Surfing Hawaii | The Greatest Surf In The World
In many ways, surfing Hawaii is the ultimate dream of surfers all over the world, as it has been for years. When people think of surfing in Hawaii, there are quite a few things that immediately come to mind.: Crystal clear, warm water. Light tropical breezes and swaying palm trees. Beautiful beaches laced with golden sand and wreathed with beautiful palm and plumeria trees. Personally, I think of the gorgeous girls in bikinis! Of course the main thing people think of when it comes to surfing Hawaii are the amazing waves! Whether you are an experienced surfer looking for the best barrels of your life, or someone new to this amazing hobby and looking for a few clean, smooth rollers to learn to surf Hawaii, the Aloha State definitely has it all in spades.
No matter what island you’re on, Hawaii’s coasts deliver some amazing surf. Read on to learn more about surfing Hawaii:
Surfing Hawaii | So Many Islands, So Many Surf Spots!
Every island in Hawaii is fortunate to be blessed with some of the best surf spots in the world, with some of the best conditions on average that you could find at any given time. Due to all of the Hawaiian islands being exposed to 360 degrees of swell in the middle of the Pacific, it is safe to assume that at any time in Hawaii, there is a solid swell on at least one coastline on each of the islands. For instance, when it’s summer, you may not find Pipeline, on Oahu’s North Shore pumping at 8-12 feet like you may in Winter. That said you are very likely to see Waikiki, Diamond Head, and the “Cliffs” area on the south shore with amazing waves due to the traditional and famous summer storms in the South Pacific that send roaring swells north, right into Hawaii’s southern coasts. Luckily, there are also always a veritable plethora of top surfing spots in Hawaii for any experience and skill level. Surfing Hawaii means always getting to surf. Here are a few examples for the main islands of Oahu and Maui:
Oahu Surf Spots-Arguably Hawaii’s “main” island, Oahu is home to not just the majority of Hawaii’s population, but a massive number of it’s most popular and best surf spots. As such it is definitely a great place to start surfing Hawaii. Beginners have learned to surf for generations in the usually gentle, long rollers of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head, where many of Hawaii’s surf schools are headquartered. It is also a great place to learn to paddle surf Hawaii. Lesser known spots on the west and eastern sides of the island provide great playgrounds for those who like to learn to surf beginner-intermediate waves with much less of a crowd. Experts and advanced surfers head to what is arguably the most photographed and well-known 7 miles of beach known to the surf world: Oahu’s famed North Shore. With quality surf spots on the North Shore Hawaii like Pipeline, Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach all huddled together amongst dozens of other gems, there is a reason the “country” as locals call it, has been at the forefront of surfing for more than 50 years. More than any other place in the world, this is where the world’s best surfers come to compete with others and themselves in the famed winter surf. The North Shore truly is the home of big wave surfing and is definitely a must see for anyone who wants to see the pros in action, and witness the best surfing Hawaii.
Maui Surf Spots- Maui is not just one of the most beautiful islands, it is also significantly less known as a surfing “destination” which the locals love; and why not? Maui has some of the best surf in the world, and at many times, the breaks can be near empty! Beginners typically learn to surf in the tourist havens of Kāʻanapali and Lahaina, while expert and advanced surfers do what their counterparts on Oahu do; they head North. World famous windsurfing haven Ho’okipa Beach can produce medium-large, ledgy lefts and right when the winds die down at several different peaks. A litany of other “secret” spots can be found up 
North, but we’ll leave that for another article. We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Peahi, otherwise known as Jaws, in which some of the most spectacular tow-in surfing in the world is done. Far below a rocky cliff in a pineapple field on the road to Hana, and about a mile out, breaks a wave that only forms when the surf reaches 25-feet plus. Definitely a great place to watch people surfing Hawaii. Jaws only breaks 10-20 days a year, but when it does, it is absolutely spectacular. Also worth mentioning is one of the best surf spots for surfing Hawaii, Honolua Bay. Honolua is a right point reef break, with many different sections that, on the perfect North/Northwest Swell can all link together to provide amazing barrel sections and huge, open, ledgy sections to carve. Definitely a spot for advanced surfers, but also one worth watching from the cliffs above. Maui is also home to Ma`alaea Pipeline, known as the fastest right-hand break in the world. The right south swell can send surfers scrambling through 10-foot sets of fast-breaking barrels just outside this busy harbor. Definitely a must visit for any tube-ride aficionado.
The islands of Oahu and Maui are the most populated and by far the most visited, and despite higher numbers of surfers than the other islands, you can still get the rides of your life if you know where to look. Surfing Hawaii is more than possible no matter your skill level or experience.
Surfing Hawaii | Join Us, The Water’s Warm!
What are you waiting for? Come out to Hawaii and dip your toes in; we promise, the water will be warm, the beaches (and the people) will be gorgeous, and the waves will be better than in your dreams. Surfing in Hawaii is about surfing the best waves in the world for you and enjoying every second of it; we hope to meet you out in the waves, surfing Hawaii soon!
Regards, the Surfing Hawaii Team
Related Posts: