Overview
Kaisers is the easternmost break on the Ala Moana reef, a steep, fast, bowly right that peels over a shallow live-coral bottom. It throws a good barrel section off the peak and is fun to backdoor, and because the right spills into a channel you get an easy paddle back out. There is also a left, usually a little more slopey, that tends to close out on the inside. It is an expert-level reef break, and when everything lines up it is one of the better waves in the area.
When It Works
Kaisers draws swell from southwest through southeast, with south swell the best match. It works from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 3 m / 10 ft, and on the biggest swells the channel itself starts to close out, so take care when it is really pumping. The reef picks up both lefts and rights and is moderately consistent, with the season running through spring, summer, and autumn, roughly April to October.
Wind and Tide
Look for northeast offshore wind, though the wave holds up across a workable window from calm or offshore northwest through to east. It can work through low, mid, and high tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
This is a wave for experts, best ridden on a shortboard, bodyboard, or fish. Expect a very busy lineup when it works, with a generally friendly atmosphere. The reef is shallow and the waves pack real power, so respect the coral underneath.
Access
There is plenty on hand nearby, including restrooms, showers, a lifeguard, a surf school, and a surf shop. Parking is paid, metered, or roadside with a car park available, and it can get tricky around the harbour. To get out, walk the east breakwater by the Ala Moana parking lot to the end and paddle out through the channel, or paddle from the little beach near the parking lot across the reef platform, which is a bit sketchy at low tide.
