Waimea Bay, Hawaii

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Waimea Bay, viewed from Pu'u o Mahuka Heiau State Monument

Waimea Bay is located in Haleʻiwa on the North Shore of O‘ahu in the Hawaiian Islands at the mouth of the Waimea River. Waimea Valley extends behind Waimea Bay. Waimea means "Red Water" in Hawaiian.

Captain Clerke aboard HMS Resolution stopped at Waimea Bay on 28 February 1779. Clerke had shortly before taken command of the ship after Capt. James Cook was killed at Kealakekua Bay on 14 February, and was leaving the islands for the North Pacific. It was the only O‘ahu anchorage which this expedition visited. The site was densely populated at the time, and remains of a heiau (Hawaiian temple) can still be found above the bay. Here Capt. Vancouver is rumored to have been killed and sacrificed by cannibal kahunas and offered on the stone altar that can be seen in Puu O Mahuka Heiau above Waimea Bay. You can access the park by driving up Pupukea Road and taking the first right through the cattle guard. A short hike down the hill brings you to a spectacular view of the sunset and the North Shore towards the Waianae Mountain range.

In winter, Waimea and other North Shore locations such as Pipeline and Sunset Beach host a number of surfing contests because of the large waves found here. These waves are created by winter storms in the North Pacific, and their arrival on O‘ahu's North Shore are typically forecasted accurately several days in advance. In summer, Waimea typically has clear and calm water.

The well known Bigwave Surfing Classic meet "Quicksilver in memory of Eddie Aikau" takes place in this point to honour the legendary surfer and the first lifeguard of the North Shore of Oahu. Since its inception in 1984, the tournament has only been held seven times, due to a precondition that there be waves at least 20 feet high at Waimea Bay. The most recent tournament was in December 2004, when waves in the bay reached 30 to 50 feet high.

In Summer, Waimea Bay is a playground of fun for freedivers, S.C.U.B.A. divers, and those who desire to jump off Queen's Leap - a rock that is perfectly positioned in the bay. (at your own risk!) The Bay as well as Three Tables, Pupukea, & Shark's Cove are protected waters. The diversity of life in these waters is astounding.

There are other locations named Waimea in the Hawaiian islands. Waimea, Kauai & Waimea, Hawaii (Big Island)

Waimea Bay is one of the filming locations used for the cult television series Lost, which is an American drama-adventure television series surrounding the survivors of a plane crash on a mysterious tropical island. (The location of the downed plane - not there anymore - is Mokuleia at the end of Dillingham airstrip almost to road's end at Ka Ena Point.)