Ocean Slowly Wakes From its Slumber

The north shores of the Hawaiian Islands are renowned world wide for their large surf. During the winter months, surf heights commonly range between 10 and 15 feet. A few times each winter, the waves will reach heights in excess of 50 feet at selected off shore reefs. Summers along this stretch of coast line are another matter. Waves are few and far between and much of the time the waters offshore look like a lake. Around the first of September, a sense of anticipation builds among island wave riders. They know the surf season is not too far away. We are just starting to see the first signs of activity along the North Shore with a series of small swells forecast for the next week. While these small swells are a far cry from the giant surf we can expect later in the season, it is an exciting harbinger for larger surf just around the corner.