Pine Trees • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (November - March)

Pine Trees sits exposed to the west-southwest on the Kona side of Hawaii, so the surf year is ruled by the North Pacific storm track. From November through March, the Aleutian Low and a persistent train of mid-latitude cyclones drive long-period groundswell across the Pacific. Average heights in this window run 3-4ft (1.0-1.2m) with wave periods at a powerful 13-14s, and the wind window for N/NNE/NE/ENE offshore flow is open 28-29% of the time. January and February are the meat of the season, when WNW/NW winter groundswell wraps into the bay and west/southwest swell angles produce the cleanest, most hollow walls. Water temps hover around 24-25°C, so it is warm enough for just boardshorts and a lightweight top.

Fair Surf Season (April, May & October)

April, May and October are transition months. The storm track begins to weaken in spring, and the south/SSE groundswell of the tropical Pacific starts to fill in, but average heights drop to around 3ft (0.9m) and the offshore wind percentage slips to 14-20%. October is the more promising of the three, as the first autumn cold fronts and low-pressure systems re-energize the North Pacific. If a W/SW swell aligns with a NE trade wind morning, Pine Trees will still dish out fun, rippable waves, though you have to pick your sessions carefully.

Low Surf Season (June - September)

The summer months are the slowest. A south/southeast swell signal is present, but it rarely has the size or angle to light up a WSW-facing ledge. Average heights drop to 2.5ft (0.8m), wave periods remain long in the mid-teens, but most energy is too small to be truly rideable, and the local diurnal sea breeze kicks in hard from WSW/SW, blowing directly onshore. Ideal offshore wind days are rare, running just 5-12% of the time. June, July and August are best suited for longboard groveling and early-morning sessions before the sea breeze gets up; September occasionally gets a tropical cyclone bump from the south-southwest.