Surf spot

China walls

Forecast conditions and map view for China walls in USA, Hawaii, Oahu. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, Hawaii, Oahu
Coordinates: 21.2638, -157.7118

Metric
Metric	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00
Wave height (m)	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.5	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6
Wave direction	S	S	S	SSW	SSW	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	SSW	S	S	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	S	E	E	E	E	E	S	E	S	SSW	E	E	S	S	E	E	E	E	SSW
Wave period (s)	8.8	9	8.4	9.1	8.8	9.4	8.9	9.1	9.2	8.7	8.4	8.5	9.1	9.2	8.9	9.1	9.1	8.6	9.7	9.8	9.4	8.3	9.4	9.5	8.4	8.4	7.9	13.1	12.9	9.9	8	9.7	9.6	10.6	11.6	11.4	10.5	10.8	9.2	9.4	9.3	9.4	9.9	11.4	9.7	11.7	12.1	9.9	9.8	11.9	11.9	10.3	10.3	10.3	10	11.8
Wave energy (kJ)	67	79	73	77	53	77	79	72	69	44	44	45	56	64	54	51	45	37	51	45	44	31	48	45	38	33	29	35	38	35	29	36	42	61	61	70	55	79	65	73	75	68	66	106	76	111	113	96	94	131	123	105	111	104	98	100
Wind speed (km/h)	10.6	10.7	10.6	12.1	12.8	12.3	11.8	11.3	15.9	15.2	15	13	13.6	13.2	16.6	13.6	12.3	11.5	18.3	22.2	15.9	14.3	16.1	16.3	13.7	15.5	18.1	16.6	14	16.4	15.8	17.8	20.3	22.6	26.1	28.2	25.7	27.1	25.6	25.8	23.5	26.4	27.4	29.1	28.7	26.1	23.3	21.6	21.9	23.7	23.1	26.7	26.4	22.6	22.8	21
Wind direction	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	NEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	EOffshore	EOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	NEOffshore	ENEOffshore	NEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	EOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	NEOffshore	NEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	NEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	NEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	NEOffshore	NEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore

China Walls is a famous surf spot on the south shore of Oahu, Hawaii, near Hawaii Kai and the Portlock area. It’s known less as a beginner-friendly beach break and more as a powerful, shallow reef break that can produce fast, hollow waves when conditions line up.

What it’s like

Wave type: Reef break
Best swell: South to southwest swells, especially in summer
Wind: Cleanest with light or offshore winds
Wave character: Fast, steep, and often heavy; can hold barrels on the right day
Bottom: Sharp reef, which makes wipeouts risky

Conditions and crowd

China Walls is highly dependent on swell and tide. It can be mellow on small days, but when it’s pumping, it becomes a very serious wave. Locals and experienced surfers often crowd the lineup during good conditions, so etiquette matters a lot.

Hazards

Very shallow reef
Heavy shorebreak and difficult exits
Can get closeout sets
Strong current and limited room for error

Best for

Advanced to expert surfers
Bodyboarders and bodysurfers in the right conditions
Not recommended for beginners

Vibe

It’s a well-known and respected Oahu spot with a mix of beauty and danger. The setting is dramatic, with waves breaking close to shore over reef and lava rock, making it a classic Hawaiian surf location.