Sprouting Waters

The Sport of Kings, the birthplace of modern surfing, epic crowds; if you have not yet surfed Waikiki you know all about it.  Literally translated in Hawaiian to ‘Sprouting Waters,” Waikiki may be a place you have to surf once in your life and never surf again.

Surfers around the world will vent how “their spot” is now ‘way too crowded,’ and Waikiki is unique in that it has ALWAYS been crowded, so expectations are managed.  Oahu is also famous for the Seven Mile Miracle, the stretch of breaks that include Waimea Bay, Pipeline and Haleiwa, where you will find sponsored surfers, professionals and surf legends making terrifying waves look welcoming.

If you find yourself on Oahu to surf it is worth visiting both Waikiki and the North Shore, and traveling from one to the other will feel a bit like Route 27 in July.  Build in time and expect difficulty parking, and like many surf spots around the globe you will need to lock your car and not leave belongings on the beach.  Waves will be magical, consistent and super fun.  You will surf with locals and visitors that are so good they will dominate the waves, but there are plenty to go around.

As for Waikiki, given the crowds, people were friendly for the most part.  For such a tourist break, there were a fair number of locals, ‘aunties’ and ‘uncles,’ as the older Hawaiians were called.  We wondered why locals would want to surf the most popular, lesson heavy, busiest break in all the Hawaiian Islands, and the answer was they were not willing to give it up to tourists.  There is a section (Canoes) specifically for lessons, and the surrounding sections and breaks a mix of surfers and levels. Going early in the morning, off-season, or around sunset will have slightly less people, but when the swell is weak it’s best to surf according to the tides.  Waikiki is built-up more than ever; with every chain restaurant you can imagine.  You will find fantastic tasting menus in smaller restaurants like NaTure and Mugen, and if you venture off the main strip of town, you will find a little more authenticity.  Like everywhere else Hawaii is continuing to change, but you will still find world class surf, beautiful sunsets and the Aloha spirit.

Happy Surfing!