Point Panic is one of Honolulu’s better body boarding locations. No beach. Good waves. Big rocks. It’s called “Point Panic” for a reason.
Huge rocks make up a seawall which covers the shoreline from Kewalo Basin past Kakaako Waterfront Part toward the west. The waves roll in from the Kewalo Basin channel toward the rocks.
You can see where this is going, right? The waves along Point Panic are glassy and smooth with a long ride to the left, and a much shorter ride to the right. The panic? Surfers, body boarders, and body surfers have to get off the wave quickly, before it hits the rock wall– hence, the panic of Point Panic.
Point Panic’s waves, especially with a small summer swell, are a smooth thrill for those willing and brave enough to avoid the rocks. They’re perfect for body surfers. Surfers and body boarders are not allowed. Why?
It’s against the law to surf or body board at Point Panic, specifically within 100 yards of the shoreline. The law is designed to give body boarders an unimpeded opportunity to crash into the rock walls without fear of being hit by a surfer first. Mixing surfers and body boarders together on the same wave would make it Point Panics. The state’s law prohibiting surfers makes it a single panic.
Surfers can surf at Point Panic, but only beyond 100 yards from the seawall rocks. That sounds fair, right? It is, except for the fact that few waves break outside 100 yards. Does that stop surfers from hogging waves inside? No.
The body-surfing only law went into effect in 1994, and the state put up signs warning surfers and body boarders. Violators could be fined up to $1,000 and spend 30 days in jail. Warnings are issued to offenders and their surf boards or body boards may be impounded.
It doesn’t take much effort to find surfers at Point Panic. Once the waves hit about three feet, the surfers are there, surfing inside the 100 yard barrier.
What about the sharks? Since hitting Hawaii’s beaches and surf locations in the 1970s, I’ve seen three sharks while in the water. Once off Waikiki Beach, and the other two at Point Panic.
Maybe panic means more than just shoreline breaks on the rocks. Maybe panic also means shark bait.
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