Mokuleia
Mokuleia is a two-mile north-facing beach break stretch west of Haleiwa with multiple peaks and relative solitude. The trade-off is that NE trade winds are onshore here, so it needs WNW-NW swells with SE or light variable winds to really shine.
Mokuleia surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NW (305°)
- Direction range
- 290° - 320°
- Size range
- 1.2m - 3m
- Ideal size
- 2m - 2.6m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SE (135°)
- Offshore range
- 100° - 170°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid
Water temp
25°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Bottom
Sand
Max wave face
4m+
Board
Any
Consistency
5/10
Difficulty
5/10
Crowd level
3/10
Access: Beach access. Ample parking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Mokuleia?
Mokuleia is a beach break in North Shore, Oahu, USA, with peaks that run both left and right over a sand bottom. On its biggest days it can hold faces of around 4m.
What swell works best at Mokuleia?
Mokuleia picks up swell from the WNW round to the NW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the NW. That's a tight window, so it needs the swell direction to line up. It starts working at around 1.2m and handles up to about 3m, with the sweet spot around 2 to 2.6m. Period matters too: aim for 14s or longer, as anything under 10s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Mokuleia?
A SE wind is dead offshore at Mokuleia, and anything from the E round to the S keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 11am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Mokuleia?
Mokuleia is at its best around mid tide.
When is the best time of year to surf Mokuleia?
The most reliable run of swell at Mokuleia comes Nov to Mar. There's a second window in Oct too. Nov-Mar. NE trades are onshore here. Need WNW-NW swells with E-SE wind.
How cold is the water at Mokuleia?
The water at Mokuleia averages around 25°C, so boardshorts or a rashguard will do. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Mokuleia good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 5/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 3/10). Two-mile north-facing stretch west of Haleiwa. Multiple peaks, relatively uncrowded. NE trades are onshore.
How do I get to Mokuleia?
The nearest airport on our list is HNL, then it's roughly a 50-minute drive. Beach access. Ample parking.
What other surf spots are near Mokuleia?
The closest breaks we track are Chun's Reef (7.0 km), Laniakea (7.0 km) and Himalayas (7.5 km), handy when Mokuleia isn't working. We track 23 spots around North Shore, Oahu in total.
Best Season
Peak: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Secondary: Oct
Nov-Mar. NE trades are onshore here. Need WNW-NW swells with E-SE wind.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Chun's Reef
🏖️ Mellow North Shore • Longboard heaven • Fun and accessible
Laniakea
🐢 Turtle Beach • Fun right point • Intermediate-friendly
Himalayas
🗻 Himalayan-scale waves • Historic swells only • Frontier big wave
Haleiwa
🚪 Gateway to the North Shore • Triple Crown venue • Toilet Bowl inside
Avalanche
🏔️ Haleiwa's outer reef • Deep water power • Big swell handler
Kaena Point
⚡ Oahu's most powerful • Accessible only by foot • Sacred ground