Surf Forecast Populars
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Populars surfspot characteristics
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Further outside check Populars slightly less crowded and less localised rights that run down the reef nicely in SE-S swells. There’s a paddling channel to the right of the break and some shorter soft lefts.
General: Just west of Canoes, and a hundred yards or so further out, lies the long, curving stretch of reef that's aptly named Populars (or Pop's). It's a peak with a decent right that peels and swings down the line with a few bowly sections towards the inside, and a shorter, fairly mushy left. Occasionally it fires, like on a big S swell. Tides: Low to medium Size: Waist high-well overhead Wind: Calm or offshore from NW to E, with NE straight offshore. Swell: Anything from the SE to SW, but usually from the S to SW. Bottom: Reef Paddling: Long paddles to and from beach, but not bad once you're out there. Spot Rating: Usually a mellow and user friendly wave, but gets good when a solid swell is running.
All levels, but best suited for beginner to intermediate most of the time.
Easy. Located in front of the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, across the channel and east of Canoes.
Summer. From around April through October.
Crowd Factor: All the spots through Waikiki are pretty much always crowded all the time. Local Vibe: Mellow, except when there is a perfect SSE or S swell running, that's when all the heavies show up.
When Pops gets overhead and pumping on a big S swell, loads of shredders appear to destroy the waves and the usual mellow vibe.
Clean for the most part, but most of Hawaii's population lives on the South Shore of Oahu. Tons of people.
Reef, large crowds, boards. Many first-timers that get in the way.