Waikoko's
Waikoko's sits across Hanalei Bay from Hanalei Point, offering a fickle left reef break that requires large N swell and W wind to fire. When conditions align, it's a beautiful, secluded wave with a shorter right also available.
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Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- N (350°)
- Direction range
- 310° - 20°
- Size range
- 1.2m - 2.4m
- Ideal size
- 1.7m - 2.1m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SSW (200°)
- Offshore range
- 170° - 250°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid
Water temp
25°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Bottom
Reef
Max wave face
3m+
Board
Shortboard
Consistency
4/10
Difficulty
5/10
Crowd level
3/10
Access: Beach access from Hanalei Bay west side.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Waikoko's?
Waikoko's is a reef break in North Shore, Kauai, USA, that mostly breaks left over a reef bottom. On its biggest days it can hold faces of around 3m. A shortboard is the usual call.
What swell works best at Waikoko's?
Waikoko's picks up swell from the NW round to the NNE, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the N. It starts working at around 1.2m and handles up to about 2.4m, with the sweet spot around 1.7 to 2.1m. 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 Waikoko's?
A SSW wind is dead offshore at Waikoko's, and anything from the S round to the WSW 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 Waikoko's?
Waikoko's is at its best around mid tide.
When is the best time of year to surf Waikoko's?
The most reliable run of swell at Waikoko's comes Nov to Mar. Nov-Mar. Across Hanalei Bay from the point. Fickle left reef break. Needs large N swell and W wind.
How cold is the water at Waikoko's?
The water at Waikoko's 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 Waikoko's 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). Fickle left reef break. Needs large N swell and W wind. Beautiful, secluded.
How do I get to Waikoko's?
The nearest airport on our list is LIH, then it's roughly a 35-minute drive. Beach access from Hanalei Bay west side.
What other surf spots are near Waikoko's?
The closest breaks we track are Hanalei Point (0.9 km), Hideaways (2.7 km) and Tunnels (5.2 km), handy when Waikoko's isn't working. We track 5 spots around North Shore, Kauai in total.
Best Season
Peak: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Nov-Mar. Across Hanalei Bay from the point. Fickle left reef break. Needs large N swell and W wind.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
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Cannons
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Polihale
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Pakala
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