Top Hawaii Beaches: Waimea Bay

Hawaii is well known for its beaches. No where else can you find a beach that will suit the needs of each individual person. There are Hawaiian beaches that are perfect for those looking to ride larger waves, while there are others that are calmer for families with children of all ages to enjoy.

One of my personal favorites can be either one, depending on the time of year. Waimea Bay which is located on the North Shore of Hawaii is famous for its monstrous surf conditions and I say that in all honesty. I have been privileged enough to see it on days when surf topped 30 plus feet, when waves took on tidal wave proportions.

One of the reasons that Waimea Bay is significant is because of Edward Ryan Makua Hanai Aikau. If you do not know who he is you might recognize the name Eddie Aikau. Eddie was one of the most well respected big wave riders of his day. He patrolled the North Shore as a lifeguard and while on his watch no one drowned at Waimea Bay.

In his memory a surf competition was created at historic Waimea Bay. It is simply known as "The Eddie." Competition rules are so strict that it has only been held a handful of times in the past 20 plus years. The rules are that waves need to be at the very least 20 feet and must be during the window period of December to February. When the competition opens up only select surfers are invited, this makes this competition mean even more for those involved. They are usually the top surfers in the world and more particularly the top big wave riders.

The waves are measured traditional Hawaiian scale, which means they get measured from the back of the wave. When a wave is measured in California and they say 10 feet, they mean at its highest point it is actually 10 feet. When waves in Hawaii are 10 feet, that means the back side is 10 feet, while the actual measurement or face of the wave is almost twice that, meaning at its highest point the wave is actually 20 feet.

I am sure you get the picture when I say that a 40 foot monster is more like an 80 foot beast. During the winter swells you can see how huge the sets can get and if you are lucky you will be able to see "The Eddie." For just this reason alone Waimea Bay gets my vote as one of the top Hawaii Beaches.

The shore breaks are even more entertaining to watch. It has been nicknamed "The Belly of the Beast." You can watch brave body boarders and body surfers trying to ride these breaks and see how it got its nickname. There is little room for error and if you don't make it out of the wave you just might find yourself getting thrown head first into the white Hawaiian sand.

If you are visiting and not a professional or at the very least a very experienced surfer, then please do not get into the water during the winter season. I have seen many a tourist not listen to the life guard's bull horn warning try to jump in and get sucked out, only to be rescued by the same person telling them not to get in.

During the summer, the bay is extremely calm and perfect for swimming or diving. You must also be careful if you are swimming as there is a steep drop off as you enter the water. If you do not know how to swim, you may want to learn how before heading out there. Off to the left of the bay is a large rock that sits high above the water at 20 plus feet. It is famous for people jumping off into the water. See, you can get your cliff diving experience. Just beware that it is a long way down, so if you are afraid of heights this may not be for you.

My last tip will be regarding personal belongings. You know that sign they put in your car rental that says "Do not leave valuables in the vehicle?" It is there for a reason. There have been occasions where vehicles were broken into. Leave your valuables at the hotel and bring your stuff with you when you head out to the beach. And be sure to use a lot of sunscreen as I have a feeling that you will really enjoy yourself at Waimea Bay. There are a ton of great Hawaii Beaches, but Waimea Bay is one that you definitely need to experience firsthand.

To learn more about Hawaii visit: Enjoy Hawaii and check out everything from where you can watch the best sunsets to where to get the best Hawaiian plate lunch.