The Definitive Map to Big Island Surf Breaks
From royal playgrounds to proving grounds - every break mapped and explained
Written by a Local Surf Expert
Kalani MillerA Raw, Volcanic Masterpiece
The Big Island's coastline is a raw, volcanic masterpiece, offering a different flavor of surf depending on which side you're on. The sunny Kona and Kohala coasts on the leeward (west) side are famous for their glassy mornings and summer swells, while the lush, windward Hilo side comes alive with powerful winter surf. Here is my personal map to the island's most important breaks.
This is the heart of the Big Island surf scene, with the highest concentration of accessible spots. The mornings here are often blessed with calm, offshore winds, creating perfect, glassy conditions.
The Kona & Kohala Coasts (The Leeward Side)
Kahaluʻu Bay (The Royal Playground)
Kalani's Journal: This is where it all began for me, and for countless others. Kahaluʻu is the nursery of Kona surfing. It's more than just a wave—it's a living history lesson. As you ride a gentle roller toward shore, you're surfing in the wake of aliʻi who perfected their skills here centuries ago, watched from the sacred Kuʻemanu Heiau that still stands guard on the point. On a calm day, the water is so clear you can see the colorful reef and the honu (sea turtles) gliding beneath your board. It's pure magic.
The Wave
A forgiving, rolling reef break. The main section offers long, slow-breaking lefts and rights, ideal for learning. An ancient breakwater wall shelters the inner bay, making it great for snorkeling, while the outer section catches the open ocean swell.
Best Conditions
- • Swell: Summer S/SW, winter W/NW wrap
- • Tide: Works on all tides
- • Wind: Light easterly (offshore)
Skill Level & Hazards
- • Level: Beginner to Intermediate
- • Hazards: Shallow reef, sea urchins, crowds
Access & Parking
Very easy. Large public parking lot at Kahaluʻu Beach Park with restrooms and showers. Surf entry from small beach at north end of bay.
Banyans (The Kona Proving Ground)
Kalani's Journal: If Kahaluʻu is the classroom, Banyans is the final exam. This is the high-performance heart of Kona. The energy in the water here is electric. It's where you'll see the best local surfers putting on a clinic. Paddling out at Banyans means you better bring your A-game and a whole lot of humility. My advice: sit on the shoulder, watch, and wait for a wave to come to you. Earning a good wave here is a rite of passage.
The Wave
A-frame reef break. The right is a classic—a long, workable wall with sections for multiple turns and even a barrel on the right swell. It breaks into a deeper channel. The left is a faster, hollower wave that can offer a wide-open barrel on the takeoff before closing out over a shallower reef.
Best Conditions
- • Swell: S to NW, loves S/SW summer swell
- • Tide: Mid to high tide
- • Wind: Light easterly (offshore)
Skill Level & Hazards
- • Level: Intermediate to Advanced
- • Hazards: Sharp shallow reef, crowds, competitive vibe
Access & Parking
Easy access right off Aliʻi Drive in front of Kona Bali Kai condos. Limited street parking available.
Pine Trees / Kohanaiki (The ʻOhana Spot)
Kalani's Journal: Pine Trees is where Kona goes to relax. On any given weekend, the shoreline is lined with tents, the air is filled with the smell of BBQ, and the water is full of surfers of all ages and abilities. It's a true community spot. The name is a classic local joke—the first surfers here mistook the native mangrove trees for pines, and the name stuck. The vibe is generally mellow, but the reef is no joke.
The Wave
An exposed reef/beach break with multiple peaks spread out along the bay. This disperses the crowds and offers a variety of lefts and rights, mostly suited for longboarding and cruising.
Best Conditions
- • Swell: Very consistent, summer S and winter N/NW
- • Tide: Most tides, careful at low
- • Wind: Light southerly or easterly
Skill Level & Hazards
- • Level: All levels, step up from Kahaluʻu
- • Hazards: Very shallow sharp lava reef, crowds
Access & Parking
Rough unpaved road requiring 4WD. Park along road between trees. Park has restrooms and showers.
Lymans (The Goofy-Footer's Dream)
Kalani's Journal: For those of us who surf with our right foot forward, Lymans on a clean south swell is heaven on earth. It's a long, peeling left-hand wave that just begs for drawn-out carves. It's a classic point break with a ton of history—it's said that King Kamehameha the Great himself surfed this very wave. When Lymans is working, it's one of the best waves on the island.
The Wave
A left-breaking point break over a lava reef. On a good swell, the wave has a perfect, ruler-edge shape that offers a long, fast ride.
Best Conditions
- • Swell: Good-sized S/SW summer, NW winter
- • Tide: Works on all tides
- • Wind: Offshore easterly winds
Skill Level & Hazards
- • Level: Intermediate to Advanced
- • Hazards: Prominent rock mid-wave, currents, urchins
Access & Parking
Public parking lot with showers across Aliʻi Drive. Walk down narrow path to small pebble beach entry.
🏝️ Coast Guide
- Kona Coast Summer swells
- Kohala Coast Winter swells
- Hilo Coast Winter swells
📊 Skill Levels
Kahaluʻu, Richardson's
Pine Trees, Lymans
Banyans, Honoliʻi
📖 Surfing Guide
The Hilo & Puna Coasts (The Windward Side)
The east side of the island has a completely different feel. It's lush, rainy, and faces the open North Pacific, making it the go-to zone for powerful winter swells.
Honoliʻi Beach Park (The Heartbeat of Hilo)
Kalani's Journal: If you're a surfer in Hilo, Honoliʻi is your home. It's the most consistent and popular spot on the entire windward side. The setting is beautiful, with a black sand and rock beach shaded by trees at the mouth of a river. The vibe is pure local. It's a place where you see generations of Hilo surfers sharing waves. The tradewinds are almost always onshore, so you learn to surf in choppy conditions, but when a clean groundswell hits with rare offshore "Kona" winds, the place is absolutely world-class.
The Wave
A rivermouth break with a reef bottom. It offers a powerful right-hander and a hollower, faster left-hander. There's also a secondary left off the point to the north.
Best Conditions
- • Swell: Winter N/NE groundswell (Oct-Apr)
- • Tide: All tides, more hollow at low
- • Wind: Dream = NE swell + SW Kona winds
Skill Level & Hazards
- • Level: All levels depending on size
- • Hazards: Sharp rocks, rip current, river runoff
Access & Parking
Easy access at Honoliʻi Beach Park, 2 miles north of downtown Hilo. Cliff parking with path and stairs to beach.
Richardson Ocean Park (The Mellow Alternative)
Kalani's Journal: When Honoliʻi is too big or chaotic, or if you're a beginner on the Hilo side, Richardson's is a great option. It's a beautiful park with protected tide pools and a more relaxed atmosphere. The waves are generally much gentler, making it a perfect place for families and those just starting out.
The Wave
A mellow reef break with calmer waves than other spots on the east side.
Best Conditions
- • Swell: Same NE winter swells, smaller/less powerful
- • Tide: Higher tide to cover reef
- • Wind: Same onshore tradewinds
Skill Level & Hazards
- • Level: Beginner friendly
- • Hazards: Shallow reef
Access & Parking
Located in South Hilo with public facilities, restrooms, showers, lifeguards, and ample parking.
The Lost Coast: A Note on Pohoiki
I have to mention Pohoiki. For generations of Puna surfers, this was a sacred place. First Bay, Second Bay, and especially the magical wave at Third Bay were legendary. But in 2018, the eruption of Kīlauea changed everything. Lava flows dramatically reshaped the coastline, burying the old breaks and creating a new black sand beach. It's a powerful, living reminder of how dynamic our island is, and a tribute to the beloved spots that now live on only in memory.
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