Here is the protected beach at Ala Moana beach park. It’s the perfect place to get comfortable on a stand up paddle board. Great views of Waikiki and Diamond Head in the distance. For more experienced stand up paddlers in Waikiki, you can go out past the reef and catch the waves at surf breaks Concessions or Courts for big fun.
Which stand up paddle board you should use all depends on your, size, skill level, the beach you are paddling, and the conditions.
The most common mistake beginners make when choosing a stand up paddle board is going too small. Small may mean easier to carry, but also takes a lot more skill to manage on the water.
The main criteria to keep in mind is that you do not want the board’s tail to drag when you are up to speed. Moving your feet a little bit forward will smooth out the water release at the board’s tail. However, when the board is too short and you move forward, the nose will dip beneath the water and that does not make for smooth paddling. When you are starting out with SUP, you want a nice, smooth glide with stability while you get your sea legs.
We will make sure you have the right size stand up paddle board for your surf adventures in Honolulu. Board makers have been playing around with board measurements a lot lately, but there are some general guidelines to follow to pick the right size SUP board. The flotation of the SUP board depends on the volume of the stand up paddle board which is determined by the length, width and thickness of the board. The more volume the more the board will float. More volume also means that while it’s more stable, it tends to turn slower. Less volume allows the stand up paddle board to move quickly, but takes a more experienced paddler. Depending on your height and weight, look for 10’6 to 12 feet in length, and 31 to 33 inches wide. For kids or the petite among us, you can go a little smaller.
For beginner paddlers in Waikiki, we’ll set you up with a nice stable stand up paddle board to learn the sport on in Ala Moana or another beach in Waikiki. We also have boards for the more experienced paddlers who enjoy catching waves in Honolulu.
As you increase your core stability and skill, you may want a slightly smaller board that gives you more mobility. You’ll then be able to catch some of those South Shore swells on your stand up paddle board that Waikiki and the surrounding beaches are famous for.
