Booking choice: The grand tour with snorkeling, from $89 per person. Check dates Tour details
Every winter, storms far to the north send swell straight at Oahu's North Shore. Sunset Beach, the Banzai Pipeline and Waimea Bay go from flat and glassy to some of the biggest surf anyone rides. Two contests frame the 2026-27 season, and both have published their windows.
Most circle island tours pass right through this stretch. Some stop at the beaches, some only drive by, and the snorkel tours have to work around the swell. This post covers the dates, the warning levels and the tours.
The quick answer
The big-surf season on the North Shore runs from November through April, according to Hawaii's Ocean Safety office. The Eddie at Waimea Bay has a window from 6 December 2026 to 4 March 2027, and the Lexus Pipe Masters at the Banzai Pipeline runs 8 to 20 December 2026. For a real look at the waves, pick a tour that stops at Waimea Bay or Sunset Beach: the Grand Circle Island tour only drives past them.
When is big wave season on Oahu's North Shore?
Winter, from November through April. Summer, from May through October, brings flat to small waves on the north shores.
Hawaii's Ocean Safety page on surf seasons splits the year in two. From November through April, north and west shores get "consistent huge and dangerous swells". From May through October the same beaches see flat to small waves, and the big surf moves to the south shore.
That flip matters for a tour day. A North Shore beach you'd swim at in July can be closed to swimmers in January. The state's advice for high-surf days is plain: inexperienced surfers and swimmers of any skill level should stay out of the water.
| Months | North Shore surf | What it means on a tour |
|---|---|---|
| November to April | Consistent huge swells | Great for watching, risky for swimming |
| May to October | Flat to small waves | Calmer water for snorkel stops |
When is the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational in 2026-27?
The contest window runs from 6 December 2026 to 4 March 2027, with the opening ceremony at Waimea Bay on 3 December 2026.
Rip Curl's event page lists the 2026-27 window as December 6, 2026 to March 4, 2027. The opening ceremony at Waimea Bay, on 3 December, kicks it off. Then everyone waits.
The Eddie only runs on a day when Waimea delivers consistent 20 to 25-foot Hawaiian-scale surf, roughly 40 to 50 feet on the face, as The Garden Island reported when last season's window closed without a contest in March 2026. It has run 11 times in 41 years, most recently in December 2024. Don't plan a trip around it. If it is called while you are on the island, though, drop everything.
When are the Pipe Masters at the Banzai Pipeline?
The Lexus Pipe Masters has a waiting period of 8 to 20 December 2026 at the Banzai Pipeline.
The World Surf League's event page gives the Lexus Pipe Masters a waiting period of December 8 to 20, 2026, on Oahu. It is the final event of the 2026 Championship Tour, so the world titles are decided at Pipeline. Like the Eddie, the contest runs on the best days inside the window, not on fixed dates.
No bus tour here builds its day around the contest, so if you want to watch heats, the self-guided driving app in a rental car is the flexible choice: its route suggests 30 minutes at the Banzai Pipeline and 45 at Waimea Bay, and you can stay longer.
The audio app for your own car: stop at Pipeline as long as the surf is worth it.
Check dates for the self-guided driving appHow big does the surf get, and when is it dangerous?
The National Weather Service issues a High Surf Advisory for north-facing shores at 15 feet and a High Surf Warning at 25 feet.
The National Weather Service in Honolulu uses fixed thresholds, measured as the full face of the wave from trough to crest. North-facing shores have the highest thresholds of any coast.
On a warning day, watch from the sand and stay well back from the waterline.
| Shore | High Surf Advisory | High Surf Warning |
|---|---|---|
| North-facing | 15 feet | 25 feet |
| West-facing (Oahu) | 12 feet | 20 feet |
| East-facing | 10 feet | 15 feet |
| South-facing | 10 feet | 15 feet |
Which circle island tours stop at the North Shore surf beaches?
The Hidden Gems tour stops at Sunset Beach and the snorkeling grand tour stops at Waimea Bay. The Grand Circle Island tour only drives past.
The listings are specific about this. The Grand Circle Island tour passes the North Shore beaches and stops in Haleiwa for 1 hour 30 minutes. Its $100 option is the 6.5-hour half day to Dole Plantation and Haleiwa only; the full circle starts at $140. The Hidden Gems tour gives you 20 minutes at Sunset Beach and drives past Pipeline and Laniakea. The grand tour with snorkeling lists 20 minutes at Waimea Bay and drives past Pipeline and Sunset Beach.
For the most time on the beaches, nothing beats your own car. The self-drive guide covers the route and the costs.
| Tour | Sunset Beach | Pipeline | Waimea Bay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Circle Island (full day) | Drive-by | Drive-by | Drive-by |
| Hidden Gems | 20 min | Drive-by | n/a |
| Grand tour with snorkeling | Drive-by | Drive-by | 20 min |
| Small-group turtle snorkel | 10 min | Drive-by | Drive-by |
| Self-guided app | 15 min | 30 min | 45 min |
Twenty minutes on the sand at Sunset Beach, plus Byodo-In entry and ten more stops.
Explore the Hidden Gems tour Tour detailsDo snorkel tours still swim on the North Shore in winter?
They go where the water is safe that day. The listings warn that stops can change with the weather and the sea.
The small-group turtle snorkel tour says on its listing that weather or sea conditions can mean guests don't see turtles on the beach or while snorkeling, and that listed places may change. The snorkeling grand tour warns that some locations cannot be reached in some weather. The Premium small-group tour schedules its swim at a North Shore beach stop and does sunrise pickups in winter.
Take that at face value. A winter booking still gets you the drive and the views, but the snorkel stop depends on the day and turtles are never guaranteed. If you do see one on a beach, NOAA Fisheries asks you to stay at least 10 feet away.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see big waves on Oahu's North Shore?
November through April, when Hawaii's Ocean Safety office says the north shores get consistent huge swells. December opens both big contest windows.
Is the Eddie happening in 2026-27?
The window is open from 6 December 2026 to 4 March 2027, with the opening ceremony at Waimea Bay on 3 December. It only runs if Waimea gets waves of about 40 to 50 feet on the face, so most seasons pass without it.
Does the Grand Circle Island tour stop at Waimea Bay or Pipeline?
No. It drives past the North Shore beaches and stops in Haleiwa for about 90 minutes. The Hidden Gems tour stops at Sunset Beach and the snorkeling grand tour at Waimea Bay, each for about 20 minutes.
Can I swim on the North Shore in winter?
Only on calm days. On high-surf days the state advises swimmers of any skill level to stay out of the water at these beaches.
Ready to book
Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Hidden Gems of Oahu with Byodo-In Temple
Eleven stops, from Kualoa to Sunset Beach
Grand Tour Around the Island with Snorkeling
- Guided circle island tour with a snorkelling stop
- Snorkel equipment, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned bus (25 to 50 seats)
Self-Guided GPS Audio Driving Tour
An audio app for your rental car, at your own pace
