Yokohama Bay / Keawa’ula Surf Guide
Surf spot guide
Ideal Surf Conditions
Swell Direction
NW and SSW to SW swells
Wind
Calm or offshore from N to WSW, with NE-ENE as straight offshore.
Surf Height
Head high-3X overhead-plus
Tide
Medium to high
Yokohama Bay / Keawa’ula Surf Guide
If fellow West Side spot Makaha is classic Oahu in the historical sense, Yokohama Bay, just fifteen minutes up Farrington Highway, is classic Oahu in the natural sense. The beach is a sweeping crescent of golden sand and the mountains rising just east of the beach are a lush green.There are basically two wave options at Yoks: a fast, hollow left-hander that breaks over very shallow coral. And a fast, hollow right-hander just up the beach that on a solid NW swell will offer up gaping barrel sections. The primary difference between the left and the right is perhaps the take-off; where the left is a bit trickier and steep, the right is a bit more manageable.The inside sections on both waves, however, can be as critical as it gets. While known for its desolation, Yoks can become crowded on the good-to-great days, and respect should always be paid to the local surfers that will most certainly be on it.
Ability Level
Advanced
Experts only when its on.
Local Vibe
Doable
Usually mellow, but becomes intense when the surf is good and the crowd shows up.
Crowd Factor
Mellow
Usually not crowded, but on weekends and during good swells it can get very crowded. Hit-or-miss a lot.
Spot Rating
Perfect
Incredible wave when its on, and it turns on a lot.
Shoulder Burn
Light
The paddle out is not far, but currents can get bad.
Water Quality
Clean
Pristine.
Hazards
Both the left and rights will drill you into the big coral heads/reef that lurk just below the surface. Currents are also a factor in all sizes.
Bring Your
Shortboard, Bodyboard, Skimming
Access
Easy. Just paddle out from the beautiful beach at Yokohama Bay.
Bottom
Reef with big coral heads, and occasional sand pockets.
Best Season
All year. Winter sees stronger surf, but summer can be fun too.
Do you have local knowledge about Yokohama Bay / Keawa’ula?
If you have any insights or information to add to this spot guide, drop us a note at [email protected]