Oahu – Waimea Bay
Haleiwa, Hawaii (Oahu North Shore), United States
Sports: Surfing, Tow foiling
Best time to go: January–February, December
Waimea Bay is a deep, sandy-floored bay on the North Shore of Oahu, between Haleiwa and Pipeline. It is one of the birthplaces of big-wave surfing and hosts the Eddie Aikau memorial contest when the swell is big enough.
The big wave breaks off the rocky point on the north side of the bay, over a reef and rock bottom, and only comes alive on very large north and north-west swells, mainly from December to February. On smaller days the point does not break and the action moves to a heavy shorebreak on the sand. Light east and south-east trade winds blow offshore. Waimea is traditionally a paddle-in wave, while tow surfing and jet ski use on the North Shore are subject to state rules, so check local rules before taking a ski out. It is only for expert big-wave surfers with suitable equipment and a safety plan; hold-downs and strong currents are serious dangers. In summer the bay is often flat and calm. Lifeguards are on duty at the beach park, and parking fills quickly on big days.
Spots near Oahu – Waimea Bay
- Oahu – Pipeline (3 km)
- Oahu – Haleiwa (7 km)
- Oahu – Kailua Beach (44 km)
- Kauai – Hanalei Bay (162 km)
- Maui – Honolua Bay (163 km)
- Kanaha Beach Park – Maui (188 km)
- Maui – Ho'okipa (193 km)
More: All spots in United States · Surfing in United States · Tow foiling in United States