La'aloa Beach Park surf guide
Surf: A rare beachbreak, aka Disappearing Sands when winter storms scour out the sand down to the bare lava shelf. Good small swell summer spot with plenty of ramps and close-outs for the bodyboarders to fly off. When winter W and even NW come in, the southern end peak holds double overhead on an outer ledge.
Environment: Further south at Kahaluu Beach Park, tourists snorkel the natural lagoon behind a long finger of rock that has some fun, rolling peaks off the end of the wall for cruisers and longboards.
Surf: General: Also known as Magic Sands or White Sands, Magics' true name is La'aloa, which means "very sacred" in Hawaiian. How La'aloa came to be nicknamed Magic Sands has to do with the fact that during large W and SW swells between December and March, the golden sand of the La'aloa bay-shore will wash out to sea overnight, transforming the beachscape from sand to exposed rock. This is due largely in part to the fact that, offshore, there is a deep scoop out of the reef that is completely sand-bottom all the way out to deep water. All of this geography translates into a stretch of beach that offers up a shoredump that favors bodysurfers and bodyboarders. The wave itself is a hucking peak -- the left rolls for a bit before detonating over shallow water, making it better for surfing, while the right demands pulling in right at the takeoff.
Tides: All tides
Size: Head high-2X overhead
Wind: Calm or offshore from an easterly direction (NE to E to SE). Mornings usually always see light wind and clean conditions, before an afternoon seabreeze develops.
Swell: Anything from the S to NW
Bottom: Sand and reef
Paddling: Very short paddle.
Spot Rating: Mostly shorepound.
Access: Easy. Parking at La'aloa Beach Park and side of the Ali'i Drive.
Crowds: Crowd Factor: Can be crowded when its working, but more often it is not.
Local Vibe: Humility and respect appreciated.
Environment: Pristine.
Hazards: Reef. On bigger swells, the shorepound can slam you hard.
Season: Year-round. Winter NW-WNW swells and summer S-SW swells. Most consistent in summer.