Duppys Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you—this stretch is looking flat and grim for the most part. We’ve got a long dry spell ahead, with only a couple of fleeting moments that might get your heart racing, but even those come with strings attached. The water’s sitting at 83°F and that’s pretty much normal for this time of year, nothing weird going on there.

The first real chance to paddle out at Duppys (Big Island) is Sunday morning, August 9th. There’s a small 3ft ENE swell with a short 7-second period, and the wind’s offshore from the E at 15 mph. It’s surfable but pretty ordinary—the energy’s weak at 105, so don’t expect much push. The sets will be inconsistent and the reef’s advanced rating means it’s not for the faint-hearted. Still, if you’re desperate, that’s your window. Sunday afternoon drops off fast to 1ft, so don’t bother.

Monday the 10th has a bit more size—5ft ENE swell, but the period’s only 6 seconds, which is sloppy. The energy ticks up to 180 in the morning, and the offshore wind keeps it clean, but it’s still poor. You’ll get waves, but they’ll be lumpy and unorganized.

Then we hit a dead zone. Tuesday the 11th through Thursday the 12th are tiny—under 2ft—with cross-off winds and not enough to ride. You can hang up the board for those days.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Thursday the 13th sees a jump in swell: 7ft in the morning, building to 8ft by the afternoon, both ENE with an 7–8 second period. The energy jumps to 444 and then 689—moderate to strong. But—and this is a big but—the wind is a cross-off at 22 mph, and the guidance tells me conditions are poor. That size at Duppys on a reef is pushing expert territory, and with that onshore cross-chop, it’s going to be a washing machine. Not my pick unless you’re a masochist.

Saturday the 15th morning is the standout in this whole sorry stretch. Swell hits 8ft ENE with an 8-second period, and the energy is cranking at 870—strong and meaty. Wind is cross-off from the E at 22 mph, so it’ll be lumpy but rideable. This is the biggest, most powerful swell we see all window, and for advanced surfers, it could be worth a paddle. But keep in mind, it’s forecast as poor—likely messy and challenging. If you’re an expert, maybe. For most of us, it’s a skip.

After that, it fades fast. Sunday the 16th has 6ft ENE with a bit more period (8–9 sec), energy around 545–650, but it’s already dropping and the wind is cross-off. It’s marginal—questionable tide stuff. Monday the 17th and beyond, we’re back to tiny dribbles under 2ft, with offshore winds but no swell to work with. The energy numbers fall off a cliff—down to 39, 20, 9, 3—and it stays dead through the end of the window on August 22nd.

So honestly, your best bet is either Sunday morning for a grovel session or Saturday morning for a big, raw challenge. Everything else is not worth waxing up. The long gaps—like the dead days between Monday and Thursday, and then the final week—are going to test your patience. It’s a tough run, but that’s Duppys for you—when it’s on, it’s on, and when it’s off, it’s off. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye out, but don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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