South Side

• Hawaii Kai Run
  • Surfski, Smokin OC1 Run (Kawai paddling), When you get good you may not need a paddle
  • Men's Journal Description
  • Downwindable.com Description
  • Short version - aka Kahala Run - Maunalua Beach Park to Kahala about 5 miles
    • “The most challenging parts are the beginning and the end. At the start the wind is more offshore and once you get out of the boat channel it can be challenging to stay on the inside line. Beginners often make the mistake of going out too far, which makes the whole rest of the run a struggle as you have to fight the slightly offshore wind direction. If you stay on a more inside line, the wind direction switches and comes straight from the back after the first couple of miles which can make for a fun, fast run with groomed bumps. Coming in through the reef at the end takes some local knowledge, especially on lower tides, so it’s best to do this run with an experienced guide. …. Going with a group is always more fun, safer, and you tend to push yourself harder.” - Robert Stehlik
    • Robert Stehlik Hawaii Kai Tips Video
  • Longer version - Maunalua Beach Park to Kaimana Beach (beach .5 miles before Waikiki) 8 - 9 miles - can take longer than you expect, depending on your skill level and chosen exit location (there are options).
    • “The Hawaii Kai Run is on the south side of Oahu. It starts out strong and goes on for about 6- 7 miles. After that you typically have offshore winds if you continue to paddle into Waikiki. A lot of padders will go in around Diamond head to avoid the Waikiki traffic. Shuttling depends on traffic.” - Jeremy Riggs
    • “coming around Black Point can be challenging due to refracting swells bouncing off the rocks, the last part coming into Kaimana can have strong offshore winds, so it’s best to stay just outside the surf line after passing Diamond Head. For a bigger challenge you can start at Sandy Beach or even Makai Pier, where the water is rougher, which is great practice for the finish of the Molokai Race which rounds the rough waters of Portlock point at the finish.” - Robert Stehlik
    • “Towards the end of a Hawaii Kai Downwind there is a place called Sleepy Hollows just after lighthouse. when the conditions are just right, you can experience a magical run. You'll be able to hop lots of bumps with ease but beware the sneaky freak sets that frequent this area. Be safe out there!” - Kalaau Kila
  • Maunalua Beach Park - Magic Island 10 miles video
  • Alan Davis Run (Alan Davis Beach - Kaimana Beach) 12 m (adds about 2 miles to the long version of Hawaii Kai Run) Downwindfun
• Makai Pier to Kaimana Beach 15 miles (Makapu'u run + Hawaii Kai run)
• Makapu'u Run Makai Pier in Waimānalo 10 miles along the Ka Iwi coast (southeast end of O'ahu)
  • Manny Kulukulualani: “It’s the roughest paddling water we’ve got on the island…That backside from Makapu‘u Lighthouse to Alan Davis gets really big and gnarly because of the cliffs. We’re going from a couple feet to hundreds of feet of water, and it’s an immediate drop-off. Then you’ve got different swells converging, and on top of that the wind creates its own swell. The funny thing about that coast, especially that wall between Hanauma bay and Portlock,” Kulukulualani continues, “is it’s never the same. There are so many elements—swell directions, wind, backwash, currents, tides—so it’s always presenting something different. Boaters, canoe paddlers, kayakers—that water has claimed a lot of vessels. Once somebody thinks they understand the way things are supposed to be out there, it totally proves them wrong. That water is not predictable. That’s the mystique.”
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• Channel Crossing
  • Molokai To Oahu Finish in Maunalua Bay on Oahu southside. The Molokai to Oahu (M20 race) run is where the best of the best test their true grit. There's also the fact that the M20 downwind run also hosts what is considered the world championships for OC-1 and SUP. The M2O is a very challenging run that spans 32-miles from Molokai to Oahu through the Ka Iwi Channel, a.k.a. the “Channel of Bones”. This run provides big swells and unpredictable currents making it very dangerous. The M2O is not for the ill prepared and requires significant knowledge and skill to be completed safely.
• Surf
  • Kaimana Beach video, video2
  • Hickham Harbor OC1 video (choose one of the higher rez settings in youtube!), OC1 video
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East Side (windward)

North Side

• Sunset Beach to Waimea approx 3 miles - good for beginners
• Turtle Bay to Waimea ~ 6.5 miles
• Turtle Bay to Mokuleia ~ 12.8 miles
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Island to Island

• Molokai to Oahu (M20)
  • See descriptions on race page
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For all but the most innocuous surf, you really want to check with locals about where to go, where not to go, what to watch out for or completely avoid… Here we will only have visual examples if we find videos from a local spot.

• Hickam Harbor Reef Runway
  • video
  • Surf Forecast
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Worldwide Race Calender Page

• Oahu & Hawaii Races
• Past Race Reports
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