Be ready for a long fucking paddle. Coming back in after a long session is torture - a boat ideal. On a big North / North East Swell it's gets solid wrap and if the winds are light and variable (rare combo) It can be all time.
All down the stretch of outer reef there are nice breaks. I've surfed a solid right near the middle with real long rides but a shit load of paddling because there is no channel.
There is a real fun left right by the two islands which has a channel.
When it gets some size it's real fun out there.
when it's small it aint worth it.
Overview
Atmosphere
Cruisy. Even if there are people out they are usually spread out all over the place and it doesn't have hard core locals cause it only breaks once in a Blue moon.
General
If everythings just right and you got the day off - you'll have a sweet time
Over-rated
Lanikai Reef has a handful of shifty, wobbly spots. It's basically like lots of breaks: super inconsistent. The residents will score the rare days, you'll hear about it too late and will never get the good days. The waves are infrequently worth it, but you do get to surf frequently with a Hare Krishna cult who frequent the reef.
comment by Lanikaigal, 2007-07-15 05:12:43
Reef
K first of all lanikai reef is a great break , and if u said u didnt like it its probally cause u havent seen it in the winter, it gets big, real big, and its always a beautiful wave and the water is 99.9% always glassy, so i suggest u go back in the winter see if you can handle it and THEN comment on it, (that is if u dont wimp out going out there). And by the way, there are some sharks , yet i haved liked in lanikai and surfed there all my life and i havent been bitten or attacked once and idk anyone who has but still you should be cautious...so if u got guts go try it out in WINTER.
comment by Local boy Mo'e, 2007-07-13 21:57:50
Lanikai bull#$%^
I'm born and raised there. Used to paddle it as a kid, bought a boat to dive and surfed it for years. My brother friends and I have been chased to the boat by big tigers so many times. One time in the late afternoon a 16 foot tiger followed us as we paddled in (25-30 min paddle). If you really must surf it, be sure you don't have shark phobias. You will see them on most days, and you are a mile from the nearest land. Most times the waves are choppy and blown out. So many good breaks in the area. Why risk it. I have surfed 35 years and been diving as long. If guys keep surfing it, there will be an attack someday. The sharkiest place I have ever seen. See you out there.
comment by Anonymous, 2007-12-09 01:08:16