Queen's is named after Queen Liliuokalani, the last monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Most days it's a mellow, forgiving wave, but when big south swells hit, the inside ramp section transforms into a legitimate performance wave. Historic and iconic.
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Water temp
26°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Bottom
Reef
Max wave face
2.5m+
Board
Any
Consistency
8/10
Difficulty
3/10
Crowd level
9/10
Access: Waikiki Beach. Walk-in access.
Queen's is a reef break in Waikiki, Oahu, USA, with peaks that run both left and right over a reef bottom. On its biggest days it can hold faces of around 2.5m. It's one of the more consistent spots around (8/10).
Queen's picks up swell from the SSE round to the SW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SSW. It starts working at around 0.6m and handles up to about 1.8m, with the sweet spot around 1.1 to 1.5m. 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.
A N wind is dead offshore at Queen's, and anything from the NW round to the E 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.
Queen's is at its best around the mid to high tide.
The most reliable run of swell at Queen's comes May to Sep. There's a second window in Apr and Oct too. May-Sep. Named for Queen Liliuokalani. Inside ramp section legitimate on big south swells.
The water at Queen's averages around 26°C, so boardshorts or a rashguard will do. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Yes, it's one of the friendlier waves around, rated 3/10 for difficulty. It gets busy (crowd 9/10), so mind the pecking order. Named for Queen Liliuokalani. When big south swells hit, the inside ramp turns into a legitimate performance wave.
The nearest airport on our list is HNL, then it's roughly a 10-minute drive. Waikiki Beach. Walk-in access.
The closest breaks we track are Canoes (0.4 km), Three's (0.6 km) and Publics (1.0 km), handy when Queen's isn't working.
Peak: May-Sep
Secondary: Apr, Oct
May-Sep. Named for Queen Liliuokalani. Inside ramp section legitimate on big south swells.
🏄 Birthplace of modern surfing • Waikiki icon • Mellow to draining
3️⃣ Fast hollow rights • S-SE swell magnet • All levels welcome
🌊 Longest left in Town • Always crowded • Diamond Head classic
🏙️ Pipeline of Town • Man-made reef • South shore tubes
💎 Multiple DH breaks • SE swell exposure • Heavy when on
👑 South Shore premier • Fierce pecking order • Bowly perfection
Compare this break with other destinations in these surf guides.