🇺🇸 OAHU, HAWAII

Pipeline

The most famous wave on earth

FIRING

Live Conditions

Conditions Summary

Massive 17ft swell — serious conditions for experienced surfers only — with 10s mixed swell — hitting at the ideal angle — Clean 9mph offshore winds grooming the surface — Note: this is outside the peak season for this spot

HIGH CONFIDENCEFresh buoy data + calibrated transformation

Why it's FIRING

Swell Direction

Primary swell is 333° — matches the ideal 315° window for this spot

Swell Period

12s — solid groundswell. Waves will have real energy and organization.

Wind

9mph offshore — clean, grooming the wave face

Tide

High tide — some spots get mushy at peak high

Season

October is shoulder season — spot can still work but swells are less consistent

Data Confidence

Fresh buoy data with calibrated coastal transformation

At the Break

17.4ft

HIGH CONFIDENCE

Fresh buoy data + calibrated transformation

Period

12s

✓ Groundswell

Wind

9mph

OFFSHORE

Water

78°F

Boardshorts

Live Buoy 51001

6.9ft

12s

36 min ago

Tide

HIGH TIDE

3.0ft

Next high: in 35 min

Swell Direction

100%

Wind Direction

85%

Primary Swell

4.1ft @ 10.7s

NW 321°

Secondary Swell

3.6ft @ 7.3s

NNE 12°

9 Day Outlook

6.6ft

TODAY

Oct 28

(11s)

6.7ft

TMRW

Oct 29

(8s)

6.0ft

FRI

Oct 30

(8s)

5.4ft

SAT

Oct 31

(12s)

10.6ft

SUN

Nov 1

(14s)

11.6ft

MON

Nov 2

(11s)

10.0ft

TUE

Nov 3

(10s)

8.7ft

WED

Nov 4

(9s)

9.3ft

THU

Nov 5

(11s)

Best this week: SUN Nov 1 — 10.6ft

Best next week: THU Nov 5 — 9.3ft

Incoming Swell Events

Today

moderate

Swell building to 6.6ft @ 11s

Day 5

epic

Major swell arriving — 10.6ft @ 14s

Model Breakdown

ECMWF (45%)6.0ft

ICON (35%)5.9ft

GFS (20%)No data

Model confidence80%

Updated every 30 mins · Open-Meteo ECMWF + ICON + GFS

About

Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu is the crown jewel of surfing. A shallow reef break that produces perfect, hollow barrels — when it fires, there is nowhere else on earth you would rather be.

The Break

Banzai Pipeline — take off on the peak and aim for the barrel. Backdoor (right) is slightly less crowded.

Ideal Conditions

NW swell 8-15ft, NE trade winds, low tide

Best Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Best months highlighted · Current: Oct

Trip Planner

North Shore Weekend

Weekend · 3 Days

Friday

Fly into HNL, grab a rental car, stay in Haleiwa or Sunset Beach. Hit Foodland Farms for supplies. Sunset surf check at Sunset Beach.

Saturday

Dawn patrol at Pipeline — get there by 6am before the crowds. Watch from the beach if it is solid overhead+. Afternoon at Waimea Bay. Sunset beers at Haleiwa Joes.

Sunday

Morning session at Off The Wall or Rockpiles (less crowded than Pipe). Grab a plate lunch at Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. Fly home evening.

Full North Shore Week

Full Week · 7 Days

Day 1

Arrive, settle in Haleiwa, explore the town, early night.

Day 2

Dawn patrol Pipeline. Spend the day watching surfers and exploring the beach parks along Kam Highway.

Day 3

Surf Laniakea or Chuns Reef (more forgiving). Afternoon: drive to the east side, snorkel Hanauma Bay.

Day 4

Full day North Shore session. Try Sunset Beach if the swell is right. Evening: traditional Hawaiian dinner at Ola at Turtle Bay.

Day 5

Day trip to Waikiki — surf the long peelers, different vibe, fun waves. See the city side of Oahu.

Day 6

Hike to the top of Diamond Head in the morning. Afternoon free surf wherever conditions are best.

Day 7

Final dawn patrol, grab coffee at Haleiwa Coffee Gallery, fly home.

Local Knowledge

Respect the lineup — Pipeline has a strict local hierarchy. Watch from the beach your first session.

Stay in Haleiwa town — cheaper than Turtle Bay and you are central to everything.

Rent a car — public transport on the North Shore is basically non-existent.

Giovanni's Shrimp Truck is not a tourist trap — the garlic shrimp is genuinely incredible.

Check surfline.com/surf-report/banzai-pipeline for the most accurate local forecast.

November to February is peak season — expect crowds in the water and on the road.