Pohoiki's three bays once offered one of the Big Island's most accessible reef setups, sitting on the Puna Coast southeast of Hilo. A 2018 Kilauea eruption buried every break here under fresh lava, and as of the latest reports, the surf is destroyed and unsurfable. What existed before: shallow lava reef rights across three bays, scaling from mellow beginner-friendly waves at First Bay to fast, hollow, consequence-heavy surf at Third Bay on solid swells. Conditions were chronically challenged by steady easterly tradewinds, so the window opened only at dawn before the trades built, or when a passing front clocked winds W to N. NE to SSW swell reached this coast, with best size running chest-high to double overhead depending on which bay. Bottom was sharp lava dotted with urchins. Bottom: reef. Season: year-round when open. Consistency: medium. Check current conditions and lava status before any trip out here.
Before the eruption, the lineup was genuinely mellow and welcoming. Post-2018 the area is effectively empty for surf purposes. If any new breaks form on the fresh lava bench, approach with full respect for local communities who lost homes and land in the same flows.
Isaac Hale Beach Park was the access and parking point. There are no surf facilities in the area. Verify road and coastal access status before visiting, as lava flow zones remain restricted and conditions on the ground change.
Honolii, north of Hilo, offers fast consistent lefts and rights into a rivermouth and is the Big Island's most reliable year-round option. Richardson's, closer to Hilo, has a mellow reef setup that suits intermediate surfers and is less exposed to trades.
Forecast by Windy.app
