Before visiting any North Shore beaches, it’s a good thing to check out the daily status/hazards of the coast: http://oceansafety.soest.hawaii.edu/
When on the island, you can call the phone number 596-SURF each day to find out the surf report and if any events are running.
Pack a pair of binoculars. While Pipeline rears up at the tips of your fingers, places like Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay are even better with a pair of bino’s.
Keep your eyes on the western sky each afternoon. The sunsets out here are unbelievable.
See also:
Get to Big Waves,
Safety Tips
All pro surfing competitions staged on the North Shore are free and open to spectators – no tickets required!
On days of competition, you can expect the action at all of these events to run from 8am to 4pm.
North Shore surfing events have what are called “holding periods”. They don’t run day in and day out regardless of ocean conditions like many other events around the world do. Here, each contest has a holding period of approximately two weeks (longer in the case of The Quiksilver Big Wave), and runs on the four biggest and best days of waves within that period. This ensures that you, the spectator, get to enjoy the most spectacular surf possible, and contestants get to show off their best moves!
The Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau is nothing short of a spectator’s coup – but the trick is being there when all the elements of Nature come together to deliver one day of gigantic perfection. With its super-extended holding period of December through February, It isn’t an event you can book a holiday around. It runs on just one day. Or not. If the waves don’t get around 40 feet, the event doesn’t run at all for that year. But you can still pick up a collector’s t-shirt or poster at the Boardrider’s store in Hale’iwa Marketplace.
If every blue sky must have a cloud, ours is traffic. Little has changed on the North Shore since surfers first started coming here, and that includes the single lane in each direction of the scenic Kamehameha Highway. While it helps to control the number of people gathering out here, it can also result in bumper-to-bumper traffic. But if you had to pick anywhere in the world to get stuck in traffic, it’s hard to beat the North Shore! Just enjoy the view.
Beware the view! - This is no joke! Huge waves and incredible views cause dozens of major traffic accidents along this stretch each winter – summer too! So if you’ve got to steal a glimpse, make sure your co-pilot has their eyes on the road for you.
Get an early start on the day to get your pick of parking spots.
Pay serious attention to parking signs, neighborhood driveways, school zones and hydrants! These roads are well patrolled by police and cars can be readily towed.
Don’t lock valuables in your car. While police have a good presence on the North Shore, the well-known frequency of visitors still attracts thieves. Don’t tempt them. Leave what you can at your hotel or carry it with you.
Bring water and snacks to the beach. There are NO beachside stores. If you don’t want to lose your parking spot, come prepared.
Beware the sun! Umbrella shade, sunglasses, hats and sunscreen are a must (extra camera batteries come in handy too). Sunburn is a sure way to ruin your trip. Even though it might technically be “winter”, YOU WILL STILL BURN!
