Surf on Oahu's south shore today
South Shore, Oahu, Hawaii · 20 spots ranked
Four's is the best choice on Oahu's south shore today: ankle to knee high, 7-second swell, moderate offshore wind, rated poor to fair.Kaiser's is close behind.
Tomorrow, Tuesday 3 November
Four's is the best choice on Oahu's south shore tomorrow: ankle to knee high, 7-second swell, moderate offshore wind, rated poor to fair.Kaiser's is close behind.
Surfing in Oahu's south shore
Oahu's south shore is Honolulu's coast - a long reef shelf from White Plains through Ala Moana and Waikiki to Diamond Head, facing south into the summer swells that arrive from storms below the equator. It is the opposite of the North Shore in every way: it works in summer not winter, it is gentle where the north is heavy, and it is where Hawaii learned to surf.
The spots sit close together but behave differently: Bowls and Kaisers are hollow and fast, Canoes and Queens are slow and long, Diamond Head is bigger and windier. This page ranks all of them from today's and tomorrow's forecast, using the same model as the app.
Where should a beginner surf in Oahu's south shore?
Waikiki - Canoes, Queens and the beach in front of the hotels. Slow, long, soft waves over a deep reef, with board rental and instructors on the sand. It is the most famous beginner surf in the world and still deserves it.
Ala Moana Bowls and Kaisers are for experienced surfers - shallow, fast and heavily localised. Diamond Head is bigger than it looks and the trade wind blows across it.
When is the best time to surf Oahu's south shore?
May to September, when south swell arrives from southern-hemisphere storms - the south shore's summer is the North Shore's off-season and vice versa. Trade winds blow offshore or side-shore here most of the year, so mornings are clean. Winter brings small, inconsistent surf; the reefs at Waikiki still offer something most days.
Common questions
Where should a beginner surf on Oahu?
Waikiki - Canoes or Queens. Slow, soft, deep-reef waves with instructors on the beach. Nowhere else on the island comes close for a first wave.
When is the best time of year for the south shore?
May to September, on south swell. Winter is the North Shore's season and the south goes quiet.
Is Ala Moana Bowls good for intermediates?
No - it is fast, shallow and one of the most localised waves on the island. Populars or Threes next door are the intermediate step.
What is the difference between Canoes and Queens?
They are neighbouring peaks at Waikiki. Canoes is the softest and slowest; Queens is a little faster and shapelier, and gets more crowded.
Does Diamond Head get big?
Bigger than Waikiki on the same swell, and windier - the trades blow across it. It is the south shore's option when Waikiki is too small.