Cannons (Haena)
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Expert
- Skill Level
- Swell
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Cannons (Haena) is an exposed reef break on the west side of Haena Beach Park, known for intense barreling left-hand reef waves over an exceptionally shallow, sharp reef. The wave is described as very powerful, fast, and performance-focused—where the takeoff, barrel, and a short wall sequence are critical before the reef becomes too shallow. Multiple providers emphasize that it is an expert-only lineup due to the shallow reef contact and the speed of the wave. Hazards consistently include rocks and sea urchins, with additional risks noted such as sharks, strong currents (rip currents and lateral drifts), pollution, and a competitive/local lineup dynamic. Conditions are also sensitive to tide and swell, with high tide recommended to reduce the risk of the most dangerous reef contact. Wind and condition notes differ in directionality detail but converge on practical session selection: one provider indicates that South winds are best, while another states South/South-East winds are offshore and help groom wave faces, whereas North-East trade winds are cross-onshore and degrade conditions. Typical guidance also points to winter as the best season for the most consistent and powerful swells. Operationally, access is tied to Haena State Park and parking can be extremely limited. For non-residents, advanced reservations are reported as required, so planning ahead is an important part of making it to the spot safely and on time. Nearby lifeguards are present at Haena Beach Park, but rescue is limited and the break itself is far offshore.
- Heavy, barreling reef surfing over a very shallow reef
- Winter swells provide the most consistent and powerful conditions
- Offshore South/South-East winds can groom wave faces
- Expert-only conditions with strong localism and reef hazards
- World-class heavy barreling reef surfing potential (winter swell peak).
- Grooming conditions reported when winds are offshore (South/South-East).
- Generally excellent water clarity reported for the Haena cluster.
- Extremely shallow and sharp reef with very fast, barreling waves—expert-only risk.
- Strong currents/rips and lateral drift are common, especially with larger winter swells.
- Localism is reported as moderate to heavy.
- Access and parking at Haena State Park can require reservations for non-residents.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- S, SE
- Offshore directions
- S, SE
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Mixed — Providers conflict on primary wind regime: one result indicates south winds are best, while another describes South and South-East as offshore (grooming) for the break.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Moderate gusting reported by one provider.
- Best Months
- October, November, December, January, February, March
- Thermal Window
- Other · Afternoon · Months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec · Dir: N, NE, E · Regional (Haena cluster) thermal support is minimal; sessions are mainly trade-wind/synoptic-driven rather than strongly thermal-reinforced.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell
- Beach
- Reef — Reef described as the dominant bottom/structure; one provider also describes sand beach composition, suggesting sandy approach areas with reef bottom.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Big — Reported as big; also characterized as heavy and very-powerful by multiple providers.
- Launch
- Small — Launch/access is via Haena Beach Park; requires a paddle through a channel or from the beach depending on swell size.
- Launch Difficulty
- Expert only — Launch/access is reported as difficult; reef proximity and currents make it demanding.
Through the year
Consistently crowded when swell is good; very high competition in the lineup.
Winter months see higher rainfall and potential for north shore storms (cluster context: wettest December–March).
By sport
What to expect for each.
Cannons is an exposed reef break on the west side of Haena Beach Park, known for heavy barreling barrels and fast, shallow reef action; it is regarded as a high-performance expert spot.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- N, NW, NNW
- Swell Height
- 1.5–4 m
- Optimal Tide
- High — High tide is recommended to avoid the most dangerous reef contact.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed reef break; exposed to prevailing swell and wind patterns.
- Wind Effect
- South and South-East winds are offshore and tend to groom wave faces; North-East trade winds are cross-onshore and can degrade conditions (per one provider’s wind/conditioning notes).
- Bigger Swell
- Holds significant size but becomes increasingly dangerous and expert-only as swell increases.
- Wave Quality
- Excellent — Wave quality described as excellent by one provider; another source notes fairly consistent surf.
- Wave Power
- Very powerful — Described as very-powerful to powerful; heavy barreling reef break.
- Wave Shape
- Barreling — Barreling barrels reported.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Reported as fast/very fast sections.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Fast and intense; focused on barrel then a short wall before the reef becomes too shallow.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Fast and intense session focused on the barrel and a short wall before the reef becomes too shallow.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Cannons (Haena) in the full forecast view.
Cannons (Haena) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 5–13 ktsGusts 26 kts
- Direction
- ENE71°
- Strongest day
- Thu, Oct 2913 kts
- Windy days
- 1/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.2–2.1 m9s period
- Temperature
- 22–26 °C
Over the next 7 days, Cannons (Haena) is forecast for daytime winds of 5–13 kts, peaking around 13 kts on Thursday, October 29 with gusts to 26 kts. The prevailing direction is ENE. Waves run 1.2–2.1 m with a period of about 9s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Extremely shallow, sharp reef (very fast wave)
- Rocks
- Sea urchins
- Strong rip currents and lateral drifts (especially on larger winter swell)
- Sharks
- Pollution
- Heavy localism/localism
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Lifeguards nearby at Haena Beach Park (Maniniholo); seasonal presence reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue is limited; towers are nearby but do not provide dedicated watercraft rescue for outer-reef breaks.
- Emergency Info
- Lifeguards are located nearby at Haena Beach Park (Maniniholo), but the break itself is far offshore.
- Localism / Vibe
- Heavy — Localism reported as moderate in one source and heavy in another; baseline hazards include localism.
Rules of the spot
Respect the local lineup; this is a highly sensitive and competitive spot. Follow state park access/parking rules before heading to the beach.
- Haena State Park parking/access requires advanced reservations for non-residents.
- Extremely limited parking.
- Wait for a high tide to reduce the most dangerous reef contact.
- Watch the lineup for a long time before paddling out to understand the current and take-off zone.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Haena
- Nearest Town
- Hanalei
- Parking
- Extremely limited parking. Reservations at Haena State Park are mandatory for non-Hawaii residents.
- Access
- Drive to the end of HI-56 N Road, park near Haena Beach Park, then walk past showers and bathrooms to find a small trail leading to Cannons Beach.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Vacation rentals are available in Haena and Hanalei; more extensive lodging is in nearby Princeville and Hanalei (cluster context).
- Food & Drink
- Food options are limited in the immediate area; more restaurants and grocery stores are available in Hanalei.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is available in Hanalei (about 15 minutes away).
- Gear Storage
- No reliable on-site storage reported.
- Gear Repair
- Gear repair reported as available in Hanalei (nearby).
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Dramatic 17-mile coastline with towering cliffs and lush valleys, accessible by boat or helicopter.
A world-renowned 11-mile hike along the Na Pali Coast starting from Ke’e Beach.
Local seafood and cocktails served with ocean views in the Haena area.
A large, crescent-shaped bay good for swimming, paddleboarding, and beach picnics.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Cannons (Haena)?
The best overall months at Cannons (Haena) are January. The best wind months are October, November, December, January, February, March.
Which wind directions work at Cannons (Haena)?
Cannons (Haena) works with S, SE winds. Offshore directions are S, SE.
What skill level is Cannons (Haena) suitable for?
Cannons (Haena) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Expert.