Big Island surf spots have been becoming more and more popular in recent years. It is now a top destination that many surfers consider as a must-visit location throughout the year due to its quality of waves and other available activities offered for people who love nature and being active.
Here are some things you have to know and expect when taking Big Island Hawaii surf vacations:
Where to Get Surf in the Big Island
The surf spots in the Big Island can be for both experts and beginners alike. Here are some of the top surf destinations that you should not miss:
Pine Trees
Pine Trees is one of the best beginner-friendly spots that Big Island has to offer. It is located in a remote location nearby Airport North. You can enjoy waves coming from the east direction during both summer and winter, using your stand-up paddleboards, funboards, longboards, and shortboards.
However, take extra caution with Pine Trees’ coral and reef bottoms. Cuts and injuries caused by these can be serious and extremely painful. Also, expect to see plenty of locals during the weekend, so do your best and follow standard surfing etiquettes.
Banyans
If you are a beginner, you might enjoy watching the local surfers at the West Shore, Banyans, for some pro tips on how to handle waves. It is a famous surfing spot near downtown Kona with the best waves coming from both the west and southwest directions. The best time to visit here is during the summer season.
When surfing, it is essential to know that the bottom is reefy, so it is best to be careful with sea urchins and sharp rocks as they can cause serious injuries.
Kahaluu
Kahaluu is an excellent destination for both surfing and snorkelling. It has three reef sections that have a beautiful lagoon in between. The further you paddle, the bigger waves you will catch and get the best surfing experience using stand-up paddleboards, longboards, funboards, shortboards in this location during the summer.
Like other surf spots on the Big Island, the bottom of Kahaluu has corals and reefs to watch out for.
What to Expect
A dedicated Big Island Surf camp Hawaii is rare to come by, so if you want a guided surfing experience with locals, you might want to consider getting lessons at a surf school. Here are some reputable Big Island surf school you might want to consider:
- FBI Surf School
- Earthwinderwater
- Billabong Kona Surf School
- Kona Boys
- Kahaluu Bay Surf & Sea
The Big Island surfing landscape can be a big challenge for beginners with little to no experience. It has mostly reefy terrain, just like some destinations for surfing in Honolulu, so it is easy to get injured if you do not know how to fall correctly on the water.
Be friendly with the locals. The local surfing community in Big Island is generally hospitable, but it is essential to take note of proper surfing etiquettes and show respect to them to avoid troubles.
Aside from surfing, you can also enjoy plenty of hiking and camping destinations on the Big Island. You can even just lounge on the beautiful beaches if you want to take a day off from surfing.
How to Get to Hawaii
If you are from the US, then getting to Hawaii should not be that hard as you simply have to avail of a flight from your city to the state. However, if you are from another country and do not have a visa, then you can apply for the us esta via the Visa Waiver Program.
Basically, the program allows you to travel to any states in the US, including Hawaii, and stay for up to 90 days without any visa required. However, this only applies if your country is part of the program.
To apply for an ESTA, short for Electronic System for Travel Authorization, you need to be from a country that’s part of the program. You will need to apply for it online and should meet certain requirements which are as follows:
- You should not have a visitor’s visa
- You should only stay in any US state for a maximum of 90 days
- Your purpose of travel should only be for business and leisure
- You should have a valid electronic passport from a VWP member
Once you have met all those requirements, you can then apply for an ESTA. Once you are approved, you can then visit the US and explore the country after a successful esta usa check.
Final Thoughts
Which Hawaii island is best for surfing? Well, one of the answers could be the Big Island, but then again, Hawaii has plenty of excellent surf spots, so it is all about preference by the end of the day. Regardless, it is undisputed that the Big Island is truly one of a kind surfing destination. If you are visiting Hawaii, you should definitely not miss the opportunity of trying it out.
