Crouching Lion surf guide
Surf: General: Located on the south side of Kahana Bay and out in front of the rock formation, Crouching Lion, on the mountain ridge above the bay - this spot offers a racey, hollow right that peels off toward Kahana Bay. tube riding skills are essential when it's on. There are some lefts on the other side of the reef outcrop, but they are usually pretty short. There is usually surf due to the consistent, year-round tradeswell. However, conditions are often tattered from the persistent onshore tradewinds (strongest through the summer months). It's best on winter N to NE groundswells, with the occasional offshore southerly wind with a passing front. Tradeswell is usually not so solid, and when it is, onshore trade winds are usually strong as well.
Tides: Low to medium
Size: Head high-3X overhead-plus
Wind: Calm or offshore from SE to SW for the wrapping right, S to W for the wrapping left. Passing winter fronts bring offshore winds. Early mornings can be clean during lighter trade wind days.
Swell: NE, but anything from the N to E can be good.
Bottom: Reef
Paddling: Long paddle to get out there, but it's in a channel. Then long rides mean long paddles back.
Spot Rating: One of the best spots on the Windward Side with long rides and barrels, that is when a solid NE swell coincides with offshore winds from a passing front -- so not all that common to catch it good.
Access: Easy, but be aware there's a long paddle to get out there.
Crowds: Crowd Factor: Usually minimal, but can get a crowd when winds occasionally turn offshore on this side, especially if its a weekend.
Local Vibe: Usually mellow. Be cool and keep it that way.
Environment: Pristine.
Hazards: Reef, urchins, sharks, currents.
Season: Winter tends to be best overall, but there is surf year-round due to easterly tradeswell exposure. Open exposure to the northerly swells in winter, and winter will also bring offshore wind events.