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Kauai Surfing - Surfing on Kauai

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Surfing PKs in front of Kuhio Shores

Kauai Surfing and Boogie Boarding

Kauai offers a great surfing experience. The island of Kauai is home to serene beaches with great surf spots that offer year-round options for world class waves. From reefs to breaks, you're sure to find a surf location that suits your style on the island of Kauai.

South Shore

Best surf from May to October

Kuhio Shores, on the south side of Kauai, is home to eight surf spots that offer swells ranging from three to fifteen feet. Four of them are main attractions for experienced surfers. Acid Drops is a great right on south swells. Here you'll find steep and hollow barrel rides up to fifteen feet. Centers is considered a right but is also a great left. Watch for a shallow reef and lots of locals at this spot. PKs is a constant-breaking, steep left that morphs into a right as it moves toward the shore where lots of locals and boogie boards show up in the afternoon. Roughly twenty minutes west of these three spots is Pakalas, a left that "peels a long way" according to local surfer Don Cofer. It is a mellow wave between two and fifteen feet; look for more long boards at this location than at the others near Kuhio Shores. Other spots in the area include Longhouse, Cow's Head, First Break and Waiohai and promise great surfing variety. Plan to hit the surf in the morning and evening for optimum conditions, but any time of day can be great depending on the winds.

North Shore

Best surf from November to April

A one hour and fifteen minute drive from Kuhio Shores takes you to the North Shore. Hanalei Bay is a world-famous surf spot and a favorite of many. If you're up to braving the crowd and a ten minute paddle, you'll find three different spots with the potential to get very big. For a more secluded surf experience, try Hideaways, which is just around the corner from Hanalei. There you'll find a nice, barreled right. Walcoco is a great left off the point across from Hanalei Bay. Expert surfers can also enjoy huge swells and speeds at Tunnels, Dump Trucks and Cannons just east of Hanalei. Be sure to check local surf conditions for current information regarding surf and weather hazards.

Don and Pam Cofer in front of Kuhio Shores

For beginners, surfing and boogie boarding lessons are available through shops and private enterprises all over the island. Contact information is listed in the local yellow pages. Prices range from $30 to $60 per hour of instruction.

"I have been surfing Kauai since 1984 and still love it, wouldn't go any place else for a surf adventure. Kuhio Shores faces the ocean, about 25 feet away, and you can watch and take pictures of all four spots." ~ Don Cofer, local surf expert

Kauai Snorkeling:

Giant sea turtles and an abundance of tropical fish and coral make these beaches some of the very best snorkeling spots on the island. The reef in front of Kuhio Shores extends several hundred yards from shore at depths of between 3 and 30 feet. Snorkeling equipment, boogie boards, underwater cameras and other items can be rented from various nearby vendors. More Kauai Snorkeling Information.

Kauai Kite Surfing

Kite surfing is an exciting sport that is gaining popularity in Kauai. Imagine water-skiing behind a kite. For some exciting pictures of this sport please see Kauai Kite Surfing.

Other Kauai Activities

Enjoy your Hawaii vacation with tennis, golf, horseback riding, water sports and miles upon miles of pristine hiking trails all year round. Feast on a great variety of dishes at more than a dozen nearby Kauai restaurants, with convenient shopping in three shopping centers and numerous hotel shops. For more ideas of things to do we also suggest these Kauai Activities.

See this Kauai Map for more information.

Pictures and Comments by Doug Porter





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