Honokohau Harbour
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Advanced
- Skill Level
- Swell, Ocean
- Spot Type
- Moderate
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Honokohau Harbour is a quite exposed reef break with reliable surfing conditions that can work at any time of year, with best reported performance in January. The spot is characterized by a powerful right-hand wave breaking over shallow volcanic reef, and it can become more dangerous on larger swells as currents intensify near the harbour entrance. Wind-wise, east winds are generally offshore and tend to produce cleaner, more groomed wave faces. Wind conditions are described as trade-wind driven but with a strong daily pattern: lighter offshore breezes are more typical in the morning, and afternoon sea-breeze conditions can improve the feeling of wind readiness for the day. Surf conditions are best matched with west-northwest groundswells. The working swell height is reported around 1.0–2.5 meters, with the spot typically offering short rides (often in the 50–100 meter range) and fast, peeling sections that may finish in deeper water toward the harbour channel. For safety, this is a high-hazard environment: sharp rocks/reef and sea urchins are present, and strong rip/tidal currents can develop during larger conditions. Also, avoid surfing in the middle of the harbour entrance channel due to heavy vessel traffic, and take tiger-shark reports seriously in your plan and timing.
- Powerful right-hand reef wave over shallow volcanic ledge
- Offshore-favorable east winds for cleaner faces
- Reliable conditions year-round with a January peak
- Short but fast rides; larger swells increase risk near the harbour channel
- High-quality, powerful right-hand reef wave
- Offshore-favorable east winds help produce cleaner faces
- Reliable surf and can work across the year, with a peak in January
- Shallow reef and sea urchins make the entry hazardous
- Strong currents and hazardous conditions can increase on larger swells
- Tiger sharks have been reported in the area
- Harbour entrance vessel traffic creates a serious hazard near the channel
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E
- Offshore directions
- E
- Wind Range
- 5–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Trade-wind driven coastal winds with strong diurnal influence.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Steady — Described as steady.
- Best Months
- January
- Shadow Zones
- High volcanic terrain can block prevailing trades, producing glassy or lighter wind conditions at times.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell, Ocean
- Beach
- Rocks — Rocky shore/reef conditions.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Medium — Medium-sized wave conditions reported.
- Launch
- Medium — Entry is typically from the rocky shore or from Alula Beach adjacent to the harbour mouth.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Moderate entry difficulty due to rocky shore and reef access.
Through the year
Can be crowded on weekends and when a solid West swell is running; peak January swell conditions are more likely to bring crowds.
Rainy season typically runs from November to March.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Quite exposed reef break with reliable surf and a shallow volcanic reef that creates a fast, powerful right-hand wave. Best matched to west-northwest groundswells, with offshore-favorable east winds.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- WNW
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed reef break with little shelter.
- Wind Effect
- East winds are offshore and provide cleaner, more groomed faces.
- Bigger Swell
- Handles size well, but conditions become increasingly dangerous due to currents and proximity to the channel.
- Wave Quality
- Good
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Powerful right-hand reef break.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Often described as a peeling right-hand wave.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Fast, steep sections.
- Ride Length
- Short — Fast steep sections often end in deeper water near the harbour channel.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Fast, steep sections that often end in deep water near the harbour channel.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Honokohau Harbour in the full forecast view.
Honokohau Harbour wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–10 ktsGusts 14 kts
- Direction
- WSW243°
- Strongest day
- Wed, Oct 2810 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.9–1.9 m11s period
- Temperature
- 24–30 °C
Over the next 7 days, Honokohau Harbour is forecast for daytime winds of 2–10 kts, peaking around 10 kts on Wednesday, October 28 with gusts to 14 kts. The prevailing direction is WSW. Waves run 0.9–1.9 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
- Sea urchins
- Sharp volcanic reef
- Boat traffic
- Strong currents
- Tiger sharks
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards noted.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability is limited.
- Emergency Info
- Kona Community Hospital is located approximately 15 miles south in Kealakekua. Emergency number: 911.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Moderate localism noted.
Rules of the spot
Avoid surfing in the middle of the harbour entrance channel due to heavy vessel traffic.
- Active harbour channel
- Do not surf through/near the harbour entrance channel center due to vessel traffic
- Be extremely cautious of tiger sharks, which are known to frequent the area due to fishing boats returning to the harbour.
- The reef is very shallow and covered in urchins; wearing booties is common for those less experienced with the entry.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Kailua-Kona
- Nearest Town
- Kailua-Kona
- Nearest Airport
- Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA)
- Parking
- Ample parking available at the harbour and near the trailhead to Alula Beach.
- Access
- Accessible via the Honokohau Harbour road; a short walk from the parking area to the shoreline near the harbour mouth.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous hotels and vacation rentals in Kailua-Kona.
- Food & Drink
- Harbour House restaurant is located within the harbour complex.
- Equipment Rental:
- Rental shops are available in nearby Kailua-Kona town center.
- Gear Repair
- Local surf shops in Kailua-Kona provide repair services.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Coastal park with ancient Hawaiian fishponds, petroglyphs, and green sea turtle sightings.
Shallow, protected snorkeling in Honokōhau Bay and Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Honokohau Harbour?
The best overall months at Honokohau Harbour are January.
Which wind directions work at Honokohau Harbour?
Honokohau Harbour works with E winds. Offshore directions are E.
What skill level is Honokohau Harbour suitable for?
Honokohau Harbour suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate to Advanced.