North Shore Oahu
About eleven kilometres of Oahu coast where winter swells break over shallow reef, including the wave called Pipeline.
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North Pacific storms send swells thousands of kilometres to hit this coast between roughly November and February, and the reef here is shallow enough and shaped so that the waves break in a hollow tube - Banzai Pipeline breaks over a reef in about three metres of water with the wave face reaching several times that, which is why it is both the most photographed wave in surfing and among the most dangerous, having killed a number of people. Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach are the other main breaks and the Triple Crown competitions run in that window. In summer the same beaches go flat and calm and are used for swimming. Haleiwa town at the west end is the commercial centre.
What you actually see
- Pipeline breaking over shallow reef - the tube that made it famous.
- Winter swells from North Pacific storms - November to February.
- Flat calm water in summer - the same beaches, swimmable.
- Competition season - the Triple Crown in the winter window.
When to go
November to February to watch surf; May to September to swim. A full day.
Honest expectations
Winter surf here is lethal to the inexperienced - people drown most years, including spectators swept off rocks. Parking at the breaks is very limited and cars are broken into. Big swell days bring traffic jams the length of the coast.
Nearby
Turtle Bay is east; Waimea Valley is inland from the bay.
What to pack for North Shore Oahu
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.