Surfing Lyman's: The Complete Guide

Lyman's is a reef break located in Kona Coast, Big Island, USA (HI), offering a left-hander along North America's diverse surf scene. Lyman's is a classic left point/reef break south of Magic Sands on the Kona coast. Rated as intermediate difficulty with lightly crowded conditions, this reef break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is WNW (292°), with workable conditions from WSW to NW (250°–320°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Lyman's needs a minimum of 0.9m / 3ft to start working and handles swells up to 2.4m / 8ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 10 seconds, with 14 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Secondary Swell: Works on multiple swell directions. NW in winter, SW in summer.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the E (90°). The full offshore range spans NE to SE (50°–140°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at mid tide.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Lyman's runs November, December, January, February, March (Nov–Mar). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Secondary Season: A secondary window opens May, June, July, August, September (May–Sep). While not as consistent, patient surfers can still score quality sessions during this period.

Season Notes: Year-round. Works on multiple swell directions. Hawaiian royalty surf spot.

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 25°C / 77°F. A shorty or spring suit is recommended for longer sessions.

Getting There

The nearest airport is KOA, just a quick 15-minute drive from the break.

Access: Access from Ali'i Drive near Holualoa Bay.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🪸 Sharp reef — Shallow reef, booties recommended
⚠️ Shallow — Very shallow at low tide

Classic left point/reef break south of Magic Sands. Shallow reef, sharp bottom. Hawaiian royalty surf spot.

Safety Tips:

Wear reef booties to protect your feet from sharp coral and rock

Skill Level: This spot is rated intermediate (5/10). Crowd Level: Typically lightly crowded (4/10). Recommended board: a performance shortboard.

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Lyman's? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when Lyman's is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*