One month on Oahu

[Particle]

We'll be there for the entire month of March, stoked! Even though I'll miss out on some classic Utah March pow, oh well.

...and I need to figure out what to do for a board. Well, 2 boards actually, need one for my wife. I'm most comfortable on an 8' - 9' fun/hybrid shape, she likes 9' ish as well. Any thoughts on the most economical way to go? A few options I've considered:

-Rent the whole month? ($$$$)
-Try to find a couple used boards to buy the first couple days in town? (I did this when I lived in south O.C. and it took me almost a month to find a board I wanted, so this may not work.)
-Find a deal online and have them delivered to HI, then leave them at a shop for consignment when we leave.
-Buy split travel boards? I know nothing about these, but a neighbor swears by his.

[Particle]

OK, OK...check this out. So I did some searching for travel boards, and came across these crazy things:
http://www.uliboards.com/

At first I was all, what? Inflatable boards? KOOK. And no way any fun to surf. But the more I read about them, the more it sounds like this could completely kick ass for a travel board. FREE airline transportation, and from what I can tell, fairly legit surfability, for example:
http://www.surfingthemag.com/news/su...se/020403_uli/


?????Am I being a complete moron even considering this route?

[Crystal_Mt_Dreamin]

For one month I'd suggest buying new or used, as I'm assuming you'll want to get 2 sessions in a day. Try Craigslist and have a friend on the island grab it for you. Talked to a guy in Saladita that had one of those bisect boards and he loved his, plus avoids any board fees on the airline.

[Particle]

Yeah unfortunately now the airlines mostly just charge on oversize, regardless of what it is. I've traveled with a bike in the past and have pretty much quit b/c it's so expensive ($175 each way). So even the bisect board bags are oversized. Although they do look nice.

Will probably just buy on the island and sell on the way out. Ah well...what do newish boards go for these days? Back when I was living in SoCal they were mostly $4-500, seems like they are more in the $7-800 range now.

[SunshineTom]

Hey Particle,
I'm wondering the same thing about what to do for a board. what's your plan?
My girl and I are headed to the north shore March 1- 9th from Alaska, and I'm looking for a funshape/longboard to catch some of the more mellow waves. I'm hoping there are some mellow breaks near Haleiwa, but have never been to the north shore, so I plan on taking a lesson for the local knowledge. Are you interested in getting together for a group lesson / maggot surf sesssion?

[puhisurfer]

For a month? Just buy when you get there. On Oahu there will be TONS of cheap used boards that will do you up just fine. You won't be able to be too picky, though...

Are you staying town or country? Believe it or not it's harder to find boards in town (outside of craigslist). Out country there's a nice shop in Haleiwa that always has a nice rack of used. in town, not so much...

Split boards? In HI? No no no. Inflatable? Um, no. Unless you like sitting out on the shoulder ignored while everybody deservedly takes your waves.

Also, just a friendly word, don't know where you've surfed before. HI is not CA. Locals are much less welcoming and forgiving. So are the waves. Be prepared for much power and danger. Semi-serious beat-downs are not uncommon. Again, from both locals and waves. Be extra-nice and take it slow.

Just a free note, worth what you paid!

[supermodel159]

For a month? Just buy when you get there. On Oahu there will be TONS of cheap used boards that will do you up just fine. You won't be able to be too picky, though...

Are you staying town or country? Believe it or not it's harder to find boards in town (outside of craigslist). Out country there's a nice shop in Haleiwa that always has a nice rack of used. in town, not so much...

Split boards? In HI? No no no. Inflatable? Um, no. Unless you like sitting out on the shoulder ignored while everybody deservedly takes your waves.

Also, just a friendly word, don't know where you've surfed before. HI is not CA. Locals are much less welcoming and forgiving. So are the waves. Be prepared for much power and danger. Semi-serious beat-downs are not uncommon. Again, from both locals and waves. Be extra-nice and take it slow.

Just a free note, worth what you paid!

x2

If you are looking for a fun shape or long board + lessons, head to Waikiki...NOT the north shore of Oahu.

[BS720]

^^^ X3.

I've seen quite a few used boards in Waikiki.

Spots, I suggest Diamond Head. Try to hit it after 9am, before 3. I would stay away from The North Shore all together.

[wchinchen]

I would recommend craigslist for a used board instead of 25-30 dollars per day for rental. You can always resell the board and make up a majority of the initial cost.

As for places to surf, depends on how much pucker factor you want; the waves are dying down on the North Shore, but still cause unforgiving conditions. I would recommend P-point, close to Surf and Sea in North Shore, for starters. A mellow forgiving break.

Lani has different breaks, but the inside one can be shallow. Lani also has a nice channel to paddle out from. Chuns has wicked currents right now, even in 3-5 foot conditions, I do not recommend going there if you are starting out/not in paddling shape.

As locals say, North Shore is 3x as powerful as the South Shore waves. Ask the lifeguards about the channel and currents (the lifeguards are usually friendly and willing to help); last thing you want is to wash up on a pile of sharp lava rocks/coral. Shoot me an email if you want to know more about South or North shore breaks (at least the ones I've been to). Its windy right now, but still good waves to be caught.

[walterboris]

Nice and very useful thread

[Particle]

Huh, thought I'd posted a reply but guess it never went through. My trip got canceled due to no job, but my wife's been out there all month surfing out near white plains mostly. Just got a long weekend free so jetting out for 4 days of surfing. Thx for the beta yall, yeah I know not to eff around with north shore currents...I've been in big enough hurricane swells in socal to know how brutal it can be.

Will probably just chill with some mellow south shore stuff. Just stoked to get in the water again...

[Particle]

So we're back in HI for a week, got a cottage just off Chun's reef. Pretty stoked. Good swell today, big enough that we just headed south for a mellow session today to get started. Probably going to check out P-Point tomorrow, and Chun's tomorrow or the next day if it chills out from its current 3-5ft.

[puhisurfer]

So, how'd it go? TR!

[userpro64]

how was your trip?

[yeahman]

Bumping this old thread, some good info on here. Might be spending two weeks or more on Oahu in November. Any suggestions for places to stay, either hotels or VRBOs? Anywhere on the island as we hope to move around some. Having a chill beginner break within easy striking distance would be a nice situation. TIA

[Name Redacted]

We have spent a few longer trips on Oahu in the past. Mostly long ago, but I was there last year. I'd move around a bit. Honolulu/Waikiki is fun for a few days just for the food scene and warm up on long mellow waves. But then get outta there and go north and/or west. It can take a long time to travel around despite the size of the island because of congestion and roads. I remember Bellows beach being a good beginner area, it is a military beach so closed some days, but usually uncrowded.