Surf spot

Sunset beach

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

Country: USA, Hawaii, Oahu
Coordinates: 21.6761, -158.0404

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)	1	1.1	1.2	1.2	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1	1.1	1	1.1	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.1	1.1	1.1	1	0.9	0.9	1	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.9	1	1
Wave direction	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NNE	NNE	NNE	NNE	NNE	NNE	NNE	ENE	NE	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	ENE	E	E	E	E	E
Wave period (s)	6.3	6	7	7	6.8	6.9	6.8	6.8	6.8	6.8	6.8	7	7.2	7.2	7.1	7	7.2	7.2	7.2	7	7.1	7.2	7	7.2	7	7	7	7	7	6.8	6.8	6.8	6.7	6.7	6.6	6.5	6.5	6.8	6.3	6.5	5.2	5.5	7.2	7.8	7.4	6.9	7.7	8.1	7.8	7.8	7.8	8.6	8.6	8.3	7.3	8
Wave energy (kJ)	73	92	144	144	147	146	131	131	126	99	114	95	133	138	140	136	138	135	125	116	93	87	83	94	84	82	75	69	62	54	45	40	39	39	38	37	38	37	27	24	27	23	37	43	48	49	51	64	59	63	77	95	98	108	114	123
Wind speed (km/h)	17.6	15.5	18.4	17.7	19.7	19	14.1	13.8	10.4	9.6	14	15.9	16.3	10.9	13.9	12.6	7.9	8.1	11.2	16.2	14.2	12.4	14.3	14.1	9.2	15.8	13.6	16.8	21.4	21.3	16.4	14.1	12.5	11.6	16.2	18.6	20.5	21.3	17.7	17.7	18.9	19.9	22.8	23.8	22.7	23.9	22.9	21.9	19.9	18.4	20.7	23.9	23.5	22.1	20.6	19.2
Wind direction	EOffshore	EOffshore	EOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	EOffshore	EOffshore	ESEOffshore	EOffshore	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	EOffshore	EOffshore	EOffshore	ENECross-off	EOffshore	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	EOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENEOffshore	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENEOffshore	EOffshore	ENECross-off	EOffshore	ENECross-off	EOffshore	EOffshore	EOffshore	EOffshore	ENECross-off	ENEOffshore	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENEOffshore	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off

Sunset Beach, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, USA is one of the most famous and powerful surf breaks in the world, located on the North Shore of Oʻahu. It’s known for its long, open-ocean swell exposure, making it a premier winter-wave destination with big, heavy, and highly consequential surf.

Surf characteristics

Wave type: Fast, powerful beach break with shifting peaks
Best swell direction: Primarily north to northwest
Best wind direction: Light east or southeast offshore
Best season: Winter (roughly November to February), when North Pacific swells arrive
Wave size: Can range from manageable mid-sized surf to very large, overhead-to-double overhead and much bigger during major swells
Skill level: Advanced to expert only on larger days

What it’s known for

One of the Triple Crown of Surfing venues
A major stop for world-class big-wave and high-performance surfing
Famous for its dramatic conditions, especially when large winter swells line up
Often considered a showcase of the raw power of the North Shore

Hazards

Powerful shorebreak
Strong currents and rips
Heavy wipeouts
Crowded lineup during swell events
Shallow sandbars that can shift quickly
Big-wave days can be dangerous and unforgiving

Vibe and setting

Sunset Beach has a classic North Shore feel: a wide sandy beach, dramatic sunsets, and a surf culture deeply tied to Hawaiian ocean conditions and surf history. When the swell is up, it becomes a magnet for elite surfers, photographers, and spectators.