Suicides
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Skill Level
- Swell, Ocean
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Suicides is an exposed beach-and-reef surf spot at the foot of Diamond Head in East Honolulu. The break is very shallow with sharp reef and rocky hazards, so it tends to reward surfers who can read the lineup and time their waves with precision—especially around tides. In summer (May through August), conditions are typically most consistent, with winds that often help groom the swell when the northeast trades hold. The wave setup is known for fast, peeling right-hand waves (with occasional lefts) and good high-tide wrapping, which gives the reef a safer “cushion” to ride over. Wave energy can increase dramatically when swell builds: on larger days the break can hold plenty of size, but the combination of shallowness and speed makes it easy to get into trouble. Fast, peaky sections mean that a mistake on entry or takeoff can happen quickly. Access is via a steep walk down from the Diamond Head lookouts, and the entry is rocky and can be tricky with sea urchins. Use the safer tide window (at least mid-tide; high tide is best) and consider reef-appropriate protective gear such as boots and a leash; emergency response is available via Honolulu, but there’s no dedicated lifeguard tower at this exact peak.
- Summer peak performance (May–August).
- High tide wrapping and fast peeling rights.
- Diamond Head shelter can keep faces cleaner in trade-wind conditions.
- Consistent, exposed beach-and-reef surf with wrapping waves at high tide.
- Fast, peeling shape with long rides on good swells.
- Summer offers the most reliable performance and cleaner faces when trades hold.
- Very shallow, sharp reef with rocky entry/exit hazards (including sea urchins).
- Can become very powerful and dangerous on larger swells.
- Limited/steep access makes the break advanced and harder to manage.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NE, ENE
- Offshore directions
- NE, ENE
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Northeast trade winds; can be offshore for the local swell setup.
- Reliability
- High (wind can be clean/offshore with strong trades in summer).
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- May, June, July, August
- Shadow Zones
- Diamond Head cliff provides shelter from strong trade winds, helping keep faces clean near the peak.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell, Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach with reef components.
- Beach Size
- Tidal
- Waves
- Medium — Medium surf; can build to very large on strong swells.
- Launch
- Small — Rocky shoreline entry at the base of the Diamond Head cliffs.
- Launch Difficulty
- Difficult — Rocky entry/exit down from Diamond Head lookouts; hazards include sharp reef and sea urchins.
Through the year
Peak crowds during summer swells and weekends.
November through March
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed beach-and-reef break with wrapping waves on high tide; fast rights and occasional lefts. Very shallow, sharp reef needs precision and a high-tide cushion.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- S, SW
- Swell Height
- 0.6–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- High — High tide helps the waves wrap and adds cushion over the shallow reef.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Sheltered from strong trades by the Diamond Head cliffs, helping keep the break more workable.
- Wind Effect
- NE trades can groom the swell and keep faces cleaner.
- Bigger Swell
- Can hold size up to double overhead, but becomes very powerful and dangerous on the shallow reef.
- Wave Quality
- Good
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Fast
- Ride Length
- Medium — Fast peeling sections; can offer long rides on good swells.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Fast peeling sections; good days can produce 50–100 meter rides.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Suicides in the full forecast view.
Suicides wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 6–13 ktsGusts 27 kts
- Direction
- NE50°
- Strongest day
- Wed, Oct 2813 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.8–1.4 m12s period
- Temperature
- 23–27 °C
Over the next 7 days, Suicides is forecast for daytime winds of 6–13 kts, peaking around 13 kts on Wednesday, October 28 with gusts to 27 kts. The prevailing direction is NE. Waves run 0.8–1.4 m with a period of about 12s. 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
- sharp lava reef
- submerged rocks
- sea urchins
- very shallow reef
- strong currents during large swells
- crowds
- shallow coral reef
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard tower at this exact peak (region-wide lifeguard coverage exists along the coast).
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — No dedicated rescue at this exact peak; emergency services are available via Honolulu.
- Emergency Info
- Call 911. No dedicated lifeguard tower is present at this exact peak (use nearby Honolulu emergency services).
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — More locally oriented lineup closer to the Diamond Head area; respect the take-off zone.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; respect the local lineup in this tight take-off zone.
- Best at high tide when waves wrap.
- Wait for at least a mid-tide to avoid hitting the reef.
- Entry/exit is rocky and can be tricky with urchins; boots are recommended.
- Keep an eye on the current as it can pull you toward the Lighthouse peak.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- East Honolulu
- Nearest Town
- East Honolulu
- Parking
- Parking available at Makalei Beach Park; limited parking at Diamond Head lookout points along Diamond Head Road that fills quickly.
- Access
- Beach access via Makalei Beach Park in East Honolulu; steep walk down from the Diamond Head lookouts (rocky entry).
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Extensive options available in nearby Waikiki.
- Food & Drink
- No facilities on-site; many options available a short drive away in Kapahulu or Waikiki.
- Equipment Rental:
- Rental shops are located in Waikiki and Kapahulu.
- Gear Repair
- Surf shops in Honolulu offer repair services.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Iconic volcanic tuff cone with a popular hiking trail and panoramic coastline views
Outdoor shopping and entertainment district with local boutiques and live performances
Bronze monument honoring the “Father of Modern Surfing” and Olympic swimmer
Diamond Head State Monument hike
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 Suicides?
The best overall months at Suicides are May, June, July, August, September. The best wind months are May, June, July, August.
Which wind directions work at Suicides?
Suicides works with N, NE, ENE winds. Offshore directions are NE, ENE.
What skill level is Suicides suitable for?
Suicides suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate to Advanced.