stupid surf question

[missydog1]

makes sense ...
if you have other weekends, good idea to wait.

There will be surfing at the surf spots, but Hapuna for instance, no surfboards allowed there, but lots of body boarders.

There's some video of a swell last year:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNvPiTS8vQ8&feature=related
another swell from 2010:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS1ii343fl0

[dmbwest]

Another vote for Richardsons ... Even when surf is up its an easy walk out .. Agreed on Onekahakaha Kathy .. Right now its o.k. but come summer, with all the kids ugh ... Mo' betta go one block over the Chalks (sp? ). To anyone about to use the ladder @ Carl Smith B E W A R E !!! Even knowing your gonna slip, you still do.

aloha,
pog

[csgray]

Thanks for the links Kathy. We ended up at Spencer Beach Park, we decided we really wanted to do the historic stuff on that side and were pleasantly surprised to have wonderful conditions at Spencer. Sunrise tomorrow is supposed to bring booming surf conditions for west and north facing shores.

Carol

[DanielP]

Punaluu was not bad yesterday. A nice drive and good variety of scenery. Turtles on the black sand. Hana Hou in Naalehu for lunch.

[missydog1]

You're welcome, Carol! []

Swells are different from atmospheric conditions (weather) in that they are predictable. They can see the swell generated thousands of miles away, or hundreds. They know the rate of speed and the height of the waves. Typically it will arrive pretty much on schedule and depart the same, unlike storms.

Prediction was for northern islands to get some waves today, but ours was predicted to start Sunday, build in intensity, and be around part or all of Monday day.

It doesn't say anything about how the swell will be by going the day before (Aki, Daniel). It's like going to the beach the day before a tsunami and telling people that it looked fine. Sure, but when the tsunami or in this case swell arrives, it will transform the beach.
I've seen Hapuna when it was absolutely raging.

It's pretty interesting to watch, but it seems like these days they close the beaches. Probably because people insist on going in or too close to the water, and it's too much to keep an eye on all those people who could get pulled in and under without anyone noticing.

Hapuna is up there as a candidate for most drownings in the state.

Carol, is Spencer still nice and clean? I remember when they let it get real funky, 8-10 years ago maybe, then they cleaned it up maybe 4-5 years ago, disbanded the tent city, changed the rules so that people couldn't live there.

[Pmacs]

You just need to go to www.orchidlandsurf.com. If you know your directions on a compass it is pretty easy. We surfers also just call a store or hotel near the ocean.
My question is when are we getting the public use ocean front and public use parks. For Puna ? 27,000 acres for Kona. Not here. land that Kona and kohala took. ?
Ocean access is the number one priority for people living here . DNLR is waiving all ea and EIS for makai conservation land.

[Kapohocat]

What about Spencer's? Even with high surf it usually does not get bashed like Hapuna.

[csgray]

Spencer's on Saturday was full of families enjoying the long weekend, mostly "local" and kama'aina, not too many tourists, although judging by all the Ehs we heard one group was clearly Canadian. Every group seemed to have ukuleles going too. It was closed Sunday morning due to high surf.

The redone bathrooms and showers are very nice, the water was a little cloudy the way it gets in the winter, but it felt great.

Carol

[hawaiideborah]

KathyH,
Seems like you know the west side beaches pretty well.
We have visitors coming and we are going over to Waikolola for 2 nights (parts of 3 days). Everyone swims, but they have never been snorkeling and never been to Hawaii.
Any suggestions for great beaches and/or snorkeling (or anything else that's a must)for the short period of time over there?

thought this was ok since the original topic was about taking visitors to safe beach... kinda off topic, but not total hyjack []
THANKS

[mdd7000]

The beach to the immediate West of the Waikoloa resorts - you take the road that is just 1 block North of the relatively new Queen's Shops Marketplace - is always gentle. I was there today and no waves, even though most of the other beaches were closed. You can even jump on a free shuttle from the resorts that will drop you off and pick you back up later. Anaehoomalu Bay is where the beach is. I don't know the local name for it.

If surf is down, then take them to Hapuna Beach a few miles from the resorts for one of the best swimming areas. Not so great for snorkeling cause there isn't a lot of fish. Easy parking and nice facilities.