About

One of my all-time favorite spots. It can produce some pretty scary rides. The barrels get pretty hefty. The launch sections are perfect for bodyboarding and surfing. Lotsa speed. It's hard to tell when the sets will come in because the swells come in from 300-500 foot deep water giving the wave a defecation load of power. The swells jack up and roll in with no mercy. If you're not paying attention you could get the worst beating of your life. Pipeline can give you a beating, but Yoks can roll you over the reef all the way to sand. I almost died out there. I've bashed my head and blacked out for a couple seconds and got three six foot bombs on the head. The place can be a nightmare. But it also can be the funnest wave to ride. Take a video camera. When the south shore has a swell, Yoks catches it a foot or two bigger. It is only worth checking when the surf report says the south shore is three feet or bigger. When there's a northwest swell of four feet, Yoks can take in the swell at six feet. It's a great place to get away from the crowds when swells hit, but I've seen Yoks crowded as hell. One irritating thing about this spot is the wind. At times it will blow offshore all day from sunrise to sunset. On the majority of days the wind will blow offshore for 30 minutes, then change onshore for 10 minutes, then switch back to offshore. The wind does this in weird increments and intervals. The locals are cool down here for some reason but that doesn't mean you can be a dick. Remember, you're still on the West Side.

Atmosphere:
If you want to feel like your in some place desolate on Oahu, go to Yokahama. Absolutely beautiful setting. This is where you can get the real deal of Oahu, Hawaii. Nice tradewind breezes, perfect water, hot and sunny, picturesque mountains, and a Hawaiian feel; it's the place to be on those sunny Hawaiian days. Many locals like to camp out on the weekends making the bay pretty occupied. Go there on Tuesday through Thursday and you'll find two camping tents and only the lifeguards surfing the waves all by themselves. Definitely worth the drive.

Additional Info:
Yokohama has a very demanding takeoff where making the drop can be very hairy. Lotsa backwash here but not to where it messes up the wave totally. It always seems to happen right when the wave is about to break so be ready for it. The left peak breaks over a hideous coral shelf with coral heads visisble one foot underwater. It can often be a lengthy ride but a barrel and a few hits on the lip and a launch ramp at the end are the norm. When the surf is big it creates a sandbar on the inside producing a powerful end section barrel or launch pad. The right is a whole different story. It tends to pinch but on its day, Yoks' right can be the barrel of a lifetime over a shallow reef bottom with a whole lot of caves. It's frustratingly fast as it starts to peel over the reef but the take off is easy. Do not eat it. You WILL hit your head.

Location

Access

On your way to Kaena Point, drive on Farrington Highway past Makaha Beach for about 10-15 minutes till you almost reach the end of the road. You will see a big sandy beach/bay with a lifeguard stand.

Wave Characteristics

Ideal Conditions

Crowd

Dangers

Rips / undertow, Rocks, Localism

Videos

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