For the most part, the South Shore of Oahu has been below average this summer. With most swells averaging in the waist-to-chest-high zone, there were two swells in the head-high range. For the people who check the forecast more than seven days out, that changed in the beginning of July. The word spread and the ocean enthusiasts and the ocean extremists were making preparations to take advantage of it while they could.
July 15 was the first “big swell” to hit the South Shore of Oahu this year. Buoys were checking in at 18 seconds at three to four feet. There were a lot of people taking time off work or calling in sick because anybody who surfs was in the water between these dates. Ala Moana Bowls was stacked from sunrise to sunset with big hacks by Kekoa Cazimero and tubes stuffed by Issac Lani and many more. As a photographer living here, I have to make the most of conditions while I can. Luckily, just before the swell, I had a couple small assignments to take care of.
I got a hold of my good friend Mahina Maeda so we could get our work done. During the peak of the swell, I was clocking six hours a day in the ocean. While that is not all at once, it is still a lot of time in the ocean. For the most part, I spent the majority of the time shooting Bowls. After the swell started to taper off, I got a few shots of the kids ripping at Kewalos.
The forecast so far is back to waist high waves for the next two weeks. Hopefully after that, there will be another plus-size swell coming in. The best part about the swells coming in is that I get to see all of my friends together in the ocean.
Check out Nick on Facebook and Instagram: @nrhphotos.
