form in time for the last event of the season. She scored a perfect 10 in Round 4, one of two 10-point rides for the entire 2014 season.

Tyler Wright (AUS) was one heat away from forcing a World Title surf-off between herself and Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) but was ultimately defeated by Carissa Moore (HAW).