10 Best Waves and Surf Spots in Hawaii
Being located in the middle of the Pacific, Hawaii has some of the best waves on the planet, at any given time throughout the year. Whether you are a beginner looking to catch your first few waves or an experienced surfer on the hunt for barrels, Hawaii is one of the best places to go on a surf trip.
Here are 10 of the best surfing waves in Hawaii…
Read: Which Hawaiian Island to Chose for a Surf Trip
1. Honolua Bay, Maui
Honolua Bay is without a doubt, Maui’s most popular wave and one of Hawaii’s best surf spot. A consistent point break offering barrels and long lines, perfect for intermediate and advanced surfers. Honolua Bay works on the NW swells which hit Hawaii from November to March. In summer, it becomes a great snorkeling spot to see turtles and live coral reef.
Read our Surfing Guide to Maui, Hawaii
2. Pipeline, Oahu
Located on the North Shore of Oahu, Pipeline is Hawaii’s most famous wave and also one of the most dangerous waves on Earth. When winter swells start hitting Hawaii in November, the reef clears up from all the accumulated sand over summer and becomes a barreling machine.
Read our Surfing Guide to Oahu, Hawaii
3. Hanalei Bay, Kauai
Hanalei Bay is a hidden gem located on Kauai’s north shore. The point is a long right-hand reef break that handles over 20 feet swells while the bay is a softer beach break which can be surfed by beginners and long boarders.
Read our Surfing Guide to Kauai, Hawaii
4. Waikiki, Oahu
Waikiki is nothing less than the home of surfing. With several legendary surf breaks like Canoes, Kings, Queens, Diamond Head and Ala Moana everyone finds its fix in Waikiki. Beginners, intermediate and advanced surfers can all find their own little wave and enjoy a true Hawaiian surfing day in paradise.
Read our Surfing Guide to Oahu, Hawaii
5. Lahaina, Maui
Lahaina is one of the best waves in Hawaii to learn how to surf. Located on Maui’s west side, this soft, peeling reef break has everything a beginning surfer is looking for in a surf spot in order to learn in a safe way.
Read our Surfing Guide to Maui, Hawaii
6. Makaha, Oahu
Makaha is an amazing right-hand point break that has several different sections which can suit all types of surfers. It is located on Oahu’s west side and works best on a winter NW swell. During peak season, Makaha is a thrilling, high-level point break, but on smaller days, beginners can also enjoy the inside sections.
Read our Surfing Guide to Oahu, Hawaii
7. Ho’okipa, Maui
Ho’okipa is a beutiful beach located on Maui’s north shore, near Pa’ia, a charming and small surf town. This surf spot is also one of the best wind surfing spot on Earth due to its consistent cross shore winds. This feature doesn’t stop Ho’okipa from also being a great surfing beach with great waves through the winter months. With a bit of luck, you will also spot a few turtles which are frequently resting on the beach.
Read our Surfing Guide to Maui, Hawaii
8. Tunnels, Kauai
Tunnels is a high-level wave located on Kauai’s north shore. This challenging surf spot should only be tackled by the most experienced surfers looking to get great barrel opportunities, probably some of the best ones on Kauai.
Read our Surfing Guide to Kauai, Hawaii
9. Sunset Beach, Oahu
Sunset Beach is another famous wave located on the North Shore of Oahu. It is a legendary surf spot with a lot of history hosting a lot of prestigious events through time. Sunset Beach is a right-hand reef break that gets pretty heavy in winter and almost inexistent in summer.
Read our Surfing Guide to Oahu, Hawaii
10. Waimea Bay, Oahu
Another very prestigious wave in Hawaii that most surfers will only get the chance to watch is Waimea Bay. This iconic bay is a big-wave surf spot made famous by Eddie Aikau, pioneer of big-wave surfing in Hawaii. Today, Waimea Bay is host to the Eddie Aikau invitational, a great surfing event in honor of his legacy.
Waimea Bay is not just a big-wave surf spot, there is a also a shore break to play with as well as the occasional river wave.
Read our Surfing Guide to Oahu, Hawaii