Ehukai Beach Park / Banzai Pipeline - Oahu, HI
Posted by: 
Raven
N 21° 39.796 W 158° 03.179
4Q E 597984 N 2395855
Located on the North Shore of Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands, this stretch of sand is arguably the most famous "big wave" professional surfing beach in the world.
Waymark Code: WMVQRZ
Location: Hawaii, United States
Date Posted: 05/19/2017
Views: 3
"Raging waters, towering surf and massive waves that shake the shores. Ehukai Beach Park on Oahu's North Shore is a daredevil's dream, with waves reaching heights of over 30 feet (9 m) during the winter months (November to February). It's no wonder the beach is one of the most famous surf spots in the world - and as you might expect, also one of the most dangerous.
In the winter, adventurous surfers come to Ehukai to surf the massive waves that form tubes as they break. From the shore, it makes for an undeniably splendid view. But the real spectacle is the surfers who dare to ride these waves. Not all of them succeed, of course - let's just say the Ehukai lifeguards have become well-trained at treating broken bones. Surfing contests take place here every winter.
The beach is a lot calmer from May to September, often times as calm as a lake. This is when swimming is possible here. The trees lining the shore also provide shade for picnics. In the Hawaiian language, ehukai means “sea spray.”
Beach Overview:
* One of the most famous surf spots in the world
* In the winter months, waves can reach heights of around 30 feet (9 m)
* Swimming possible in the summer months"
Source: "
To-Hawaii.com" Hawaii travel Guide
Ehukai beach is often referred to as "Banzai Pipeline", or simply "the Pipe". Technically, however, they are distinct: while they both share the same stretch of sand, "Ehukai" is at the Northern end and does not have rocky patches along its shoreline unlike its "Banzai" sister at the Southern end of the beach. Also, the actual "pipeline" is a surf reef break located 180 yards (165 m) offshore, starting at an rock outcrop just North of Shark's Cove (at N 21 39.320 W 158 3.816, to be exact), extending northeastwards and consisting of four distinct reef patches (thus four distinct wave patterns): this entire reef line is best viewed from Google Earth.
The name "Banzai Pipeline" was originally dubbed by Bruce Brown, a film director who was working with several well-known surfers to shoot his 1961 "Surfing Hollow Days" movie. This stretch of the beach used to be called "Banzai Beach" and a highway construction crew was working on an underground pipeline nearby... hence the name's origin: the waves reminded the team of the nearby pipeline.
Last but not least: the beach is not just for surfing, is it truly a "swimming" and family-oriented beach for most of the year... just not during the winter months.