The first of the great winter swells this season arrived today on Kauai Hawaii. Friends headed off to the north shore before dawn to test their mettle against thick, juicy waves that ranged in heights of 16 to 21 feet. The excitement was palpable, hauling long boards, dogs, coolers and cameras to the surf breaks here on Kauai. Classic surf spots with names like Cannons, and Tunnels in Haena, Hanalei Bay, and Kalihiwai will be overflowing with locals and visitors alike.
Catching a Wave At Kalihiwai
There are great spots to view this classic surf, and the guys who ride them. In Haena, park at the Haena Beach Park and on the left is the break called Cannons, to the right hand side of the Park is Tunnels. To view the surf at Hanalei Bay, park your car at the St. Regis in Princeville, get there early there are not many public spaces, and watch from high above. At Kalihiwai you can take the beach road to view the surfers here, however do not venture too close to the water because freak shore breaks have been known to take the unsuspecting out to sea.
Billabong Pipe Masters
On Oahu’s north shore the first day of the Billabong Pipe Masters in honor of Andy Irons, a local boy who hailed from Kauai and world renowned surfer who passed away earlier this year. There will be a great number of his friends out there today thanking him for his contribution to the sport, and the big waves.
Congratulations goes to the winner of the Pipe Masters, Kieren Perrow, besting countryman Joel Parkinson in waves that reached 20 feet and some of the best conditions in recent memory. Local boy John John Florence was the overall winner of the 2011 Vans Triple Crown series.
Know Before You Go
Dangerous surf conditions can and do exist year round and we remind our guests at our Kauai rentals to stay out of the high winter surf on the north shore. Hawaii’s waves pack a great deal more energy than what surfers from other parts of the world have experienced. It is due to the ocean floor topography surrounding the islands. The storms at this time of the year in the northern Pacific send waves that build over time and roll into the islands with great force.
Let us know where your favorite surf spot on Kauai. Surfing is one of the best things to do on Kauai.
About Joe Sylvester