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Surfing Oahu's North Shore

If you’re an experienced surfer—or just want to watch others ride the waves—north shore Oahu is a required stop on your Hawaiian vacation. The island offers over 100 surf spots, so whether you’re a beginner or a pro, Oahu has a surf spot for you.

The North Shore Oahu breaks however—these are the surf spots where legends are made. When the winter swells set in, monster waves make the island’s north shore a mecca for world-class surfers. Most of these surf spots are only for the most experienced and extreme of surfers, but even if you don’t have the skills to hit these breaks, it’s well worth the trip just to watch the best of the best challenge themselves against massive walls of water.

Must Do:

Pipeline
One of the most famous north shore Oahu surf spots is also one of the most dangerous. The Banzai Pipeline has claimed more lives than any other surf spot in the world, but that doesn’t stop experienced surfers from challenging the barreling waves. Beneath the waves lie underwater caves built from sharp, cutting reef, so a wipeout here can have serious consequences.

Pipeline is certainly no place for beginners. Located just before Ehukai Beach Park, the surf break hosts the Billabong Pipeline masters every December.
Backdoor
Backdoor is located at Banzai Ehukai Beach Park, directly opposite Sunset Elementary School. Less dangerous than Pipeline, Backdoor can still challenge the best when the winter swells hit and the waves reach heights of fifteen feet. When the surf is three feet, intermediate surfers can try the first reef, but should do so with care.
Haleiwa
Home to the Hawaiian Pro, Haleiwa carries the name of the neighboring town. The break is known for hollow rights, rippable sections, and extremely strong currents. Wave heights range from two to fifteen feet. If you’re out at the lineup in strong surf, watch the rip current that develops off the lineup—it’s capable of pulling an unwary surfer out of the line and into oncoming sets.
Off the Wall
Located just begore Ehukai Beach Park, Off the Wall is separated from Pipeline by a short channel. When swells arrive from the north this north shore Oahu surf spot provides right-handers with hollow waves. Crowds at the lineup are common.
Rocky Point
This sand-bottomed site offers exciting right-hand, rippable waves when the north swells roll in. Located just west of Sunset Beach, this surf spot is popular with pro surf photographers.
Sunset
A mile from Pipelines Sunset, where 200-foot breaking waves come in small and large sets topping out at fifteen feet. Sunset is the second stop in the Vans Triple Crown. Second stop in the Vans Triple Crown.
Waimea
Waimea is one of the few bays in the world capable of sustaining ridable 50-foot waves. It’s here that the Eddie Aikau surfing contest—in honor of legendary Hawaiian surfer Eddie Aikau—is held when conditions are right.

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North Shore Oahu Surf Size

While the international surfing community measures wave height from the trough to the peak, Hawaii takes a different approach. Wave measurements in Hawaii are approximately fifty percent of the front wave height, so a 5-foot wave on a Hawaiian surf report would be measures as ten feet anywhere else. Hawaiian wave heights are sometimes referred to as “measuring the back of the wave.”

Whether you’ve just started surfing or are ready to ride the monster waves of north shore Oahu, remember to respect the local surfers and abide by local lineup rules. If you’re not sure about the surf etiquette, ask around. Now grab your board and get out there—because Eddie would go.

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