A few hundred yards out to sea from the manicured lawns that skirt Magic Island, a perfect left-hand wave known simply as Bowls reels into a Honolulu channel. For decades, when a southerly swell pumps life into this magical lineup, both locals and visitors have flocked to the peak in droves. Bowls’ reputation for being one of the most mouth-watering waves in the world is unquestionable. But the story behind the wave’s formation often goes unheard.

A Surfline Webcam