Long before the North Shore became the center of the surfing world, Makaha Beach was already hosting international contests and turning winter swells into legend. The Leeward Coast still feels like a different Oahu, further from the resorts, closer to the island's working communities, and Makaha remains one of the most historically important breaks in all of surfing.
Why Makaha Beach?
Makaha sits on Oahu's Leeward, or West, Coast, about 45 minutes from Honolulu along Farrington Highway.
→ In the early 1950s, the Waikiki Surf Club and the Waianae Lions Club established the Makaha International Surfing Championships here, often called the first international surf contest held in Hawaii, and the 1962 edition became the first surf contest ever broadcast on television.
↳ Surfers John Kelly and Wally Froiseth are credited with rediscovering Makaha's big wave potential in 1937, and legendary waterman Richard Buffalo Keaulana, still honored today with his own Big Board Classic held at Makaha, helped turn the beach into a cornerstone of Hawaiian surf culture.
Getting There & Getting Around
- Fly into Honolulu International Airport (HNL), then drive west on H-1 toward Kapolei and Waianae, where the highway becomes Farrington Highway (Route 93), the only road running the length of the Leeward Coast out to Makaha.
- → Plan on about 45 minutes to an hour from the airport depending on traffic, and longer during rush hour, since this stretch of H-1 can add real delays.
- ↳ Farrington Highway itself is narrow and winding in places, so drive it with some caution, and as with much of the Leeward Coast, do not leave valuables visible in a parked car.
When to Surf
Winter, roughly October through March, is when Makaha earns its reputation, with North Pacific swells regularly pushing faces into the 15 to 25 foot range on big days, a serious big wave proposition for experienced surfers only. Summer brings far smaller, more forgiving surf, generally around 4 feet, workable for intermediate surfers, with the middle, reef free section of the beach used mainly for swimming. The best swell direction is northwest, the preferred wind is east to northeast, trade wind conditions common on this coast, and a mid to high, rising tide is generally favored.
Hazards: at low tide the reef at the north end of the beach sits close to the surface and turns genuinely sharp. Winter brings strong shorebreak, rip currents, and dangerous backwash that is best watched from the sand unless you are experienced. Makaha and the wider Waianae coast also have a well known, long standing local surf culture, and the lineup here is not a casual drop in spot for visitors. Be humble, watch and wait your turn, and treat it as a community you are a guest in rather than another break to check off a list.
Surf Breaks
- Makaha Point: A right hand point break off Kepuhi Point, the main winter big wave zone, breaking over reef into deeper water.
Wave: Powerful point break, right hand, shallow reef take off
Level: Expert only in winter size, more approachable in summer
Where to Stay
→ Prices below are approximate and were checked in November 2026.
Budget ($)
Oceanfront Makaha Condo, Turtle Beach Sunset Lanai, Makaha Beach Cabanas
A 1 bedroom oceanfront unit near Papaoneone Beach, about a 2 minute drive from Makaha Beach Park. Rooms run approx. $121 to $131/night before taxes and fees, seen November 2026.
Mid-Range ($$)
Hawaiian Princess at Makaha Beach
A condo hotel about 1.1 miles from Makaha Beach Park with an outdoor pool and free parking. Rooms run approx. $181 to $199/night depending on the booking site, seen November 2026.
Beachfront/Luxury ($$$)
Makaha Beach Front Luxury Bamboo Compound, West Makaha
A private 2 bedroom beachfront home directly on Makaha Cove, next to the point break itself. Rates run approx. $295 to $642/night depending on season, seen November 2026.
Food and Drink
- Local plate lunch: Hannara Restaurant, Waianae
→ Known for its Hawaiian Plate with lau lau, lomi salmon, and kalua pig, priced at approx. $23.95 with rice or $27.95 with poi, seen in a recent review. - Waterfront dining: The Beach House by 604, Waianae
↳ A waterfront restaurant serving Poke Shoyu for approx. $25, Loco Moco for approx. $20, and Fish Tacos for approx. $24, seen on the current online menu. - Quick plate: L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, Waianae
→ The Mix BBQ Combo with two scoops of rice and mac salad has been listed at approx. $7.99, though the source flags this price may be dated, so confirm current pricing in person.
Photographing Makaha Beach (Surf Snaps)
A big winter set breaking off Kepuhi Point, with decades of surf history behind it, deserves a better home than a camera roll nobody ever sees again. If you are shooting the lineup or the surfer who finally caught one of those legendary Makaha bombs, Surf Snaps is built for exactly this. Photographers upload a gallery once at surf-snaps.com/upload and it stays live as a shoppable set, with no subscription, listing fee, or storage bill, and nothing owed until a photo actually sells. Surf Snaps takes a 10% revenue share, pays the rest out monthly, and the photographer keeps copyright throughout. Surfers can browse without even creating an account at surf-snaps.com/explore, with photos listed from $8.
FAQ: Surfing Makaha Beach, Oahu
Is Makaha Beach good for beginner surfers?
Only in summer, when the swell is much smaller and more forgiving. Winter Makaha is a serious big wave break for experienced surfers only, with a shallow reef and strong currents.
Where exactly is Makaha Beach?
Makaha is on Oahu's Leeward Coast, about 45 minutes to an hour by car from Honolulu International Airport via Farrington Highway.
What is the best time of year to surf Makaha Beach?
Winter, roughly October through March, for serious swell, with northwest being the key swell direction and east to northeast trade winds keeping it clean.
What are the main hazards at Makaha Beach?
A reef that turns shallow and sharp at low tide, strong winter shorebreak, rip currents and backwash, and a well established local surf community that visitors should approach respectfully.
Where can I find photos of my session at Makaha Beach?
Check surf-snaps.com/explore, where photographers shooting Oahu's Leeward Coast list their galleries by spot and date, so you can search for your own session without needing an account just to browse.
