Empty Lots Surf Break

Lat Long: 21.31° N 158.01° W

Empty Lots Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 pm 19 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Empty Lots sea temperature is
27.1° C
0.3° 

Empty Lots surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Empty Lots surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 19s period, S swell with 455 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period with SSW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Empty Lots this week:

The surf forecast for Empty Lots over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 7s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Empty Lots in the next 16 days are 0.8m 19s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 10s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 11AM.

Wave TypeTime (HST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Thu 20th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 16s
Best Surf 2AM (Thu 20th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 16s
Most Powerful11PM (Wed 26th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 19s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Empty Lots over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here, and let me tell you, it’s been a bit of a wait for something decent at Empty Lots. For a solid five days, from the 19th through to the 23rd of August, the options are basically zip—weak, messy, and cross-shore chop rules the roost. The water’s sitting at a typical 80.6° for this time of year, so nothing weird there, but the waves are just not playing ball.

The first real glimmer shows up on Friday afternoon the 21st. We’re talking a tiny 2.6ft SSW swell with an offshore wind turning glassy. The combined wave energy is moderate (366), but the real win is that the wind goes dead calm—glass-off conditions. It’s not big, but if you’ve got a log, that’s the session.

Things start to get interesting on Wednesday the 26th. That afternoon sees a 2.6ft S swell rolling in with a very long 18-second period and light cross-offshore wind (NNE). The energy is strong (660), and the comment says “very good surf conditions.” This is a reef break at Empty Lots (Big Island), and that long-period groundswell loves a reef—expect clean, lined-up waves. The crowds are “sometimes,” so you might have company, but it’s worth it.

The standout, though, is the Thursday the 27th. Two sessions pop. In the morning, a 4.3ft S swell (17-second period) with light cross-onshore wind and a combined energy of 1092—that’s strong. Afternoon cleans up with the same S swell at 3.3ft and a light cross-offshore breeze (NNE). Both have that same “very good surf conditions” tag. For me, the Thursday afternoon is the pick: smaller but glassier, with the long-period swell wrapping into the reef beautifully.

After that, we hit a dry spell again from the 28th of August right through to the 2nd of September. Lots of messy E windswell with short periods and strong cross-shore winds—not for paddling. By Tuesday the 1st of September, the swell bumps up to 6.9ft from the east with a 10-second period, but the wind is still cross-shore, and it’s rating as “marginal.” That kind of size at Empty Lots with a messy wind is a big risk—definitely for experts only. The energy is very strong (1204), but the wind just ruins it.

So, bottom line: the real standouts are Friday afternoon the 21st for the glassy small stuff, and Thursday the 27th for the clean, long-period swell. Get out there for those windows.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 24°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, fresh winds from the ENE by Sat afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the ENE on Sun afternoon, light winds from the ENE by Mon night).

Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SSW
16
0.7
SW
18
0.7
SW
17
0.8
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
17
0.8
SSW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.8
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
16
0.7
SW
16
1.6
ENE
7
1.6
E
7
1.6
E
7
1.5
E
7
1.3
E
7
1.5
E
7
1.6
E
7
1.5
E
7
1.3
E
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
175
316
305
347
368
326
367
326
314
245
247
240
254
202
157
220
254
246
191
Wind (km/h)
10
NE
5
SSE
5
SSW
5
ENE
10
SSE
10
SSW
10
ENE
35
ENE
35
ENE
40
ENE
40
ENE
40
ENE
35
ENE
40
ENE
30
ENE
25
ENE
20
ENE
25
ENE
20
ENE
Wind State
cross-off
on
cross-on
cross
on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
11:04AM0.57m
12:12PM0.60m
11:03PM0.23m
1:02PM0.64m
00:38AM0.25m
1:42PM0.67m
1:26AM0.28m
2:15PM0.70m
2:05AM0.31m
2:45PM0.72m
2:41AM0.35m
Low Tide
2:04AM0.14m
3:11AM0.15m
9:15PM0.23m
9:01PM0.20m
5:49AM0.13m
9:11PM0.18m
6:44AM0.10m
9:26PM0.16m
7:29AM0.08m
9:43PM0.15m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
cloud
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:11
6:11
6:11
6:11
6:13
6:13
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:59
6:58
6:57
6:55
6:55
6:54
6:53
 mm
1
2
2
Temp °C
26
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
28
26
27
27
25
27
27
26
27
28
26
Feels °C
26
30
29
31
30
30
32
25
26
25
24
24
22
25
26
26
27
26
27
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Empty Lots Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Empty Lots provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Empty Lots can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Empty Lots surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Empty Lots) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Empty Lots may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Empty Lots is 0 km (0 miles) from 'Ewa Beach. If you plan a vacation in Oahu, look for hotels and other accommodation in 'Ewa Beach. 'Ewa Beach has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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