Waimea Bay, Oahu

Oahu’s North Shore is famous amongst surfers the world over - in winter the waves can reach heights of 25 feet or more. When the surf is big enough, and the conditions good enough, Waimea Bay is home to the spectacular ‘Eddie’ surfing contest. Past winners include Kelly Slater (in 2002).

In summer, though, the ocean can be as calm as a millpond, making the beach ideal for sunbathing, swimming, body-surfing, and boogie boarding. A favorite pastime of many is leaping off ‘Jumpers rock’ – in places over 40ft high. It’s very thrilling, but it can also be downright foolhardy if you try it at low tide, or you mis-time your leap and jump into a wave-trough.

As a break from the beach, visit the beautiful and tranquil Waimea Falls Park just a short distance away. The centerpiece of the park is a spectacular waterfall with a lagoon at its base.

Getting to Waimea Bay is easy. Pick up the Kamehameha Highway (83) at Haleiwa. You’ll reach Waimea bay after about 4 miles of driving northwards. There’s a good sized parking lot, with adjacent restrooms .