Publics

Surf Guide

Publics is one of the prettiest -- and longest surfed -- surf spots on the South Shore. You can sit on your board and watch swells come in around Diamond Head, airbrushed back by the steady tradewinds; you can look down at the crazy coral below that would as soon look like some psychedelic underwater rainforest as cut the living bejesus out of any exposed flesh; and you could look towards Waikiki and appreciate the glitter of surfing's original boomtown. And that's even before you catch a wave. Fortunately, Publics is also one of the most consistent and longest lefts in Town. It's a ways out, and the reef is pretty shallow, so any bit of swell can run along its uneven edge. Getting in and out can be a serious hassle, as those coral heads will pop up at the most inopportune times, and yes, they do hurt. High tide renders the waves a little mushy, though safer, while low tide can be racetrackey, with the occasional tube section, but the real threat of losing some skin on the reef. It's probably better to try it out first time on a high tide. *Outside Castles, the infamous and fickle big, steamrolling left made famous in the early days by Duke Kahanamoku, sits way outside and towards Diamond Head, comprising an outer reef that stretches all across the bay at Waikiki. If you ever see it, you're luckier than most.