🇺🇸 OAHU, HAWAII

Pipeline

The most famous wave on earth

FAIR

Live Conditions

Conditions Summary

Solid 12ft swell — but short 8s period indicates wind swell, expect choppy conditions — swell direction is wrong for this spot, expect poor shape — Clean 8mph offshore winds grooming the surface — Note: this is outside the peak season for this spot

HIGH CONFIDENCEFresh buoy data + calibrated transformation

Why it's FAIR

Swell Direction

Primary swell is 84° — wrong angle. This spot needs 315° swells to break properly.

Swell Period

8s — short-period swell. Waves will have less power than a true groundswell.

Wind

8mph offshore — clean, grooming the wave face

Tide

Rising tide — workable window

Season

September is off-season — rare for this spot to get quality waves

Data Confidence

Fresh buoy data with calibrated coastal transformation

At the Break

11.6ft

HIGH CONFIDENCE

Fresh buoy data + calibrated transformation

Period

Mid-period

Wind

8mph

OFFSHORE

Water

80°F

Boardshorts

Live Buoy 51001

6.2ft

42 min ago

Tide

MID-TIDE · RISING

0.68ft

Next high: in 5 hr 14 min

Swell Direction

15%

Wind Direction

85%

Primary Swell

3.9ft @ 6.8s

ENE 61°

Secondary Swell

1.2ft @ 8.7s

SW 230°

9 Day Outlook

4.9ft

TODAY

Sep 12

(8s)

4.4ft

TMRW

Sep 13

(8s)

4.2ft

MON

Sep 14

(8s)

3.9ft

TUE

Sep 15

(7s)

3.9ft

WED

Sep 16

(7s)

5.0ft

THU

Sep 17

(7s)

5.8ft

FRI

Sep 18

(7s)

5.8ft

SAT

Sep 19

(7s)

6.8ft

SUN

Sep 20

(8s)

Best this week: FRI Sep 18 — 5.8ft

Best next week: SUN Sep 20 — 6.8ft

Model Breakdown

ECMWF (45%)3.8ft

ICON (35%)4.5ft

GFS (20%)No data

Model confidence65%

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: Sep

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.