Canoes
- Longboard, Beginners
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Chop
- Spot Type
- Crowded
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Canoes is a world-famous, beginner-oriented surfing break in Waikiki known for long, gentle, slow-rolling waves. The break is described as very soft and forgiving, making it a classic choice for learning and longboarding, with rides that can be exceptionally long on good south swell. Conditions are also shaped by local wind. Northeast trade winds often act offshore and help groom the wave faces, while south winds can add chop. Overall, the spot is at its best in summer, with July repeatedly cited as the top month and summer described as the best season for consistent activity. Safety is a major factor here: the lineup is extremely crowded and outrigger canoes share the water, which increases the importance of pacing, awareness, and respecting dedicated zones. Hazards mentioned include rocks and coral heads/shallow reef, especially at low tide—so it’s important to manage exposure and watch where you enter and paddle out. For a safer session, local guidance emphasizes paddling out from the Duke Kahanamoku statue and staying between lifeguard stands. Because crowds peak around midday, arriving very early is recommended, and watching for the canoe traffic zone can help reduce conflicts in the water.
- Long, slow-rolling beginner waves (soft power).
- Canoe zone traffic: outrigger canoes commonly share the lineup.
- Summer-focused best season with July as the standout month.
- Offshore-leaning northeast trade winds often groom the waves.
- Long, slow-rolling, very forgiving waves for beginners and longboarding.
- Often works in summer with soft wave energy and high ride longevity.
- Lifeguard coverage is available along Waikiki Beach (towers).
- Extremely crowded and one of the busiest beginner surf areas.
- Outrigger canoes share the lineup.
- Rocks/coral heads and shallow reef sections at low tide.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NE
- Offshore directions
- NE
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Dominated by consistent northeast trade winds; mild sea breezes can occur when trades weaken.
- Reliability
- High
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- July
- Shadow Zones
- Close to shore, nearby high-rise hotels can create localized turbulence or wind shadows very near the beach.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Chop
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Small
- Chop Level
- Moderate chop — Can become choppy with south winds.
- Launch
- Medium — Paddle out from the Duke Kahanamoku statue; wide sandy beach access directly into the water.
Through the year
Peak in summer (July); extremely crowded year-round.
November through March
By sport
What to expect for each.
Generally discouraged in the main lineup due to the extreme density of surfers and outrigger canoes.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Foil-friendly conditions limited by hazards and density.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
A mellow, beginner-friendly surfing break with long, slow-rolling waves.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- S, SW, SE
- Swell Height
- 0.5–1.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides
- Shelter
- Exposed
- Wind Effect
- Light-offshore northeast trade winds tend to groom the wave faces; south winds can make conditions choppy.
- Bigger Swell
- Typically stays manageable, though it can close out or become very fast and heavy on massive south swells.
- Wave Quality
- Excellent
- Wave Power
- Soft
- Wave Shape
- Mushy — Often described as super mellow, slow rolling, and soft/very forgiving.
- Peel Speed
- Slow
- Ride Length
- Long — Lots of long rides for longboard surfing.
- Typical Ride Length
- 100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Can offer rides of over 100 meters on a good south swell.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Canoes in the full forecast view.
Canoes wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 6–13 ktsGusts 28 kts
- Direction
- NE50°
- Strongest day
- Wed, Oct 2813 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.8–1.4 m11s period
- Temperature
- 23–27 °C
Over the next 7 days, Canoes is forecast for daytime winds of 6–13 kts, peaking around 13 kts on Wednesday, October 28 with gusts to 28 kts. The prevailing direction is NE. Waves run 0.8–1.4 m with a period of about 11s. 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
- rocks
- extreme crowds
- outtrigger canoes sharing the lineup
- shallow reef at low tide
- submerged coral heads
- crowded most of the time
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited
- Emergency Info
- Call 911. Lifeguard towers are located along Waikiki Beach; the nearest major hospital reported is Queen's Medical Center.
Rules of the spot
Respect the line-up; beginners take priority. Standard surfing etiquette applies, though it is often ignored due to the number of beginners.
- Designated beginner zone.
- Specific zones are sometimes designated for swimming vs surfing.
- Commercial surf lessons are restricted to permitted operators.
- Paddle out from the Duke Kahanamoku statue.
- Stay between the two lifeguard stands.
- Watch for the 'Canoe Zone' where outrigger boats come through.
- Arrive very early to avoid the heaviest mid-day crowds.
- At low tide, watch out for coral heads.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Honolulu
- Nearest Town
- East Honolulu
- Parking
- Parking is reported as very limited and expensive at the beach; alternatives include public parking at the Honolulu Zoo or Kapiolani Park (short walk). Another reported option is plenty of parking at the Honolulu Zoo lot before the beach.
- Access
- Public beach access via Kalakaua Avenue; the spot is located directly in front of the Moana Surfrider hotel.
- Cost Level
- Expensive
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous hotels directly in Waikiki and nearby accommodations.
- Food & Drink
- Multiple food options are available within walking distance along Kalakaua Avenue, including a beachfront dining option nearby.
- Equipment Rental:
- Dozens of beach rental stands report surfboard and SUP rentals by the hour or day.
- Gear Storage
- Limited public storage; many hotels provide board storage for guests and some beach stands offer lockers.
- Gear Repair
- Surfboard repair shops in Honolulu are reported as a short drive away.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
A dense, tourism-centered beachfront area with classic Waikiki landmarks close to the waterline.
Outdoor shopping and entertainment district with local boutiques and live performances.
Iconic volcanic tuff cone with a popular hiking trail and panoramic coastline views.
Bronze monument honoring the “Father of Modern Surfing.”
Ocean excursions for snorkeling and sunset viewing departing directly from the sand.
Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay.
Diamond Head State Monument hike.
Beachfront dining institution known for its Hula Pie and surf-inspired atmosphere.
The second oldest public aquarium in the United States, near Kapiolani Park.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Canoes?
The best overall months at Canoes are July.
Which wind directions work at Canoes?
Canoes works with N, NE winds. Offshore directions are NE.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Canoes?
Recommended equipment sizes at Canoes: Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 10–20 kts.
What skill level is Canoes suitable for?
Canoes suits these riding levels: Wingfoiling: Advanced · Surfing: Beginner.