westcoastprairiegirl

I have always wanted to go to the North Shore on Oahu, Hawaii.  I finally checked that off my bucket list on March 4th, 2013.

To sum up our day at the North Shore, it was beach hopping from one end, to the other.  We followed the waves from Sunset Beach and the “Banzai Pipeline” to Waimea Bay and beyond.

Because of the crazy waves, it was not a place to swim, although Armando wanted to.

Armando:  “I want to go in there.”
Me:  “You can’t. those waves are too dangerous.”
Armando:  “I can do it.  I swam in waves like that before.  I’m from Mexico.”
Me:  “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Armando:  “Other guys are in there.  It’s fine.”
Me:  “No.”
(We watch a guy walk to the shoreline and get pulled into the water by a wave)
Lifeguard on megaphone: “Hey, the guy that just got into the water without fins.  Get out now!  Now’s your chance and you better take it.  I don’t know why you are going in there without fins!”
(Lifeguards drive their 4×4 to the edge of the water, ready to rescue him)
Lifeguard on megaphone: “Just a reminder to everyone.  This waves are extremely dangerous today and only experienced people wearing special fins should attempt to go in. ”
(I give Armando a “See, I told you!” look and I enjoyed every minute of that moment) 🙂
Lifeguard on megaphone: “Everybody move back.  There are some big waves about to hit.”
(Big waves hit the shore, ride up the raised beach area where everyone is sunbathing, grabs sandals and other items lying around, taking them out to sea never to be recovered)
See below video:

The power of those waves!  Amazing!  I could watch them all day.  Actually, that’s what we did do.  When we asked the lifeguard how big the waves were, he said that the large ones hitting the shore were probably up to 16 feet and the ones further back that the guys were surfing, probably 20 feet.  Not as high as some videos I’ve seen but they were the most impressive ones that I’ve ever seen in person to-date.

Here’s some video footage, from Waimea Bay.  Take note of just how close to the shoreline those waves break and watch for little heads bobbing in the waves.

We did a must stop for some famous North Shore shaved ice at Matsumoto’s and it wasn’t a day on Oahu until we saw some whales. We ended our North Shore trip at the end of the North Shore road, near Kaena Point (see picture below).

I think I was a surfer chick in another life.  North Shore was great!

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