By Crystal

Made famous by its appearance in Endless Summer. Christened Threes, due to it being the third named [and recognized] break in Waikiki this wave is a slightly shorter, and more hollow than its neighbor Pops. The right breaks longer and more consistently than the left, which often crumbles off into sloppy whitewater. Because Threes is the fastest and steepest in Waikiki, its patrons consist largely of locals as opposed to the tourist-infested waters of Queens and Canoes. When the right swell hits Threes, this wave turns world class offering overhead plus take offs into perfect open tubes. For specific surf spot location check out our Oahu surf maps.

Crowd factor: Rediculous on decent days and just plain retarded on good south swells. Bring a big long board if you want to catch waves but make sure you handle the steep drop and tube section on your tanker..

Bottom: There is sand. And some coral too!
Ability level: Anywhere between a 2.5843 and 8.9384 on a scale of 10.

Access: Yes, please. [Just west of Pops]

What board to bring: Longboard, but shortboarders can surf the inside bowl, just don't expect to catch too many waves because the longboarders rarely share this epic masterpiece. Fishes and eggs do well here...the more paddling power you have the better.

Places to stay: If you’re looking to deviate ever-so-slightly from the traditional Waikiki hotel stay, there are various options including the numerous Waikiki condo rentals available. The Waikiki Banyan, located on the outskirts of Waikiki near the Honolulu Zoo and Kapiolani Park, is just a short jaunt from Waikiki’s busy nightlife. The Banyan offers its guests a host of amenities including pool, spa, tennis courts, barbeque, recreation deck and play area for children. Affordably priced, one night’s stay typically starts at $122, running up to $227 for an oceanfront view. (Ph) 808-655-6055

Places to eat: It’s Hawaii and the beauty of that is that after your morning/afternoon/late night surf sesh you can throw a pair of shorts and a t-shirt over your swimsuit [depending on the location, even just a towel would do] and head out to grab a bite to eat. At the start of Kalakaua there’s a bunch of eateries to choose from. If you’re looking for something sit-down and a little more high-class than McDonalds, there’s Duke’s, situated just off of Kuhio beach it’s a local and visitor favorite that offers a full bar and ono appetizers late into the evening. If you can, try to make it there during happy hour between 4 and 6 pm when you can kick back with your drink to some relaxing slack-key Hawaiian tunes. (Ph) 808-922-2268

Surf shops in the area: Another locally owned surf store, Honolua Surf Co. has two separate locations in Waikiki, one in the Outrigger Waikiki (Ph) 808-926-4814 and yet another in the Hilton Hawaiian Village (Ph) 808-941-8684. Honolua has everything - bags, sandals, hats, men’s and women’s apparel, and even puppies [just kidding about the puppies].

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