Tide pooling in Hawaii: best low tides
The best tide pool days are low tides that are among a spot's lowest of the year and fall in daylight. In Hawaii they come mostly in April to June. The next stretch of tide pool lows across the state is Dec 20. Dates, times and heights below come from NOAA predictions for 32 spots, worked out for the next 12 months.
Tide pools in every state · Hawaii king tides
Tide pool season in Hawaii
Average number of good tide pool days per spot, month by month:
Best tide pool days statewide
| Dates | Best day | Spots with a good low that day |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 20 | Sun Dec 20 | 9 of 32 spots |
| Jan 17–18 | Mon Jan 18 | 24 of 32 spots |
| Feb 16–17 | Tue Feb 16 | 18 of 32 spots |
| Feb 20–23 | Sun Feb 21 | 17 of 32 spots |
| Mar 10–12 | Thu Mar 11 | 16 of 32 spots |
| Mar 20–25 | Mon Mar 22 | 27 of 32 spots |
| Apr 6–10 | Wed Apr 7 | 32 of 32 spots |
| Apr 17–23 | Wed Apr 21 | 32 of 32 spots |
Favorite tide pools in Hawaii
| Tide pools | Next good low tides | Lowest |
|---|---|---|
| Shark's Cove, Oʻahu Tides: Haleiwa, Waialua Bay, 5 mi | Nov 22 then Dec 20–21, Jan 17–20 | -0.2 ft Sun Nov 22, 5:43 PM |
| Makapuʻu tide pools, Oʻahu Tides: Waimanalo, 3 mi | Dec 20 then Jan 18–19, Feb 16–17 | -0.3 ft Sun Dec 20, 5:39 PM |
Tide pool lows for your spot
Showing all 32 spots
| Spot | Next tide pool lows | Lowest |
|---|---|---|
| Haleiwa, Waialua Bay | Nov 22 afternoon then Dec 20–21, Jan 17–20 | -0.2 ft Sun Nov 22, 5:43 PM 3 good days in the next 3 months |
| East Island, French Frigate Shoals | Dec 20 afternoon then Jan 17–19, Feb 16–17 | -0.2 ft Sun Dec 20, 5:45 PM 1 good day in the next 3 months |
| Hana | Dec 20 afternoon then Jan 18, Feb 17 | -0.2 ft Sun Dec 20, 5:47 PM 1 good day in the next 3 months |
| Hanalei Bay | Dec 20–21 afternoons then Jan 18–20, Feb 3 | -0.3 ft Mon Dec 21, 5:36 PM 2 good days in the next 3 months |
| Hanauma Bay | Dec 20 afternoon then Jan 17–18, Feb 16–17 | -0.2 ft Sun Dec 20, 5:49 PM 1 good day in the next 3 months |
| Kahului | Dec 20 afternoon then Jan 18–19, Feb 17 | -0.4 ft Sun Dec 20, 5:29 PM 1 good day in the next 3 months |
| Moku O Loe | Dec 20 afternoon then Jan 18–19, Feb 17 | -0.4 ft Sun Dec 20, 5:34 PM 1 good day in the next 3 months |
| Pukoo Harbor | Dec 20 afternoon then Jan 17–18, Feb 16–17 | -0.2 ft Sun Dec 20, 5:46 PM 1 good day in the next 3 months |
| Waimanalo | Dec 20 afternoon then Jan 18–19, Feb 16–17 | -0.3 ft Sun Dec 20, 5:39 PM 1 good day in the next 3 months |
| Honolulu | Jan 17–18 afternoons then Feb 16, Feb 20–23 | -0.3 ft Mon Jan 18, 6:08 PM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Kamalo Harbor | Jan 17–18 afternoons then Feb 16, Feb 20–23 | -0.3 ft Mon Jan 18, 5:52 PM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Kaumalapau, Lanai Island | Jan 17 afternoon then Feb 16, Feb 20–23 | -0.2 ft Sun Jan 17, 5:13 PM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Kolo | Jan 17–18 afternoons then Feb 16, Feb 20–23 | -0.3 ft Mon Jan 18, 6:09 PM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Kuheia Bay | Jan 17–18 afternoons then Feb 16, Feb 20–23 | -0.3 ft Mon Jan 18, 5:59 PM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Laysan Island | Jan 17–18 afternoons then Feb 16–17, Feb 20–24 | -0.1 ft Mon Jan 18, 6:23 PM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Nonopapa, Niihau Island | Jan 17–18 afternoons then Feb 16, Feb 20–23 | -0.2 ft Mon Jan 18, 5:57 PM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Waianae | Jan 17 afternoon then Feb 16, Feb 20–23 | -0.2 ft Sun Jan 17, 5:28 PM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Ford Island, Pearl Harbor | Jan 18 afternoon then Feb 20–24, Mar 9–12 | -0.2 ft Mon Jan 18, 6:13 PM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Hanamaulu Bay | Jan 18 afternoon then Feb 16, Mar 22–25 | -0.3 ft Mon Jan 18, 5:53 PM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Hilo | Jan 18 afternoon then Mar 22–25, Apr 6–10 | -0.3 ft Mon Jan 18, 5:37 PM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Kaunakakai | Jan 18 afternoon then Feb 21–23, Mar 11–13 | -0.3 ft Mon Jan 18, 5:57 PM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Kawaihae | Jan 18 afternoon then Jan 23–25, Feb 20–24 | -0.3 ft Mon Jan 18, 6:07 PM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Nawiliwili | Jan 18 afternoon then Feb 16, Mar 22–25 | -0.3 ft Mon Jan 18, 5:49 PM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Pearl Harbor Entrance, Bishop Point | Jan 18 afternoon then Feb 16, Feb 19–23 | -0.2 ft Mon Jan 18, 6:11 PM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Port Allen, Hanapepe Bay | Jan 18 afternoon then Mar 11, Mar 22–25 | -0.3 ft Mon Jan 18, 5:43 PM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Waimea Bay | Jan 18 afternoon then Feb 16, Mar 22–25 | -0.3 ft Mon Jan 18, 6:07 PM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Pearl Harbor, Ford Island Ferry | Feb 20–23 middays then Mar 19–24, Apr 5–9 | -0.2 ft Sun Feb 21, 11:08 AM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Honuapo | Mar 22–25 mornings then Apr 6–10, Apr 19–23 | -0.4 ft Tue Mar 23, 10:11 AM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Kailua Kona | Mar 22–25 mornings then Apr 6–10, Apr 19–23 | -0.2 ft Tue Mar 23, 10:15 AM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Mahukona | Mar 22–25 mornings then Apr 6–10, Apr 19–23 | -0.2 ft Tue Mar 23, 10:20 AM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Napoopoo, Kealakekua Bay | Mar 22–25 mornings then Apr 6–10, Apr 19–23 | -0.2 ft Tue Mar 23, 10:25 AM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Makena | Apr 7–10 mornings then Apr 20–23, May 5–9 | -0.3 ft Fri Apr 9, 10:31 AM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
Tide pool tips
Arrive about an hour before low tide and head back as soon as the water turns.
Sneaker waves run far up rocky shores, especially on the Pacific. Never turn your back on the ocean.
Seaweed and barnacles are slippery and alive. Wear shoes with grip and step on bare rock or sand.
Touch gently with a wet finger, put rocks back as you found them, and leave animals and shells. Many tide pools are protected.
How these dates are worked out
For every spot we take NOAA's low tide predictions for the next 12 months. A low counts as a tide pool low when it's in that spot's lowest 10% and comes between an hour after sunrise and sunset, so there's light for the hour before it. Heights are feet above mean lower low water (MLLW), the zero on tide charts; below zero is a minus tide. Wind and swell can keep the water higher than predicted. Not for navigation.