Duke's Cut

Duke's Cut refers to a man-made channel blasted through a rock isthmus on O'ahu, Hawai'i, connecting Waimea Bay and Pūpūkea. It was created in 1952 by the Duke Kahanamoku family (specifically, his brothers Samuel and David) to improve the surf conditions at Waimea Bay. Prior to the cut, large swells frequently closed out Waimea Bay, making surfing dangerous. The channel allows waves to break more cleanly and gradually, making the bay surfable more often. The creation of Duke's Cut significantly impacted the development of big wave surfing at Waimea Bay, paving the way for its becoming a renowned surfing destination. The cut is named in honor of Duke Kahanamoku, the legendary Hawaiian surfer and Olympic swimmer. It is also sometimes referred to simply as "The Cut".