Ehukai Beach Park (Banzai Pipeline)

The North Shore of Oahu is famous for being home to some of the best surfing on earth. Of all the top surf beaches on The North Shore Ehukai is arguably the best. 

Its also know as the home of the Banzai Pipeline. Even if you aren’t a surfer yourself, it’s still worth a visit to watch the best surfing talent on earth. Even when there isn’t a competition here you can expect to see the worlds finest riding the waves. 

The waves are best in the fall and winter, but even if not watching or riding the waves, you can still enjoy this beautiful beach, just don’t plan on snorkeling! 

Warning: the waves here are serious business. Unless you are a really good surfer don’t even try to ride them. The waves can be up to 45 feet high (in season generally 8-20 feet). They will flick you like a booger!

EHUKAI BEACH Quick Tips:

• Known for: One of the best surfing beaches on earth (Banzai Pipeline)
• Good for: surfing and watching surfers 
• Not so good for: ease of access 
• Facilities: restrooms, showers, picnic tables, concession stand 
• Lifeguards: yes 
• Parking: metered spots, but extremely difficult to find a spot 
• Hours: technically closes at 10 pm and doesn’t open until 5 am 

Ehukai Name Meaning 

Ehukai means sea spray in Hawaiian, name fits since crashing waves create sea sprays Home of banzai pipeline.

Other names 

This beach also goes by banzai pipeline beach, Pipe or Pipeline and pupukea beach.

Where is Ehukai Beach located?

Ehukai Beach is located on the North Shore of Oahu. This region is one of the most popular surfing locations on earth. 

Of the north shore beaches, this is one of the furthest north. It is immediately off of the main road. It’s Eleasy to access l, just takes time. 

Also, it faces west so a great spot for sunsets. 

How to get there?

It is about a 1 hour drive from the airport. If you are coming from Waikiki area it is far enough on the north shore that it is usually quicker to go around the shore of the island the “long way” – expect this to take you about an hour and 45 minutes, but gorgeous views and beats the traffic cutting across the main part of the island.

Tip: When in Hawaii I highly recommend renting a car to get the most out of your experience. It would be difficult to see all the beautiful places in Hawaii without a car. Reserve a car here.

What can you expect at Ehukai Beach

In general expect a gorgeous beach with insane waves. The waves here are huge and consistent in the fall and winter, but even outside of season there are still pretty strong waves. 

The size and consistency make this one of the best surf beaches on earth (even amongst the plethora of good surf options on the north shore. 

In the summer it sometimes is calm enough to swim and snorkel at, but don’t bet on it. 

Less Developed 

Even with the top surfer draw, the area isn’t littered with high rises and tons of restaurants and shops. 

The main hub of the north shore is the Haleiwa area about a 15 minute drive away. 

Facilities

The beach has showers, restrooms, and picnic tables. There is a small concession stand, but other than this there isn’t a lot.

Surf Competitions

One of the coolest aspects of ʻEhukai Beach Park is the surf competitions. If you happen to visit during the winter months, you might catch events like the Volcom Pipe Pro or the Billabong Pipe Masters.

These competitions attract some of the best surfers in the world, and watching them tackle the massive, perfectly formed tubes of the Pipeline is nothing short of spectacular.

I remember the first time I watched a competition here; the energy and skill level were through the roof, and it’s something that every visitor should experience if they get the chance.

Nearby Eats

There aren’t any restaurants right at the beach, but a short drive into Haleiwa town will offer plenty of options. The food trucks nearby are great for a quick, delicious meal. I’m partial to acai bowls and shrimp plates, which feel just right after a day in the sun and surf.

Conclusion: Is Ehukai Beach worth visiting?

If you have any interest in surfing, even just a casual watching interest I highly recommend stopping by this beach. 

The large waves are breathtaking and when the works class surfers are out I can watch for hours and hours.