Best Time to Ride · Kauai – Hanalei Bay vs Oahu – Pipeline
Kauai – Hanalei Bay vs Oahu – Pipeline: which is better for surfing?
Kauai – Hanalei Bay or Oahu – Pipeline? Month by month: windy days, waves and water temperature side by side, from years of weather data.
Find the best time to goTap a spot to see when to go: wind, waves, water temperature, sun and rain in every month, from years of weather statistics.
Updated October 2026 · weather data 2022–2026
In short
- Oahu – Pipeline has bigger waves in 5 of 12 months.
- Kauai – Hanalei Bay has warmer water in 8 of 12 months.
- Best months at Kauai – Hanalei Bay: January–February, December.
- Best months at Oahu – Pipeline: January–February, November–December.
- 161 km apart.
Kauai – Hanalei BayHawaii (Kauai North Shore), United StatesWave height per month (m, average daily max)
JFMAMJJASOND2.92.82.42.11.91.61.71.61.822.62.8
Water temperature per month (°C)
JFMAMJJASOND252424252526262727272726
Best time to go →
Oahu – PipelineHawaii (Oahu North Shore), United StatesWave height per month (m, average daily max)
JFMAMJJASOND2.82.82.42.221.71.81.71.822.62.8
Water temperature per month (°C)
JFMAMJJASOND252525252526262727272626
Best time to go →Wave height: average daily maximum. Water: average sea surface temperature.