The South Shore Surf Guide Series: Publics
Publics Is Waikiki's Best Left — Intermediate, Shortboard-Friendly
Publics is the left-hand reef break straight out from the Waikiki Aquarium — named for the public restrooms the break sits in front of, and located along the stretch of sand known as Queens Beach.
Publics is located on the other side of Walls from the actual surf spot known as Queens, which can be a bit confusing for first-timers. It is also one of the shallower reef breaks along the Waikiki stretch, making it more of an intermediate wave — particularly because the shallow reef is pretty sharp on the inside.
Photo Courtesy from Surfline
Publics Is One of the Longer Lefts in Waikiki
Publics isn't a perfect wave, as it can get a bit section over the inside coral heads, particularly at low tide. However, Publics is one of the longer lefts in Waikiki, and isn't quite as soft as most of the surrounding spots, which makes it one of the more shortboard-friendly waves in Waikiki.
The fact that Publics is located in front of a huge grassy park with lots of convenient parking, and within eyesight of Walls and walking distance of Queens, makes it a great base for a family day at the beach.
Best Conditions: Solid South Swell, Northeast Wind, Mid-to-High Tide
Publics is somewhat exposed compared to Waikiki's other spots — best surfed early or with northeast wind, which is straight offshore. A solid south or southwest swell in the head-high+ range is best, as it moves the wave off the shallow inside reef a bit. A bit of tide is also helpful to cover those coral heads on the inside.
Ride a Fishy Shortboard at Publics
The wave packs a bit more punch than more popular spots like Queens or Canoes, so just about any shortboard will work — although some people enjoy surfing Publics on a high-performance longboard. It's still Waikiki, so Publics is a relatively user-friendly wave without a critical barrel, which makes a fishy type shortboard like the Firewire Seaside or the Harley Ingleby HIBT the ideal choice.
Publics: Between Walls and Queens on Queens Beach
Publics sits directly in front of the Waikiki Aquarium along Queens Beach. Walls is to its east, Queens to its west — which makes the stretch a versatile destination depending on what you're riding and who you're bringing. The large grassy park behind the beach offers convenient parking, and the proximity to both Walls and Queens means you can cover several different waves in a single outing.
More in the HSS South Shore Surf Guide Series:
Frequently Asked Questions About Publics
Where exactly is Publics surf spot in Waikiki?
Publics is located directly in front of the Waikiki Aquarium along the stretch of sand known as Queens Beach. Publics sits on the other side of Walls from the surf spot known as Queens, which can be a bit confusing for first-timers — but once you find the Aquarium, you've found Publics.
Is Publics a good wave for beginners?
Publics is better suited to intermediate surfers. Publics is one of the shallower reef breaks along the Waikiki stretch, and the inside reef is pretty sharp — particularly at low tide. If you're still learning, Queens or Canoes nearby are more forgiving options.
What's the best tide for surfing Publics?
A bit of tide is helpful at Publics to cover the shallow coral heads on the inside. Low tide at Publics can get uncomfortably shallow, especially for beginners, so mid to high tide is generally the safer and more enjoyable call.
What board should I ride at Publics?
Publics is one of the more shortboard-friendly waves in Waikiki. A fishy type shortboard like the Firewire Seaside or the Harley Ingleby HIBT works well at Publics — both provide the drive and paddle power to make the most of a relatively user-friendly wave with more punch than spots like Queens or Canoes.
How does Publics compare to nearby Queens?
Queens is the go-to longboarding wave, while Publics is one of the longer lefts in Waikiki and more shortboard-friendly — Publics packs a bit more punch and isn't quite as soft. They're close enough to check both on the same beach day.