Pakala
Edit SpotAbout
This is a great spot, and should not be missed if surfing Kauai in the summer months. Pakala is a left point break, so you have to be a reasonably experienced surfer to enjoy this spot as you have to outpaddle others in the lineup to get a wave. The wave can last for a very long time (hence the name "Infinities"). The crowd varied from 4-15 surfers on the weekdays and weekend when I was there. The crowd is swell dependent (according to the friendly local talking to us about the spot), meaning it gets crowded when the surf is big...like most good spots worldwide.
Atmosphere:
If you make it to the water, look out for locals and sharks.The atmosphere at Pakala is pretty mellow. I got some bad looks from some of the locals, but others were extremely friendly and talked to me and my haole friends quite a bit. One older local guy even gave us tips on surfing the spot. Some of the less-mature locals dropped in on my buddy and were not friendly. There were a lot of couples and family's surfing together, with some of the really young kids on bodyboards. Overall, there was generally a great vibe at this spot.
Additional Info:
Small waves and sharks. Not great!
Finding this spot is a bit difficult because it can't be seen from the road. There is guard rail and emergency call box about 100 yards west of mile marker 21 on highway 56, park there (you will probably see other cars parked there as well).
Pakala is a left point break, so goofy-footers will love this spot. It breaks on a coral reef that gets very shallow when you ride the wave all the way in, so be careful. Luckily the takeoff area is not too shallow (about 4-8 feet deep depending on the tide).
Both longboarders and shortboarders will like this wave. It is best on south swells. Water is a bit murky.
Location
Loading...Access
Thats a load of horse shot Pakalas is Amazing and yes you need to go for a very small 7 min walk down to the ocean and yes there are to prickly bushes but it's so worth it as anything in life that takes a little effort, everyone should enjoy this spot instead of local boys trying to act entitled to the good surf, the water is clean no sharks and keep in mind more people die of fallen coconuts every year in Hawaii then from shark attacks. Hope to see you out there!
Aloha and Best Regards
A Real Motherfucka!
| Walk | Short walk (5-15 min) |
|---|---|
| Public access | Yes |
| 4x4 required | Unknown |
| Boat required | Unknown |
Wave Characteristics
| Type | Reef (coral) |
|---|---|
| Direction | Left |
| Bottom | Reef (coral, sharp rocks etc.) |
| Power | Fun |
| Frequency | Regular (100 days/year) |
| Normal length | Normal (50 to 150m) |
| Good day length | Very Long (300 to 500m) |
Ideal Conditions
| Wind direction | North, NorthWest, East, NorthEast |
|---|---|
| Swell direction | SouthWest, South, SouthEast |
| Swell size | Less than 3ft - 3ft+ |
| Tide | Don't know |
| Tide movement | Rising tide |
Crowd
| Week | Ultra crowded |
|---|---|
| Weekend | Ultra crowded |
Dangers
Urchins, Rocks, Man-made danger (buoys etc..), Private beach, Localism, Pollution, Sharks
Videos
None
Nearby spots
11.83 miles away
| Direction: | Right and left |
| Bottom: | Reef (coral, sharp rocks etc.) |
| Frequency: | Regular (100 days/year) |
12.39 miles away
| Direction: | Left |
| Bottom: | Reef (coral, sharp rocks etc.) |
| Frequency: | Very consistent (150+ days/year) |
12.94 miles away
| Direction: | Right and left |
| Bottom: | Sandy with rock |
| Frequency: | Regular (100 days/year) |