5-Foot North/Northwest Surf for Saturday

By Carlos Rock

The point at Ho’okipa has more than one peak spreading out the crowds. Photo: Carlos Rock.

Another decent north swell is set to arrive Saturday, Oct. 5.

A 5 to 7-foot north/northwest swell is predicted to come in Saturday.

It sure looks like winter is getting closer and closer as the wind and water starts to cool down with all of the north swells bringing in cold open ocean water temperatures from the north Pacific.

This swell direction will cause things to be a bit disorganized out in the water with the different swells mixing to make shifty peaks. But among the madness there are always the few gems (perfect waves) that come through and catch everyone off guard except for those that wait for the good ones instead of scrambling around.

Time for the windsurfers to go in. Photo: Carlos Rock.

Ho’okipa Beach Park has seen plenty of action as of late with some “bigger than I thought” west swells* coming in all week providing excellent waves for those that want to surf, despite the howling and relentless winds and the windsurfers.

As you may know the left side of Ho’okipa becomes overrun by windsurfers during the afternoons when the winds are the strongest. But it usually doesn’t deter some surfers from going into the gauntlet and hoping that the windsurfers know what they are doing and will avoid running them over.

North shore sunsets for the win. Photo: Carlos Rock.

Here patience and time in the water really pays off when you try to really figure out how the waves break during a specific type of swell and how it reacts to the wind and crowds. And how not to get in the way of the windsurfers.

Check back soon for a full update on the swell.

*Keep in mind big west swells are known to wrap around the island and produce some waves on the south side