Waimea Bay
Waimea Bay is the birthplace of big wave surfing—a thundering right-hander that only truly comes alive when swells exceed 15 feet. When it's on, the takeoff is a heart-stopping drop into a churning wall of whitewater. The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational is held here, requiring 20ft+ consistent surf.
Waimea Bay surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Today'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 Waimea Bay 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
- NW (315°)
- Direction range
- 300° - 340°
- Size range
- 4.6m - 9.1m
- Ideal size
- 5.9m - 7.3m
- Height multiplier
- 1.08×
- Ideal period
- 18s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- ESE (120°)
- Offshore range
- 90° - 160°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid to high
Water temp
25°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Bottom
Mixed
Max wave face
15m+
Board
Gun / Step-up
Consistency
3/10
Difficulty
10/10
Crowd level
7/10
Access: Beach access. Popular swimming beach when flat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tide is best at Waimea Bay?
The Waimea Bay profile favors mid to high tide. Compare this preference with the forecast tide and local conditions before choosing a session.
What wind direction is offshore at Waimea Bay?
The Waimea Bay profile uses wind from ESE (120°) as its preferred direction, with an offshore range of 90° to 160°. Wind speed matters too: light winds outside that range can still produce surfable conditions, while strong offshore winds can make takeoffs difficult.
What swell size and direction work best at Waimea Bay?
The Waimea Bay scoring profile favors swell from NW (300° to 340°), a swell-height range of 4.6m to 9.1m, and a reference period of 18s. These are model inputs, not guaranteed breaking-wave heights or a promise that the surf will suit every ability.
When is the best time of year to surf Waimea Bay?
The main season at Waimea Bay is Dec, Jan, Feb. A secondary window runs Nov, Mar. Only really turns on at 15ft+. Dec-Feb peak. Eddie Aikau invitational venue.
How do I get to Waimea Bay?
The spot profile lists HNL as a nearby airport. The estimated road transfer is 50 minutes. Beach access. Popular swimming beach when flat.
What kind of wave is Waimea Bay?
Waimea Bay is a big wave break, a right-hander over a mixed bottom. Difficulty is rated 10/10.
Best Season
Peak: Dec, Jan, Feb
Secondary: Nov, Mar
Only really turns on at 15ft+. Dec-Feb peak. Eddie Aikau invitational venue.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Leftovers
🤫 North Shore sleeper • World-class potential • Empty on the right day
Pupukea
🌊 Classic Hawaiian reef • Fun to demanding • Barrel potential
Rockpile
🪨 Gap in the Road • 150-yard lefts • Uncrowded alternative
Rocky Point
📸 Photographer magnet • High performance • Shifty peaks
Log Cabins
🪵 Heavier than Pipe • N swell magnet • Life-changing barrels
Gas Chambers
💀 Detonating barrels • Extremely shallow • Helmet recommended
Plan a trip around Waimea Bay
Compare this break with other destinations in these surf guides.