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Drive north from Hilo towards Waimea, turn right just after the pedestrian overcrossing and before the Hakalau river bridge by the 16 mile marker. Then drive down about 0.4 mile to the lookout, then turn left down the gulch crossing to the old Hakalau bridge and across the river, then go off pavement down the gravel road across the river again over a low bridge(be careful of high water), lots of parking by the old Hakalau Plantation mill ruins. Hakalau Beach park is a County owned public park.
English (Translate this text in English): Drive north from Hilo towards Waimea, turn right just after the pedestrian overcrossing and before the Hakalau river bridge by the 16 mile marker. Then drive down about 0.4 mile to the lookout, then turn left down the gulch crossing to the old Hakalau bridge and across the river, then go off pavement down the gravel road across the river again over a low bridge(be careful of high water), lots of parking by the old Hakalau Plantation mill ruins. Hakalau Beach park is a County owned public park.
English (Translate this text in English): Drive north from Hilo towards Waimea, turn right just after the pedestrian overcrossing and before the Hakalau river bridge by the 16 mile marker. Then drive down about 0.4 mile to the lookout, then turn left down the gulch crossing to the old Hakalau bridge and across the river, then go off pavement down the gravel road across the river again over a low bridge(be careful of high water), lots of parking by the old Hakalau Plantation mill ruins. Hakalau Beach park is a County owned public park.
English (Translate this text in English): Drive north from Hilo towards Waimea, turn right just after the pedestrian overcrossing and before the Hakalau river bridge by the 16 mile marker. Then drive down about 0.4 mile to the lookout, then turn left down the gulch crossing to the old Hakalau bridge and across the river, then go off pavement down the gravel road across the river again over a low bridge(be careful of high water), lots of parking by the old Hakalau Plantation mill ruins. Hakalau Beach park is a County owned public park.
DistanceTake a car
WalkInstant access (< 5min)
Easy to find?OK
Public access?Public access
Special accessDon't know
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Surf Spot Characteristics
Alternative name Hakalau mill
Surf Spot Quality
Wave qualityNormal
ExperienceExperienced surfers
FrequencyRegular
Wave
TypeRivermouth
DirectionRight
BottomBoulders
PowerPowerful
Normal lengthShort (< 50m)
Good day lengthShort (< 50m)
Tide, Swell and Wind
Good swell directionEast, NorthEast
Good wind directionDon't know
Swell sizeStarts working at 1.0m-1.5m / 3ft-5ft and holds up to 5m / 16 ft and over
Best tide positionLow tide only
Best tide movementDon't know
More details
Week crowdFew surfers
Week-end crowdCrowded
Webcam url
Dangers
- Rips / undertow
- Rocks
- Man-made danger (buoys etc..)
- Localism
- Pollution
- Sharks
Additional Information
Been going there since 1990 when I was a kid starting to bodyboard. Pretty good crowd on the weekends, mostly locals. Just show respect and youll be fine.
Hakalau usually gets good about 4ft+ (hawaiian size)but gets really nice about 8-10 foot. I have seen it hit over 10ft (20foot face) a few times, but it gets very very heavy and is extremely hard to paddle out even with the river current helping you. Its a solid right direction wave about 95% of the time. Depending on size its good to paddle out to the right just wear the old mill wall corner is. Thats the take off spot. You can ride it for a while.
Just be carefull of the massive boulder just below the surface of the water, about 20 feet out from shore, right in the middle of the water. Many have been unnjured by it.
Even though Ive been surfing there for almost 20 years, I cant confirm sharks, even though monk seals swim at the beach sometimes. I have however had my foot, and board bumped a few times, and had a "shark vibe" once in a while. The river flows right into the beach and because of all the dirt, mud, leaves in the river, its usually pretty murky while surfing. Have fun! :D
English (Translate this text in English): Been going there since 1990 when I was a kid starting to bodyboard. Pretty good crowd on the weekends, mostly locals. Just show respect and youll be fine.
Hakalau usually gets good about 4ft+ (hawaiian size)but gets really nice about 8-10 foot. I have seen it hit over 10ft (20foot face) a few times, but it gets very very heavy and is extremely hard to paddle out even with the river current helping you. Its a solid right direction wave about 95% of the time. Depending on size its good to paddle out to the right just wear the old mill wall corner is. Thats the take off spot. You can ride it for a while.
Just be carefull of the massive boulder just below the surface of the water, about 20 feet out from shore, right in the middle of the water. Many have been unnjured by it.
Even though Ive been surfing there for almost 20 years, I cant confirm sharks, even though monk seals swim at the beach sometimes. I have however had my foot, and board bumped a few times, and had a "shark vibe" once in a while. The river flows right into the beach and because of all the dirt, mud, leaves in the river, its usually pretty murky while surfing. Have fun! :D
English (Translate this text in English): Been going there since 1990 when I was a kid starting to bodyboard. Pretty good crowd on the weekends, mostly locals. Just show respect and youll be fine.
Hakalau usually gets good about 4ft+ (hawaiian size)but gets really nice about 8-10 foot. I have seen it hit over 10ft (20foot face) a few times, but it gets very very heavy and is extremely hard to paddle out even with the river current helping you. Its a solid right direction wave about 95% of the time. Depending on size its good to paddle out to the right just wear the old mill wall corner is. Thats the take off spot. You can ride it for a while.
Just be carefull of the massive boulder just below the surface of the water, about 20 feet out from shore, right in the middle of the water. Many have been unnjured by it.
Even though Ive been surfing there for almost 20 years, I cant confirm sharks, even though monk seals swim at the beach sometimes. I have however had my foot, and board bumped a few times, and had a "shark vibe" once in a while. The river flows right into the beach and because of all the dirt, mud, leaves in the river, its usually pretty murky while surfing. Have fun! :D
English (Translate this text in English): Been going there since 1990 when I was a kid starting to bodyboard. Pretty good crowd on the weekends, mostly locals. Just show respect and youll be fine.
Hakalau usually gets good about 4ft+ (hawaiian size)but gets really nice about 8-10 foot. I have seen it hit over 10ft (20foot face) a few times, but it gets very very heavy and is extremely hard to paddle out even with the river current helping you. Its a solid right direction wave about 95% of the time. Depending on size its good to paddle out to the right just wear the old mill wall corner is. Thats the take off spot. You can ride it for a while.
Just be carefull of the massive boulder just below the surface of the water, about 20 feet out from shore, right in the middle of the water. Many have been unnjured by it.
Even though Ive been surfing there for almost 20 years, I cant confirm sharks, even though monk seals swim at the beach sometimes. I have however had my foot, and board bumped a few times, and had a &quot;shark vibe&quot; once in a while. The river flows right into the beach and because of all the dirt, mud, leaves in the river, its usually pretty murky while surfing. Have fun! :D
Atmosphere
One of my favorite spots, good to go to when the usual popular spots are crowded, (honolii, pohiki, richardsons)
English (Translate this text in English): One of my favorite spots, good to go to when the usual popular spots are crowded, (honolii, pohiki, richardsons)
English (Translate this text in English): One of my favorite spots, good to go to when the usual popular spots are crowded, (honolii, pohiki, richardsons)
English (Translate this text in English): One of my favorite spots, good to go to when the usual popular spots are crowded, (honolii, pohiki, richardsons)
General
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Hakalau
By Anonymous , 18-03-2009
Hakalau - You forgot to mention all the rusty metal from the old mill on the bottom, the fact that 350 days per year it is absolutely junk, the fact that it is the filthiest water on the island, and the fact you can easily be killed surfing there on waves that most people would not even consider real waves. Not worth the gas to get up there.