Oahu (Waikiki, North Shore) tips

[ConcreteVitamin]

Hey guys. Planning to head to Oahu in a few weeks, mid to end of March. Staying on the North Shore for 2 days first. Not sure what spots are OK for me (intermediate beginner). Chun's? Is Rocky Left on a down day okay? Even if I can't surf super stoked to check out the talent there.

Will head to Waikiki afterwards for the majority of the stay. On the Zoo side. I'm planning to rent a longboard nearby and check out Queens/Canoes. These seem very close by and are within walking distance!

Wondering if there are other spots to check out? Diamond Head area seems to have E trade winds at the moment blowing out the spots. Heard paddling out to Ala Moana Bowls is a bad idea although I'd love the left.

Thanks!

[oldmansurfer]

I surfed 2 north spots. I went to Sunset once but it was so crowded that I didn't even want to try it however inside was a shallow reef break that was tubing out. Nice hollow little waves with no one riding them. Soon discovered the likely reason was it was a shallow reef break but still the waves were good and no one else to compete with. My friend who drove me there wasn't quite as experienced and went back in to the beach quicker than me after some encounters with the reef . But I got a whole bunch of tube rides there and only a small scratch on my chest and a big scratch on my board to show for it. I'm not sure if that break even has a name. The other spot I surfed was Haleiwa. Maybe we just hit it on a good day but the crowd was friendly and not too big and the waves were awesome 6 to 9 feet and tubing although I never got deeply tubed there I guess just being cautious because there was a fast inside section that I worried about having enough speed for that part so was kind of going faster than I needed to.. One of the surfers there lost his board. Leash broke and board was swept out to sea. We were trying to help him, looking for the board but someone who surfed there more often said it was probably outside in the channel on it's way to Molokai. I have no clue about where to go just be sure to be respectful to the other surfers. Go to the Waikiki Aquarium if it's open which is right in that area.

[ConcreteVitamin]

That sounds like fond memories, OMS. I doubt I'll be surfing those two spots. When on north short I'll need to rent from somewhere so planning to ask the shop for recommendations. Checked out some Youtube videos of surfing Chun's, looks pretty mellow with mostly longboarders (spring).

[waikikikichan]

1) In Waikiki, where are you planning to rent a board ?

2) How are you getting to the Northshore ?

[ConcreteVitamin]

1) Planning to do the $100/week option. East side seems to have a shop Moku that I plan to check out. West side there's a Quality Surfboards which was said to have a lot of boards to swap on demand.

2) We're renting a car and driving there! Looking at the forecast right now, seems to be 5-6ft (Hawaiian probably) @ Chun's the two days of our stay. Strong E winds too!

[waikikikichan]

1) Moku is good. Also nearby is Koa board sports, they also give you a board locker and key if your hotel doesn't allow boards in the elevator.

2) Don't leave anything valuable in the car or on the beach, it will be gone.

[ConcreteVitamin]

Trip update from Oahu

The couple of days on North Shore, it was just flooded by heavy rain. Brown water everywhere. Didn't get to enter the water but saw some great talent out at Backdoor. There were so many surfers on North Shore, including seemingly everyone in the grocery store

Waikiki has mostly been knee-waist high action with scattered rain and strong E winds. I've surfed Canoes so far (very crowded, though mostly beginners so picking up waves is not an issue). Got to try out new board lengths I've never ridden before - 8'6, 9', 9'6 longboards. Think I got the first cross step maintained for a few seconds there after tons of attempts Interestingly some days Canoes seems to break more consistently than Queens.

One day out at Queens, saw a bunch of Uncles and Aunties with amazing performance. Emerick Ishikawa casually paddled out (!!). Lots of rippers in the lineup. Walking around Waikiki there are many pro surfers just chilling.

Next week some S swell supposedly will pick up and push to chest high+ plus range. Looking forward to venturing out to the Ala Mo area.

Duke

The Duke

Looking out at Queens

Queens

[waikikikichan]

Emerick Ishikawa casually paddled out (!!).

Did you see Emerick do any Layback cutbacks ?

[ConcreteVitamin]

Emerick Ishikawa casually paddled out (!!).

Did you see Emerick do any Layback cutbacks ?

Alas, he was staying inside that day to snatch rides from the hoard. So I didn't see his rides.

I did see Mr Toots the other day at Queens. (IIRC you said he's a friend and he's the guy who can sit on the nose.) He sat the furthest out than anybody, catching the biggest set waves. So stylish.

The S swell came. Finally, some fun shoulder to head high waves. Queens breaks in a pretty interesting fashion - the takeoff is fun. The wave will taper off at the inside of the reef.

Ventured to Rockpiles. My initial reaction when sitting in the lineup was, These Hawaiian waves have power. Queens seems much more subdued. Fast, thick walls - probably close to a very solid, long-period swell in California winter time. Got some really fun rides there although closeouts quite often.

Bottom dangerously shallow. Rocky. Went during low tide and when paddling in/out, hands could touch the rock sometimes. This made me hesistate to even try Bowls at a small day. Thinking to do Ala Mo again on a higher 0.5-1ft tide.