Surfing Waves

Hola Friends,
I know Waikiki breaks like Canoes, Queens and Populars are predominantly longboarder waves, but I'm heading there for a month stay in late January and early February. I surf higher volume groveler shortboards and would like to bring mine (a large Pyzel Gremlin). Can people get decent rides on these particular Waikiki breaks off the main beach with a shortboard? Or for this particular time of the year should I leave anything short at home? I know there are a ton of other breaks around Oahu that I could rent a car and drive to, but I'm interested in knowing any breaks within walking distance from hotel that I can surf with my shortboard in Jan/Feb. Thanks, Paul

What hotel ? Depending, if you're closer to the Zoo side, you could walk to Diamond Head. If you closer to Fort DeRussy side, you could walk to Rockpiles/Bowls. But at either place, not sure where you're going to stash your stuff, because it will get stolen ( Slippahs / flip-flops included )

Btw, I wouldn't bring a board. Just get another board from Pyzel or one of the many shapers on the Northshore.

All of those breaks (Canoes, Queens and Populars) can be fantastic shortboarding waves with the right swell, however at that time of the year? The waves are going to be what they are but there are lots of breaks. Here is a link to map of the breaks https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?msa=0&mid=1N3iQTTdjIGd3crD9BHkI1vT34zk&ll=21.478429865065223%2C-157.9541465&z=11 just zoom in to the south side where it says Manoa and you can find those breaks waikikichan mentions. I used to shortboard at Threes and Fours and often walked from University of Hawaii LOL much further than your hotel. I even paddled across the Alawai canal to surf the breaks on the other side of Magic Island. To be fair I was in tiptop shape back then so maybe don't do as I have unless you are fit and ocean savy. I have no idea how crowded things are there these days because last time I was there was 40 years ago

Thanks all! I haven't picked my hotel/apartment yet. Probably just find something on Ali'i Beach Rentals. Seems if I'm not inclined to walk to Diamond then staying at the north end of Waikiki proper makes more sense than the south end, if I'm trying to find more shortboard waves. I know I'm not going at ideal time (Feb) but still would like to have some fun with my 6'6" groveler. Thanks too for that map!! It's great. I've been checking out Rock Piles and it looks fantastic. Is Rock Piles horrendously territorial? Or like all the other popular breaks where one can hang out and go for waves, just use common courtesy and respect for others?

I haven't been there in 40 years but back then Threes and Fours were more laid back than Rock piles but most breaks if you don't piss off the locals they will let you surf. Fours was the place where people kicked out from Kaisers or the Bowl went so on occasions there were some real entitled jerks in the lineup in which case I went to Threes which was always a bunch of surfers who all got along with each other. Threes and Fours were named after the channel markers by the breaks. I surfed a bunch of different breaks off Waikiki and never had a problem with localism except for as I said however I was a local from another island so maybe they cut me some slack. Also I never surfed Kaisers or the bowl because there seemed to be a higher level of antagonistic surfers out there which you could notice just from the shoreline while you check out the surf however most people I talk to say if surf respectfully it's not an issue. I did run into some localism at the break labeled Big Rights maybe or Tennis courts probably big rights because it was good sized rights. There were only 5 guys out but they had all surfed this break since they were kids but once I caught a wave and they could see I wasn't a kook they became friendly.

Does Queens, Canoes, Bowls typically, on average, stay flat usually in February, like it has been this year 2021 in January so far? Are the wave usually in that 0 to 2 feet range during this time, with an occasional 3 foot maybe here and there, about once or twice a week?

I don't know specifically but it's a south facing beach so typically has bigger waves in the summer

I would say it gets more flat as it’s more into the “shoulder” season between the Winter north swells and the Summer south swells.

OP: did you go and how's the surf right now?

waikikikichan wrote:I would say it gets more flat as it’s more into the “shoulder” season between the Winter north swells and the Summer south swells.

Waikikichan - What would mid-March - April look like on the south shore of Oahu? Also contemplating a trip...

I would say March-April could be flatter than Jan-Feb because there’s no Northshore wrap. But if there’s a storm from Japan, it hits Hawaii with waves, then California next like it did a few weeks ago.