Pounders Beach
Laie, HI
Pounders gets its name honestly. The shorebreak here slams hard enough to draw serious bodyboarders and bodysurfers, especially in front of the old Laie chapel where the sand narrows near a small point. It's a striking beach to watch even without getting in, framed by the same point break that gives it the name.
A real bodyboarding institution with a striking point break backdrop, but the shorebreak has hurt plenty of people who underestimated it.
How we score beachesWatch the shorebreak from the sand for a few minutes before going in. Even strong swimmers get caught off guard by how fast it closes out.
Roadside parking along Kamehameha Highway serves the beach, limited but usually available outside of contest weekends.
A short, flat walk from the road leads onto sand, no stairs.
The shorebreak runs biggest and most dangerous in winter, while summer brings smaller, more forgiving surf.
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