Oahu
Get out early for the best of it — 4-6ft waves on NE swell at 7s and 22mph out of the ENE.
Get out early for the best of it — 4-6ft waves on NE swell at 7s and 22mph out of the ENE.
Best window·Monday 10AM–1PM·9-11ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ala Moana Bowls, Oahu. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 4–6ft, 7s period, rated Fair - Good. Get out early for the best of it — 4-6ft waves on NE swell at 7s and 22mph out of the ENE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Sep 4: 5–7ft, 12s period, rated Fair - Good. Fun day ahead — expect 5-7ft waves on NE swell at 6s with 22mph ENE winds.
Sat, Sep 5: 6–7ft, 11s period, rated Fair - Good. Expect 6-7ft waves early on S swell at 11s.
Sun, Sep 6: 7–8ft, 12s period, rated Good. Looking good out there — 7-8ft all day on SSW swell at 12s with 13mph ENE winds.
Mon, Sep 7: 10–13ft, 14s period, rated Very Poor. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 9-11ft with strong ENE wind at 20mph. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
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Check Ala Moana Bowls from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Ala Moana Bowls is a reef break located on Oahu's south shore, offering consistent, well-formed waves with a distinctive bowl-shaped formation that creates fun, playful peaks. The break works best during winter months when southern swells wrap around the island, providing solid shoulders and manageable sections suitable for intermediate surfers. Protected by the Ala Moana reef structure, the waves peel predictably and offer a great alternative to the more famous nearby breaks when you want a bit more elbow room.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ala Moana Bowls is 4-6ft with a 6.8s swell period. Wind is ENE at 22mph. Conditions are rated Fair - Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Ala Moana Bowls is 4-6ft, produced by a 5.7ft NE wind swell swell at 7s, a 3.7ft S secondary swell at 15s, a 3.3ft SSE tertiary swell at 11s, a 0.8ft E tertiary swell at 13s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Ala Moana Bowls is Monday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 9ft waves, a 13.4s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Ala Moana Bowls works best with a S swell and NW winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Ala Moana Bowls. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Ala Moana Bowls is a reef with a reef bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Ala Moana Bowls is a reef break located on Oahu's south shore, offering consistent, well-formed waves with a distinctive bowl-shaped formation that creates fun, playful peaks. The break works best during winter months when southern swells wrap around the island, providing solid shoulders and manageable sections suitable for intermediate surfers. Protected by the Ala Moana reef structure, the waves peel predictably and offer a great alternative to the more famous nearby breaks when you want a bit more elbow room.
The prime season at Ala Moana Bowls is winter, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Ala Moana Bowls include shallow reef, sea urchins, currents, crowded during peak conditions. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ala Moana Bowls forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable; extended forecasts show general trends. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
