Waimea Beach is a place where you can enjoy overwhelmingly clear water and powerful, massive waves.
If someone asks me to recommend a beach on Oahu’s North Shore, this is the first one that comes to mind.
In the summer, it’s a beautiful, spacious beach with what I’d say is the clearest water in all of Hawaii, perfect for relaxing, napping, or swimming!
I also love that despite its beauty, it has a hidden gem feel, as it’s not widely known to many tourists. lol
On the other hand, during the winter season, you can sometimes witness massive waves easily exceeding 30 feet—a sight you’d rarely see anywhere else.
It’s an amazing beach that you can enjoy no matter which season you visit.
Summer at Waimea Beach is for Snorkeling
If you visit during the summer season (May to September), you should definitely try snorkeling!
The water clarity is so exceptional that you can see the bottom no matter how far out you go.
Both sides of the bay are rocky areas, so you can see fish there.
If you’re lucky, you might even encounter large schools of fish (fish balls), sea turtles, or dolphins.
When you get tired of snorkeling, it’s the kind of beach where you’ll want to lay out a mat and just lounge around. lol
However, there’s very little shade on the beach, so make sure to protect yourself from the sun.
The Jump Rock at Waimea Beach
On the west side of the beach, there’s a large rock, about 25 to 30 feet high, that people jump from into the ocean.
Jumping is technically prohibited, but so many people do it that the lifeguards tend to look the other way. lol
It’s one of the unique ways to have fun at Waimea Beach.
You’ll even find a crowd of spectators watching the brave jumpers.
Be aware that the impact with the water is stronger than you might think, so be very careful not to land on your stomach or back.
Make sure to jump feet first and vertically, keep your mouth closed, and don’t wear a life jacket or snorkel gear!
Winter at Waimea Beach is for Watching Surfers
Around October, at the beginning of the winter season, the waves start to get bigger, and there are many days until about April when it’s not safe to go in the water.
When the waves get big, various world-class surfing competitions are held at different beaches on the North Shore, so be sure to check them out!
Incidentally, when waves of 40 feet (12 meters) or more hit Waimea Beach, the “Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau” big wave invitational is held.
In fact, Waimea Beach gets the biggest waves on the entire North Shore!
It’s one of Hawaii’s most popular surfing events, held only once every few years with just 30 invited participants.
The Postcard Viewpoint of Waimea Beach
The best place to see Waimea Beach in all its beauty is from a hill located even further past the jump rock.
It’s a famous view often seen on postcards, but you can’t actually access it from the beach!
If you want to take a similar photo from this spot, you’ll need to walk about 5 minutes on a mountain trail from a completely different starting point.
It’s a spot with very few people, so if you have the time, you can have this beautiful scenery all to yourself.
Basic Information on Waimea Beach
| Name | Waimea Beach |
| Address | 61-031 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712 |
| Map | |
| Hours | 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM |
| Closed | None |
| Recommended Time | From 15 minutes |
| Restrooms | Yes |
| Parking | Yes (Free) |
| URL | None |
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