Sandy Beach
Sandy Beach is one of the most powerful shorebreaks in Hawaii—a thick, detonating shore pound that's primarily a bodysurf and bodyboard wave. Red Bull Foam Wreckers venue. Not a traditional paddle-in surf wave, but iconic in its own right.
Sandy Beach surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Today's ConditionsToday's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to HNL, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when Hawaii is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in Hawaii — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
Get the full Sandy Beach trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- S (170°)
- Direction range
- 150° - 200°
- Size range
- 0.9m - 2.4m
- Ideal size
- 1.6m - 2m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 12s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NNW (340°)
- Offshore range
- 300° - 20°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- low to mid
Water temp
26°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Bottom
Sand
Max wave face
3m+
Board
Shortboard
Consistency
7/10
Difficulty
8/10
Crowd level
7/10
Access: Beach access at Sandy Beach Park. Large parking lot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Sandy Beach?
Sandy Beach is a beach break in SE Coast, Oahu, USA, with peaks that run both left and right over a sand bottom. It's also a renowned bodyboarding wave. On its biggest days it can hold faces of around 3m. It's one of the more consistent spots around (7/10). A shortboard is the usual call.
What swell works best at Sandy Beach?
Sandy Beach picks up swell from the SSE round to the SSW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the S. It starts working at around 0.9m and handles up to about 2.4m, with the sweet spot around 1.6 to 2m. Period matters too: aim for 12s or longer, as anything under 8s 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 Sandy Beach?
A NNW wind is dead offshore at Sandy Beach, and anything from the WNW round to the NNE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 10am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Sandy Beach?
Sandy Beach is at its best around the low to mid tide.
When is the best time of year to surf Sandy Beach?
The most reliable run of swell at Sandy Beach comes May to Sep. There's a second window in Apr and Oct too. May-Sep. Incredible bodysurf/bodyboard shorebreak. Extremely powerful and dangerous.
How cold is the water at Sandy Beach?
The water at Sandy Beach 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.
Is Sandy Beach good for beginners?
Not really. It's rated 8/10 for difficulty and suits experienced surfers. It gets busy (crowd 7/10), so mind the pecking order. Incredible bodysurf/bodyboard shorebreak. Extremely powerful, dangerous, thick shore pound. Not a paddle-in surf wave.
How do I get to Sandy Beach?
The nearest airport on our list is HNL, then it's roughly a 25-minute drive. Beach access at Sandy Beach Park. Large parking lot.
What other surf spots are near Sandy Beach?
The closest breaks we track are Diamond Head Cliffs (14 km), Publics (16 km) and Queen's (16 km), handy when Sandy Beach isn't working.
Best Season
Peak: May-Sep
Secondary: Apr, Oct
May-Sep. Incredible bodysurf/bodyboard shorebreak. Extremely powerful and dangerous.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Diamond Head Cliffs
💎 Multiple DH breaks • SE swell exposure • Heavy when on
Publics
🌊 Longest left in Town • Always crowded • Diamond Head classic
Queen's
👑 Queen Liliuokalani's wave • Historic royalty • Transforms on south swells
Canoes
🏄 Birthplace of modern surfing • Waikiki icon • Mellow to draining
Three's
3️⃣ Fast hollow rights • S-SE swell magnet • All levels welcome
Ala Moana Bowls
🏙️ Pipeline of Town • Man-made reef • South shore tubes