The South Shore Surf Guide Series: Kewalos

Kewalos Is Honolulu's Premier High-Performance Shortboard Break

Kewalos is a peak with a soft left breaking into a channel and a right that can be hollow and racy, with a launch pad at the end perfect for boosting airs.

A favorite with Town groms, pros, and aspiring pros, Kewalos is the go-to training ground for high-performance and aerial surfing in the Ala Moana region — conveniently located across the channel from the parking lot at Kewalo Basin. The wave used to be pretty localized, both by mokes and sharks — legend has it that an abattoir used to pump blood into the channel — but today Kewalos has become a relatively mellow, family-friendly zone, aside from the high level of surfing by the resident pros.

Photo Courtesy from Kathleen Wong via Hawaii.com

Kewalos Is Best on South Swell at Low Tide

Kewalos pumps on a south or southwest swell, and is best from around chest high to double overhead. Kewalos likes a northeast or east-northeast wind, but is good on anything from north to east. Low tide is a bit faster and punchier on the right at Kewalos. Meanwhile, the left is always a bit soft and slow.

Watch for Boat Traffic on the Kewalos Channel Crossing

Surfers should stay aware of boat traffic coming through the channel while paddling across from the parking lot at Kewalo Basin — and even in the middle of the channel during huge swells. In 2025, an errant tour boat got caught by a huge set at Kewalos and almost ran over a surfer. Keep your head up.

Ride a High-Performance Shortboard at Kewalos

Kewalos is generally considered a shortboard wave — to fit in with the crew and make the most of the air section on the right, consider a Lost MOD Quad or Firewire Mashup. Hipsters and cruisers might enjoy the CJ Nelson Milo Fish or Outlier X.