Located on Kauai in Hawaii, Hanalei Bay is the center of the Kauai surf scene, and the point break on the Eastern side is one of the best breaks on the island. This wave spins out fast right-hand barrels and performance walls, holds size very well, and offers good protection from trade winds. The waves here require a bit of skill to surf well and break for up to 300 meters over a coral reef. The entire bay is wave-rich, there are at least four other well-known set-ups, if the crowds at the point are too much just look around.
What are the best surf conditions for Hanalei Bay?
Gets good between waist-high and triple overhead. We recommend riding a longboard here when smaller and a shortboard then step up as the size picks up. This break is suitable for intermediate and advanced-level surfers. The surf here is pretty consistent (6/10) and will get ridiculously crowded (9/10). The best winds are from the South. The best swells are from the North and Northwest. Works best on a low to mid-tide.
We recommend wearing board shorts or a bikini year-round here. Water temperatures range from 27 to 24. See the temperature chart below for more data on this.
