Can you swim at Waimea Bay?

Yes, you can swim when the water is calm and the lifeguards say conditions allow it. Summer brings calmer water from May through September. Tower 29 operates from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. HST, with any daytime closures posted in City alerts. In winter you should stay out unless the lifeguards allow swimming; strong currents can make even a quieter spell dangerous.

When are the waves big at Waimea Bay?

November through February is the main season for big surf. North Shore wave faces can reach 30 feet or more. Calmer water is more typical from May through September, sometimes lasting into October. Those months don't guarantee your conditions; the NWS Surf Zone Forecast measures waves in feet from trough to crest.

Is there parking at Waimea Bay?

Yes, Waimea Bay Beach Park has a small parking lot. You'll have a better chance before 10 a.m. Waimea Valley's lots are for its own guests and can't serve as overflow beach parking. On contest days the beach lot can close to the public; follow highway parking restrictions and don't assume the shoulder is available.

Is Waimea Bay the same as Waimea Valley?

No; Waimea Bay is the free City beach, while Waimea Valley is the paid garden and waterfall attraction across Kamehameha Highway. Valley admission costs $26 per adult. Your ticket doesn't guarantee a waterfall swim. The lifeguards decide each day, and all swimmers must wear the life jackets supplied at no extra charge.

How do you get to Waimea Bay from Waikiki?

From Waikiki you can drive or take TheBus. The road distance from Kuhio Beach is 39.3 miles, via the central-island route through Haleiwa. By bus you first reach Ala Moana Center, then take Route 52 to Haleiwa and transfer to Route 60. An adult cash price is $3.25 for each boarding without transfers; your HOLO card gives a $3.00 pass lasting 2 hours.

What is the Eddie Aikau contest?

The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational is a surfing contest held at Waimea Bay. It honors Eddie Aikau, the North Shore's first lifeguard. The event needs wave faces that consistently reach 40 feet during its winter holding period; it doesn't run every season. You can't plan on a contest until the organizers call it on.

Things to do in Oahu › Oahu beaches › Waimea Bay

Waimea Bay

Summer swims, winter waves

Updated October 30, 2026 Water: Ocean Safety and DLNR; access: TheBus and Waimea Valley

Waimea Bay sits on Oahu's North Shore, 39.3 miles or 63.2 km by road from Kuhio Beach in Waikiki. Summer brings calmer swimming water; winter brings big surf. Tower 29 covers the beach. Jump Rock stands on the Haleiwa side. The small parking lot fills quickly, so arrive before mid-morning. In winter you should swim only when the lifeguards allow it; a calm spell doesn't rule out strong currents.

Waimea Bay from the road above the beach, the jump rock and the church tower

Waimea Bay during a big-wave contest, the crowd on the sand

The waterfall in Waimea Valley, across the road from the bay

Map

Where Waimea Bay is

21.6402° N, 158.0638° W Directions in Google Maps Apple Maps OpenStreetMap

How to get there

From Waikiki by car From Kuhio Beach in Waikiki, the drive is 39.3 miles. H-1 west leads to H-2 north. Continue on Route 99 toward Haleiwa and Route 83 to the beach park; your destination is 61-031 Kamehameha Highway.
By bus From Waikiki you first need a bus to Ala Moana Center. Route 52 then takes you through central Oahu to Haleiwa, where you transfer to Route 60 toward Waimea. With HOLO an adult 2-hour pass costs $3.00; the $7.50 daily cap excludes the $2.00 card fee.
With a tour The North Shore list compares day trips with stops along this coast. Your booking page needs to name Waimea Bay. A Waimea Valley stop means time at the gardens or falls; it doesn't promise a swim at the beach across the highway.
From Haleiwa From Haleiwa, Route 83 follows Kamehameha Highway toward Pupukea. The beach park is on the ocean side, with Waimea Valley inland across the highway. You can also take Route 60 toward the bay; a bus ride avoids finding a space in the beach lot.

At a glance

Waimea Bay at a glance

Water	calmer from May through September, with settled conditions sometimes extending into October. Surges and shorebreak can still disrupt your swim. Hawaii Beach Safety's hazard levels don't replace advice from the lifeguards on duty.
Lifeguards	at Tower 29 in Waimea Bay Beach Park. Daily hours are 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. HST. You can find daytime tower closures in the City's alerts.
Shade	trees in the grassy park behind the sand. You'll find shade there for a picnic. Bring your own shade for time on the sand.
Parking	a small lot beside the beach. It fills quickly, especially on weekends. Your early start helps: aim to arrive before 10 a.m. and obey no-parking signs along Kamehameha Highway.
On the shore	restrooms and outdoor showers at the beach park. A beach access mat leads to a viewing point. Jump Rock is on the Haleiwa side.
Hazards	strong currents and shorebreak in winter. You shouldn't swim near the river mouth or enter brown water after rain. Diving is prohibited, and the City warns about jumping from the rock.
Events and closures	the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational runs only with consistent 40-foot wave faces. Contest crowds can restrict your access. The beach lot can close for event use, while highway parking restrictions can bring towing; read the event's access notices before setting out.

Before you go

Arrive before mid-morning for the beach lot. Read the National Weather Service Surf Zone Forecast and follow the beach flags. Follow the lifeguards' instructions at Jump Rock; diving is prohibited.

The beach

What Waimea Bay is like

Summer brings calmer water to this deep sandy bay. May through September is the gentler period, though settled conditions can last into October. You can plan a swim around a staffed Tower 29 and spend the rest of your visit on the broad sand. Jump Rock stands toward Haleiwa, and the Waimea River meets the ocean here. The river mouth isn't a swimming spot; stay out during or just after heavy rain and whenever the water looks brown.

Winter turns the bay into a place to watch surf. November through February is the main big-wave period, with North Shore wave faces reaching 30 feet or more. A National Weather Service High Surf Advisory starts at 15 feet on north-facing shores; a warning starts at 25 feet. Those are face heights from trough to crest. You don't have to see warning-level surf to meet dangerous conditions, and you should enter only with the lifeguards' go-ahead.

Waimea Valley is inland across Kamehameha Highway. Your beach visit doesn't include the botanical gardens or Waimea Falls; general admission costs $26 per adult. Valley parking costs $2 for 1 hour or $5 for up to 4 hours, and the lots are for Valley guests only. Waterfall swimming depends on the lifeguards' daily decision. You'll need a life jacket if swimming is open, and one is supplied at no extra charge.

Tours

Tours around Waimea Bay

North Shore tours 9 tours · from $134

The North Shore list covers trips through Haleiwa and the surf coast. You'll need a tour with an explicit Waimea Bay stop if beach time matters to you.

Surf lessons 14 tours · from $51.54

The surf lessons list compares places to learn. Your lesson's meeting beach matters; Waimea's winter surf is for experienced surfers.

Circle island tours 14 tours · from $75

The circle island list combines stops around Oahu. You'll need to read the route on the booking page: a North Shore drive doesn't promise time on Waimea's sand.

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