Waves in the range of one-to-two feet were not good enough for the action at North Shore to get under way.
Organisers are hopeful of a Tuesday start though, with a swell forecast to develop on Monday afternoon that should make conditions surfable by the morning.
The World Cup of Surfing, a challenging big wave event, is the second stop on the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing calendar.
Hawaii's own John John Florence is the defending champion while Australia's Joel Parkinson has won the event three times since 2002.
