Populars Surf Guide

Populars in Oahu is an exposed reef break that usually has waves. Summer offers the best conditions for surfing. Offshore winds blow from the north. Tends to receive a mix of groundswells and windswells and the ideal swell direction is from the south southeast. There is a right hand reef break. The quality of the surf isn't affected by the tide. Likely to be crowded if working. Beware of rocks, obstacles, locals and sharks.

Populars Spot Info

Type:Rating:Reliability:Todays Sea Temp*:
Reef4consistent
80°F*ocean temperature recorded from satellite

Surfing Populars:

The best conditions reported for surf at Populars occur when a South-southeast swell combines with an offshore wind direction from the North.

What's the best time of year to surf Populars (for consistent clean waves)?

mayBest Season: summer
The best time of year for surfing Populars with consistent clean waves (rideable swell with light / offshore winds) is during Summer  and most often the month of May. Clean surfable waves are typically found 31% of the time in May while 30% of the time it tends to be blown out. For the remaining 39% of the time it is considered too small by most surfers but may still be OK for beginners and groms at times.
clean
31%
Surfable waves that hold up well for longer rides in prevailing cross-offshore, offshore or light wind conditions.
blown out
30%
Surfable sized waves that are of poorer quality due to prevailing onshore, cross-onshore or windy conditions (may be preferable for kitesurfing).
too small
39%
Waves usually considered too small for good surf. Some wave-magnet breaks may still work though if conditions are right (on occasion).

Explore Populars Location Map

Interactive Populars surf break location map. View information about nearby surf breaks, their wave consistency and rating compared to other spots in the region. Current swell conditions from local buoys are shown along with live wind speed and direction from nearby weather stations. Click icons on the map for more detail. The closest passenger airport to Populars is Honolulu International Airport (HNL) in Usa Oahu Isl., 11 km (7 miles) away (directly). The second nearest airport to Populars is Kaneohe Bay Mcaf Airport (NGF), also in Usa Oahu Isl., 20 km (12 miles) away.

  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (ft)
  • Live Wind Speed (mph)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (ft)
  • Wind Speed (mph)
Map placeholder
Please note that some surf spot locations are approximate to protect their exact location while others are not shown at close zoom level.
Populars Surf Forecasts:
Todays Surf Summary
Wednesday, 23 July 2025, 18:53 Local Time
Wednesday 23Thu
5PM8PM11PM2AM
Wave (ft)
1.5
SW
1.5
SW
4.5
E
4
E
Period (s) 19 19 7 7
Wind (mph)
10
10
10
15
Wind State cross cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off

Swell History at Populars

Surf stats for Populars, see the swell variation by month or season on the history page here.

Wind History at Populars

Wind stats for Populars, see the variation in direction and stength by month or season on the history page here.


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