Please call Lisa at (808) 396-2324 to reserve your space and be sure to mention that you are a Baby Awearness Mama!
Classes include all necessary equipment: board, leash, rashguard. Mamas just bring bathing suit, towel, sunscreen.

Don’t leave your surfboard in your car! The extreme heat will delaminate and ruin your surfboard. Think of your surfboard as a family pet, you wouldn’t leave your dog in the car with the windows rolled up now would you?

“China Walls,” a surf break located on Oahu’s southeastern most tip, is actually an amalgamation of four separate “breaks.” There’s “the wall,” a left that breaks right next to the cliff, “the point,” a section just inside of the wall, “the finger,” the far inside section, and “china walls” proper, a deep water left located further in the bay. (See above.) Each “wave” presents its own challenges, as each section will break differently according to tide, swell direction, swell size, and wind. For instance, “the wall” breaks best at low tide with a SE swell direction (the same could be said for China Walls proper) but is an absolute death trap at low tide with a SW swell, as the waves break directly into the wall. Catch the wrong wave on a day like this and you’re in for a trip alongside the jagged-rock cliff face.

So how do you surf China Walls? The quick and easy answer to that question is always carefully. First, park on the residential street just above the park entrance to the break. Make sure to park closer to the cul-de-sac as opposed to the chain link gate down towards the finger as incidents of break-ins have been on the rise. Once parked, you can walk down the cul-de-sac, through the park, and down the trail to the cliffs. You can jump out at “the wall,” just make sure to time the sets, or you can walk down to the “point” to jump in, just be mindful of your footing as it’s pretty slippery as you get closer to the edge. The last entry/exit point is back at the aforementioned chain link fence. You’ll have to hop the fence (the city and county of Honolulu is currently refurbishing the concrete stairs that lead down to the water so access is blocked off) and walk down to the finger. Once there, you can walk out to the edge of the rock outcropping and jump, literally, right into the lineup. If you’ve managed to jump in unscathed and want to surf china walls proper, just paddle towards the coral head a few hundred feet into the bay.

Congratulations, you made it into the water! Now comes the fun part, catching a wave! If you’re on “the wall,” you’ll have to sit right next to the cliff face in order to be in the best spot to catch a wave. Don’t worry, if you boggle the takeoff the wave will normally push you away from the rock and out to sea (see aforementioned reference to low tide an SW swell), so feel free to dig deep and make a go of it. Depending on the day, it’s possible to surf straight through the point and the finger. If you are sitting at the point, again, sit as close as possible to the rocks. The wave here has a tendency to break just before the takeoff zone here so you’ll most likely be taking off in the whitewater here. But don’t let that fool you, the soup packs plenty of punch here, and if you don’t paddle hard to match the speed of the wave it will most likely mow you over. If you’re sitting at the inside finger section, again (big surprise), sit as close to the rock as you can. This is the shallowest section of the wave so be cautious on takeoff, if you don’t set your line quickly you run the risk of getting washed into the shallow reef directly in front of the takeoff area. China Walls proper has a few different takeoff spots, one, just above the coral heads, two, about thirty yards further down the left, and three, about another fifty yards down from that. Depending on the swell direction and size, there could be additional places to get into the wave here, but these three tend to be the most consistent of the bunch.

Once your up and riding, expect a rush like no other! China Walls is unique in that you’re traveling at high speeds right next to majestic cliffs and rock formations. The scenery and the ride are unlike any other surf experience here on Oahu. If you’ve happened to catch a ride at China Walls proper, there’s a reason for the spot’s moniker, as the wave seems to stretch on forever, like the Great Wall of China! Be prepared for sections to float, carve, and (occasionally), barrel, as you negotiate the various “waves” out at China Walls. And remember, like most unique surf spots here on Oahu, there are a dedicated group of surfers that make it a point to surf the place almost exclusively. Surf with respect, watch to see who gets the pick of litter and see how they surf the break. Sit wide and give everyone their “turn.” The concentrated takeoff spots out there mandate an almost “conveyor belt” like system, so, wait for your chance then take it. If you show respect you’ll get respect in return. If you don’t, then the spot becomes all the more dangerous… fast.

If you can manage to jump in, negotiate the lineup, and catch a few waves, then you’re faced with the prospect of getting out of the water There are three main spots to “climb” out here, just inside of the takeoff spot at the wall, just inside (in the bay) of the takeoff spot at the point, and back up the stairs inside of the finger. Don’t forget to time the sets before you make your move!

Best of luck from Hawaiian Surf Adventure in your quest to conquer China Walls!

Some pics of 40-year old, and current Association of Surfing Professionals world-ranked #1 surfer, Mr. Robert Kelly Slater. Will taking surf lessons from Hawaiian Surf Adventure get you ready to charge Pipeline? Perhaps… Remember, even the great ones have to start someplace, get started today!

If your interested in learning this great sport and exercise check out our awesome deals here on Stand Up Paddle Lessons and Tours. We take you to a crowd free secluded bay that lets you learn and enjoy this activity without fighting through intimidating surf line ups.

Beginners Tip - Learn How to Duck Dive a Wave

Paddling out to the lineup can sometimes be difficult, especially if there are large waves breaking on your head every few seconds! But you can beat those paddle out blues if you learn how to “duck dive.” Originally coined to emulate the idea of “water off of a duck’s back,” duck diving has been a staple move in every surfer’s repertoire since the advent of the shortboard revolution. (Tankers, no worries, we’ll have a post dedicated to the mystical turtle roll soon!) Duck diving waves allows you to get out into the lineup safely and quickly. Though the premise is basic, here are some tips to help you master one of surfing’s most effective moves:

• Give yourself enough time. Duck diving is a simple enough endeavor, but you have to be mindful of timing when to start your dive. Too soon and you’ll pop up in middle of the whitewater or, worse yet, the lip of a crashing wave! Too late and you’ll get mowed over before you can reach a safe depth. A good rule of thumb is to use a three-second count in your head (perhaps more as the size of the surf increases). Leave yourself that time to take a quick breath and submerge your surfboard under the oncoming wave.
• “One-thousand-one.” Take a breath of air and place both hands on your surfboard’s outside rails and the ball of your foot on the tail.
• “One-thousand-two.” Let the weight of your body submerge your surfboard under the oncoming wave. All too often you’ll see surfers flailing and wailing about trying to manhandle their boards under the waves. Remember, duck diving is an exercise in efficiency. Wasted energy  translates into poor performance. Apply a bit more pressure with your hands to ensure the nose of your surfboard penetrates the water first and the ball of your foot to level out your board once you’re underwater. How deep? A foot or two is usually fine for most days, though you’ll have to get a little deeper on those big days
• “One-thousand-three.” After the wave has passed over your head, take your foot off of the tail of your surfboard and bend your arms to let your board back into your chest (see pic below). The buoyancy of the board will aid you in your journey back to the surface of the water. Remember to keep you eyes open to see what’s ahead of you!

Make sure to carry your surfboard with the waxed side away from your body. This will keep your clothes, or your body, wax free!

The Past

In 2003 Matt Warshaw published The Encyclopedia of Surfing, which is an  all encompassing volume that defines the sport with an unique, authoritative voice.   It has  close to 500 pages, 300 pictures and we consider it at must read for any “newbie surfers” or surf enthusiasts here at Hawaiian Surf Adventures.

Harcourt published the Encyclopedia of Surfing in 2003. Sixteen-hundred A-to-Z entries. Half-million words. It’s the biggest, best-reviewed, most-respected book ever written on the sport. Salon called it a “masterpiece.” Amazon named it the #2 sports book of the year. (Right behind Moneyball. Can’t beat the baseball-industrial complex.) EOS is now the industry standard reference work on surfing. It’s been cited not just in every surf magazine and website, but in Outside, Rolling Stone, Men’s Journal, and the New York Times. Hattip Kickstarter

The Future of Learning The History of Surfing