Barbers Point surf guide
Surf: In Kalaeloa near the Campbell industrial park, Barbers Point sees lengthy lefts on headhigh S swells or broken up peaks on wrapping 3-5ft (1-1.5m) N-NW and W swells. Kauai blocks a bit of the NW, but there is usually some action here where the trades are offshore for the lefts further west or N winds are good around the lighthouse. The coral reef is strewn with rocky outcrops and entry and exit can be fraught depending on where along the curving coast the waves are best.
Environment: Crowds and attitude are minimal while numbers of sharks spotted from the flights into the Kalaeloa airport are maximal!
Surf: General: Barbers Point picks up Southern Hemi swells from all directions, and it can also absorb Northern Hemi energy that has a lot of W in it (between 390-329 degrees) or has snuck under Ni'ihau and Kauai (under 285 degrees). There is a point wave that breaks directly out beyond the lighthouse, but there are a variety of peaks spread out down the beach that offer good surf, depending on swell direction. Due to Barbers Point's exposed location, wind is often a factor.
Tides: Medium
Size: Head high-3X overhead+
Wind: Calm or offshore from NNE to ENE. NE is straight offshore.
Swell: Anything from the SE to SW, or from the W, or NW to N.
Bottom: Reef
Paddling: Long paddles to and from beach, but not bad once you're out there.
Spot Rating: Variety of peaks spread out down the beach that offer good surf. Peaky surf with a combo of northerly and southerly swells.
Access: Located at Barbers Point Beach Park.
Crowds: Crowd Factor: Minimal and spread out.
Local Vibe: None to minimal. Be cool and keep it that way.
Environment: Pristine.
Hazards: Reef, Tiger Sharks (big ones).
Season: All year. SW to SSE swells in summer and NW-N swells in winter.