Oahu, Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing, and today it remains the sport’s spiritual home. Read through our Oahu Surf Spot guide to learn about this unique surfing mecca. Oahu’s four coasts each contain their own unique surf culture. Known as the “7-mile Miracle”, The North Shore is home to legendary surf spots such as Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach, and Waimea Bay. It contains world-class waves for more experienced surfers from V-Land to Haleiwa. The South Shore is the birthplace of surfing. The Waikiki surf spots consistently teach more first-time surfers to ride their first wave then almost anywhere else. The West and East Shores each have their share of perfect breaks, while maintaining a very mellow, Hawaiian feel.

No other island on Earth offers such a variety of waves for all ability levels. On Oahu, you can’t help but soak in the incredible Polynesian vibe, because their lives revolve around the ocean. Surfing, bodysurfing, sailing, stand-up paddle surfing, outrigger canoe – they do it all in Hawaii. Oahu has consistent surf year-round; where you go on the island just depends on your skill level and what time of year you visit. Here is a breakdown of the surf seasons on Oahu:

Surfing was literally the "Sport of Kings" in Hawaii. Ancient Hawaiian royalty showed off their surfing skills on Waikiki Beach and other surf spots around Oahu. In the early 20th century, legendary surfer and Olympic swimmer Duke Kahanamoku, who grew up in Waikiki, introduced the sport to the world. In the 50's, the North Shore's Waimea Bay is widely regarded as the birthplace of big wave surfing.

Whether you want to watch the surfers carve up the waves or you want to hang ten on a longboard for yourself, Oahu is the perfect place to get your feet wet and experience surfing. You can take a surfing lesson on Waikiki Beach and various beaches around Oahu or you can take a drive to the North Shore during the winter and watch pro surfers from around the world ride Hawaii’s most famous waves.