The North Shore waves start here in Waimea Bay, where the swells that roll into Oahu’s famous beaches generally top out at Waimea Beach Park on the right-hand side of the bay.
One of the world’s most popular and famous surf spots, Banzai Pipeline is a wave that many pro-surfers fly in from all around to partake in. The waves are so high coming down at you like oceanic mountains, they have been known to take out even some of the best pros!
The North Shore’s big waves are the surfing hotspot for those brave enough to take on its powerful and dangerous waters. The best place to start is at Waimea Beach Park, located just past Haleiwa Beach in Kailua-Kona side of Oahu Island between West Hawaii Kai Town & Honaunau Bay. Across from Waimea Falls Park, visitors can explore historical sites that tell stories about how Hawaiians lived centuries ago!
The Magical Waimea Bay
The Banzai Pipeline is the most well-known surf spot on Oahu’s North Shore. However, Waimea Bay offers something for everyone in either winter or summer months! It can be a fun and exhilarating experience to watch these waves break at high speeds while also holding your breath because you know one of them will knock down any surfer standing too close without warning. The Waimea Bay has a mystical aura that goes beyond the natural beauty of Hawaii’s white-sand beaches. As soon as you pull into the parking lot and make your way across to where people are gathering, it feels like you’ve stepped inside an enchanted forest – minus all those pesky elves or fairies asking for handouts (thankfully).
Waimea in the Winter
The waves in the water are incredible and if you’re a surfer, this is where it starts for Hawaiian surfing. Waves can range from 10 to 20 feet high sometimes even jumping up to 30 ft plus on occasion! The backside of the wave will usually measure about twice as many feet as its front side peak though so imagine riding down 60 ft face waves without any fear whatsoever.
Waimea Bay is one of the most iconic surfing locations in Hawaii. From its shores, surfers such as Hawaiian native Eddie Aikau have borne witness to some of the biggest waves in history and ridden them for all they’re worth. Though Andy Irons isn’t a local surfer- he’s from Kauai – his three world championship titles make him an honorary Waianae resident with close ties to this famous bay on Oahu’s North Shore.
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