Cholo's Waimea Bay Swim 2026
The Cholo’s Waimea Bay Swim is the 2nd race and features a 1.2 mile course that takes you around the perimeter of Waimea Bay. Waimea Bay at this time of year is crystal clear with plenty of tropical fish, Hawaiian green sea turtles and Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins. The North Shore Swim Series is a 4-race festival of progressively longer events giving swimmers the opportunity to swim the “7 mile miracle” of Oahu’s famous North Shore.
Event details and schedule: Check in for the Cholo’s Waimea Bay Swim and begins at 7:00am.
Parking: Available for a small donation at St. Peter & Paul Church on the Sunset Beach Side of Waimea Bay. Waimea Park has very limited parking for a fee.
COURSE: The swim start will be in 2 waves and is a “water start”, with the men going first and the women 5 minutes later. Swimmers start in the east corner of the bay and cross the bay parallel going to the “Wananapaoa” islands & swimming around the outside islet (on your right shoulder going counter clock-wise, crossing the mouth of the bay and heading to Waimea Point and the turn buoy outside of “Pinballs” surf spot. The swimmers head back to the beach where the race started and turn on the inside buoy keeping this on your right shoulder and heading back to the finish fronting the lifeguard tower. There will be an 2 - 40" Orange buoys marking the finish line, swim between these and run up the beach crossing the finish mats.
EQUIPMENT: Swim goggles, mask type goggles, dive masks and snorkels are allowed. No fins, hand paddles or full-face snorkel masks. Swim buoy floatation devices are OK, but they should be tethered close to your body so they do not interfere with fellow swimmers.
SWIMSUITS: Men: ‘Speedo’ style briefs or jammers (waist to knee). Women: One or two-piece shoulder to knee swimsuits (must not cover the shoulder). M & W: rash guards, leggings, full body lycra suits for sun protection are OK if they do not provide floatation. No tri-suits, speedsuits, neoprene suits, or materials that add buoyancy are allowed.
AWARDS & DIVISIONS: Top 3 finishers in the following divisions (Male & Female): Elite, 10 & under, 11-12, 13-14, 15-19, standard 5 year age groups thereafter (10-24, 25-29, etc.). Overall Series Award for participants who swim in all 5 swims.
SAFETY: Caps are mandatory! Swim caps are provided to registered swimmers at their first NSSS swim of the summer. NOTE: Swimmers only receive one cap during the 5 the series. You may use you own swim cap; bright caps are highly encouraged; bright colors are highly encouraged. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE: PLEASE DO YOUR PART! Swimmers should make continuous progress toward the finish. If they fail to make continuous progress and need the assistance of Water Patrol, they must turn in their timing chip at the finish line and will be will be disqualified.
INFORMATION: (808) 741-6075 & www.northshoreswimseries.com
Getting to Waimea Bay: Take H1 Freeway, Westbound, then H2 Freeway Northbound to Wahiawa. Exit at Wahiawa (Exit 8) on to 80 (Kamehameha Hwy) through Wahiawa. Continue Northbound, 80 connects with 99 to Haleiwa. The road becomes route 83. Waimea Bay is approximately 3.8 miles from Haleiwa.
