The South Shore Surf Guide Series: Kaisers
What Makes Kaisers Different
A shallow, semi-hollow peak with a bowly right and a softer, less perfect left, Kaisers is the last wave along the Ala Moana stretch before the coast gives way to Waikiki. It's also home to a tight-knit crew of local surfers who are loyal to the spot—and who would prefer it not get as crowded as its famous neighbor, Bowls. Located directly in front of the 31-story Rainbow Tower, with its world-famous tile mosaic mural, Kaisers is a fixture of the Ala Moana surf scene, even though it serves as the border between Ala Moana and Waiks.
Photo Courtesy to Atwood Trapnell via Surf Forecast
Local Culture and History
Immortalized in the Ka'au Crater Boys classic song "Surf," Kaisers (also known as the Kaiser Bowl) is separated from Ala Moana Bowls by a couple of less-impressive waves called Rock Piles and In-Betweens. The wave is also notorious for its shallow, urchin-infested reef, which keeps most beginners and tourists away. It's best surfed on a normal shortboard, although there are a lot of uncles who will paddle out on high-performance longboards.
Best Conditions at Kaisers
Like most waves in the Ala Moana/Waikiki zone, Kaisers likes south or southwest swell, northeast trade winds (north and east-northeast work, while northwest and straight east become a bit problematic), or early morning glass-offs. It's reef is a bit more forgiving at high tide, but it can be surfed at any tide by those who dare.
Photo Courtesy from Surfline
What to Ride
Kaisers rewards boards with some drive and responsiveness. A normal shortboard handles the semi-hollow right well, while uncles who know the break well can make a high-performance longboard sing on the outside sections. The CJ Nelson Chameleon and Parallax Plus gives you the paddle power and drive to make the most of a wave that doesn't always offer up a lot of push on the inside.
Shop the CJ Nelson Chameleon →
Frequently Asked Questions About Kaisers
Where exactly is Kaisers surf spot located?
Kaisers sits at the border between Ala Moana and Waikiki, directly in front of the 31-story Rainbow Tower with its world-famous tile mosaic mural. It's separated from Ala Moana Bowls by a couple of less-impressive waves called Rock Piles and In-Betweens.
Is Kaisers good for beginners?
Not really. The shallow, urchin-infested reef keeps most beginners and tourists away, which is part of why Kaisers maintains its local character. It's best suited for intermediate-to-advanced surfers who are comfortable on a reef break.
What kind of boards work best at Kaisers?
Kaisers is best surfed on a normal shortboard, though there are a lot of uncles who will paddle out on high-performance longboards. The wave's semi-hollow character and shallow reef reward boards with some drive and response.
What swell and wind conditions are best at Kaisers?
Like most waves in the Ala Moana/Waikiki zone, Kaisers likes south or southwest swell with northeast trade winds — north and east-northeast work too, while northwest and straight east become a bit problematic. Early morning glass-offs are another reliable window.
How does tide affect Kaisers?
The reef is a bit more forgiving at high tide, which helps cover up the shallow sections that define the break. That said, experienced surfers paddle out at any tide — they just know what they're getting into.
Is Kaisers crowded?
Kaisers is home to a tight-knit crew of local surfers who are loyal to the spot — and who would prefer it not get as crowded as its famous neighbor, Bowls. The shallow, urchin-infested reef naturally filters out the casual crowd, keeping the lineup more manageable than you'd expect this close to Waikiki.