Map › USA › Oahu - Kailua › Hukilau Beach
Hawaii · Oahu East Side · Honolulu County · Laie
Hukilau Beach
also known as Laie, Goat Island, Laie Bay, Mokuauia
Nearby Laniakea 17 km · Kaneohe Sandbar 24 km · Mokuleia Beach Park 29 km · Kailua Beach 36 km · Waimanalo 42 km · Kahala 45 km · Diamond Head 46 km · straight-line distance
When it fills in
No onset time is published for this spot.
The wind
locals call it trade winds
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
trade
Typical strength
Model statistics for nearby Kahuku put the annual average around 11 kt from E. That is not a kiteable-wind average.
Thermal or synoptic
trade wind
The quiver, in words
The general Oahu wave-riding quiver is 8-10 m and 11-14 m; nothing spot-specific is confirmed for Hukilau.
Direction to shore
mostly onshore to side-onshore on the exposed beach; offshore in the Laie-side reform area described by Extreme Oahu
Dominant direction
E to NE trades with some north preferred for Goat Island
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan44
- Feb76
- Mar70
- Apr90
- May, riders' month83
- Jun, riders' month86
- Jul, riders' month99
- Aug, riders' month88
- Sep, riders' month86
- Oct52
- Nov80
- Dec63
per cent of the month at force 4 or more
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
- 11Jan25°
- 15Feb24°
- 14Mar24°
- 15Apr24°
- 14May25°
- 14Jun25°
- 15Jul26°
- 14Aug26°
- 13Sep27°
- 11Oct27°
- 14Nov26°
- 13Dec25°
avg knots per month · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Force 4+ | Knots | From | Air | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44% | 10.8 kt | ESE | 22.4°C | 25°C |
| Feb | 76% | 15.1 kt | E | 22.2°C | 24.1°C |
| Mar | 70% | 13.5 kt | E | 22.5°C | 24.1°C |
| Apr | 90% | 15.3 kt | E | 22.7°C | 24.4°C |
| May | 83% | 13.9 kt | E | 23.4°C | 24.8°C |
| Jun | 86% | 14 kt | E | 24.1°C | 25.4°C |
| Jul | 99% | 15.2 kt | E | 24.6°C | 26°C |
| Aug | 88% | 14 kt | E | 25.2°C | 26.4°C |
| Sep | 86% | 13 kt | E | 25.5°C | 26.8°C |
| Oct | 52% | 11.4 kt | E | 25.1°C | 27°C |
| Nov | 80% | 14.3 kt | E | 24.2°C | 26°C |
| Dec | 63% | 12.9 kt | E | 23.1°C | 25.4°C |
modelled
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
Modelled from weather reanalysis on a 10–25 km grid (2022-2024), not a ground station: reliable for trade and synoptic winds, understates thermal sea breezes and valley winds. The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.
ERA5 reanalysis grid point (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical weather API — ECMWF ERA5/ERA5-Land reanalysis, not a ground station · 2022-2024
The water
Type
sea
Standing depth
The one measured shallow is the crossing to Goat Island: about 0.6-1.2 m (two to four feet) at low tide, over reef rather than sand, which is why a board under you beats bare feet. No standing depth has been published for the rest of Laie Bay, and the inside reef sections go shallow at low water.
Tides
The reef gets shallow on the inside sections at low tide. Goat Island is reachable at low tide, but the tide turns fast.
Temperature
27°C summer · 23°C winter
Wetsuit
Usually boardshorts or a rash vest; a thin top can help in wind or rain squalls.
Currents
Winter surf brings strong current, and it can run hard around Malaekahana and Goat Island at other times of year. Current is worst on the tide change at the Goat Island crossing, where rip currents and waves arriving from more than one direction are both reported.
Your level
The scene
What riders come here for
Launch and rules
three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you
With a school or a boat
2 schools name this spot
On your own
Room to launch: medium
Somewhere else
Laniakea, 17 km
Every spot within 40 km is on the map at the top of this page, with its distance under it.
Rescue
Launch
Launch in front of Hukilau Beach Park, or from the point at Malaekahana Recreation Area.
Space
medium
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Check the NW swell period as well as the wind before counting on the Goat Island wave.
- Stay off the inside reef at low tide.
- Ride the Laie-side reform conservatively and on gear you trust: the wind there is offshore.
- Only walk out to Goat Island when tide and conditions allow it, and put reef shoes on.
- Pack a thin top for the wind and the rain squalls; the rest of the year is boardshorts.
- The crossing to Goat Island runs about two to four feet deep at low tide; float across on a board rather than walking, for your feet and for the reef.
- Swimming here is a summer thing. In winter the surf is up and the current with it, so treat a swim back to the beach as a real option only in the calm season.
- There are no restrooms at the beach park; sort that out in Laie before you rig.
Getting there
Airport
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
Route
Drive to Laie on Kamehameha Highway. The beach address is 55-699 Kamehameha Highway, on Oahu's northeastern coast.
Transfer
75 min
Cost level
high
Staying
Laie has Courtyard by Marriott Oahu North Shore and vacation rentals; more resort accommodation is farther north at Turtle Bay/Kahuku.
No-wind days
Polynesian Cultural Center · beach walks at Hukilau · Malaekahana State Recreation Area · Goat Island only in calm low-tide conditions with reef protection · North Shore sightseeing
Photos
FAQ
When is the best time to kite at Hukilau Beach?
Trade winds are most prevalent from May through September, and the Goat Island wave works best with strong trades and long-period NW swell.
Is Hukilau Beach suitable for beginners?
No, it's rated intermediate to advanced because of shallow reef, low-tide exposure and wave riding, though a general beach-travel source separately calls the area beginner-friendly for non-kite activities.
What is the wind like?
Wind is a typical Hawaiian trade wind from E to NE, with some north component preferred for the Goat Island wave; the Laie-side reform can be offshore.
What hazards should riders know about?
Shallow reef that gets very shallow at low tide, strong currents in winter surf, no lifeguard at Hukilau Beach Park, and a seabird sanctuary near Goat Island.
Last updated: August 2026