Hawaii Surf Season Calendar — When and Where to Surf in 2026
Hawaii Has Surf Year-Round — But the Conditions Flip Completely
Hawaii's surf season is determined by swell direction, and the direction reverses with the seasons. The North Shore of Oahu (and north-facing shores across all islands) fires in winter. The South Shore and south-facing breaks run in summer. If you want to surf Hawaii's most famous waves or watch elite competitions, your window is narrow and specific. Here is the breakdown.
Winter Surf Season: November Through March
North Pacific storms generate the massive swells that hit Hawaii's north-facing shores from November through February, with the peak window roughly November 15 through February. This is when Pipeline (Banzai Pipeline) on Oahu's North Shore runs at competition size — 8 to 20-foot Hawaiian scale, which translates to 15 to 35+ feet on the face of the wave. The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing runs in November and December, encompassing the Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa, the Vans World Cup at Sunset Beach, and the Billabong Pipeline Masters.
Other North Shore Oahu breaks: Sunset Beach handles northwest swell with long walls; Haleiwa Ali'i Beach is the most accessible to watch from shore; Waimea Bay is a big-wave spot that only breaks when swells exceed 15 feet Hawaiian, triggering the Eddie Aikau Invitational — one of the rarest events in all of surfing, held only when the bay is breaking at that size.
For surfers, winter north-facing breaks on all islands are active: the north shores of Maui, Kauai (Hanalei Bay), and the Big Island also receive winter swells, though less consistently than Oahu's concentrated North Shore stretch.
Summer Surf Season: May Through September
Southern Hemisphere storms in the South Pacific generate the south swells that wrap into Hawaii's south-facing shores in summer. The surf is typically smaller — 3 to 8 feet Hawaiian scale — but cleaner and more consistent than winter's extreme energy. This is the season for Ala Moana Bowls, Kaiser Bowls, Publics, and the south breaks at Waikiki. Queens and Canoes off Waikiki Beach are where beginners learn to surf and where longboard culture thrives.
South swells also hit Kauai's Poipu coast, Maui's Lahaina side, and the Kona coast of the Big Island. Summer is the season when non-expert surfers can get in the water safely at south-facing breaks that would be dangerous in winter's north swell.
Best Spots by Skill Level
- Beginners (summer, Oahu): Waikiki — Queens, Canoes, and the breaks near the Outrigger Hotel. Instructors operate directly on the beach. Flat-bottom longboard rentals available. Mellow, rolling waves on south swells.
- Intermediate (summer): Laniakea Beach on Oahu's North Shore (summer only — flat and beginner-friendly in summer, dangerous in winter); Paia on Maui's north coast; Hanalei Bay on Kauai.
- Experienced surfers (winter): Haleiwa on Oahu for accessible reef break; Sunset Beach for longer walls; Honolua Bay on Maui's northwest tip for world-class winter point break (ranked among the best right-handers on earth when it fires).
- Expert/big wave: Pipeline, Waimea Bay, Jaws (Pe'ahi) on Maui's north coast — these are not intermediate spots in any condition.
Watching Rather Than Surfing
The North Shore of Oahu in winter is the best free sports spectacle in Hawaii. Park on Kamehameha Highway and walk the beach between Sunset Beach and Pipeline in November or December. Professional surfers train every day, competitions run when the swell cooperates, and the atmosphere around the beach parks has the same energy as a major sporting event. Go on a weekday morning for the best crowd-to-action ratio.
What the Surf Forecasts Mean
Hawaii surf reports use Hawaiian scale, which is roughly half the face height of the wave. A report of "6–8 foot Hawaiian" means the wave faces are 12–16 feet. This causes ongoing confusion for visitors from mainland California, where wave height is reported at full face. Surfline, Magic Seaweed, and the National Weather Service buoy reports (ndbc.noaa.gov) all serve Hawaii and are the reliable forecasting sources. Swell period (in seconds between waves) matters as much as height — long-period swells (16–18+ seconds) carry more energy and produce dramatically different conditions than short-period wind swells at the same height.
Hawaii has two surf seasons. North-facing shores get massive winter swell from Aleutian storms. South-facing shores get smaller, warmer summer swell from Southern Hemisphere storms. **You can find waves year-round if you know where to look.**Looking for things to do in Hawaii? Browse upcoming events →
Related Reading
Stay in the loop
Get the Friday Hawaii events email
Free. One email a week with what's happening across the islands. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.