Hi All, Pondering on a July trip to Hawaii Oahu do some windsurfing and SUP Surfing. Anyone got any information on what are the conditions and spots for windsurfing at that time of the year on this Hawaiian Island? Been to Maui and now would like to explore Oahu. Planning to take some windsurfing gear. Wondering also about gear rental opportunities.

I've done it. Less wind than Maui but still great sailing. I did Diamond Head. There is a good hire shop inland at Waikiki but hard to find. The ones on the other side of the island haven't the best gear. There are also some real simpleton sailors around who hire gear so you need to explain clearly your skill level when hiring. Also rig the gear before leaving the shop.

My wife was there a while ago and couldn't hire gear at Kialua; apparently there were people hiring kites or SUPs who got into trouble and that ended up creating issues for windsurfers as well.

I hired wave gear from the Naish shop in Kailua back in 2013.

Diamond Head blows in the morning, which is great as you need to get there early to find parking. Wind usually swung offshore and died before noon. Then move to "Toes" on the way to Hawaii Kai, which blows later in the day.

We are taking the family in December. I presume there won't be wind in their "winter"? I know the swell is bigger and the pipeline masters are on. The kids are all up for some surfing.

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gmitton said..
I've done it. Less wind than Maui but still great sailing. I did Diamond Head. There is a good hire shop inland at Waikiki but hard to find. The ones on the other side of the island haven't the best gear. There are also some real simpleton sailors around who hire gear so you need to explain clearly your skill level when hiring. Also rig the gear before leaving the shop.

That sounds encouraging gmitton and thanks for the heads up on hiring gear. Planing at this stage to take one board and mast each and a range of sails.

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philn said..
I hired wave gear from the Naish shop in Kailua back in 2013.

Diamond Head blows in the morning, which is great as you need to get there early to find parking. Wind usually swung offshore and died before noon. Then move to "Toes" on the way to Hawaii Kai, which blows later in the day.

Thanks phlin, I will contact the Naish shop in Kailua about gear rental and do some homework on Diamond Head and "Toes". Will take some gear but cant take everything so good to know what I could potentially hire. Did you get some good wave sailing while you were there?

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Chris249 said..
My wife was there a while ago and couldn't hire gear at Kialua; apparently there were people hiring kites or SUPs who got into trouble and that ended up creating issues for windsurfers as well.

Thanks Chris249. Sounds like a good plan on our part to take gear.

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Sparky said..
We are taking the family in December. I presume there won't be wind in their "winter"? I know the swell is bigger and the pipeline masters are on. The kids are all up for some surfing.

Would love to see the pipeline masters event myself one day Sparky. This trip will be to escape the winter for some warm water sailing predominately and some SUP surfing as a bonus.

Old knowledge.
Been 14 trips in the late '80s to mid '90's.
July is entering the doldrums, so bring a board you can uphaul, and sails around .8 on either side to get the most range and some overlap. I usually brought 5.0, 5.7, and 4.4.
DH for wavesailing on E Shore and Kahala around 3 miles N at the beach park.
Kailua has lightest sailable winds, but locals SAY it can blow from dawn to 8:30.
The true N shore can get wind 10mph stronger than Backyards or Kailua. Brigham Young Beach, I'd not sail 7th Hole anymore due to parking and hostile locals.


Backyards is the prime wavesailing on th tradional N shore, parking tough at Opps St. and maybe hostile from the Velzyland surf crowd. Yards can break on summer N swells, as can Sunset and Pipe.
Moks just past Haliewa is a beachbreak that blows on Easterly winds.
A good day should blow 12-18, and there are plenty of 7-15 mph days. Days with less wind are ver rare.