Hakalau Surf Break

Lat Long: 19.90° N 155.13° W

Hakalau Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 20 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Hakalau sea temperature is
27.1° C
0.6° 

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


Hakalau surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 15s period, E swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, ESE swell with 1,064 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 15s period with E swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Hakalau this week:

The surf forecast for Hakalau over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Hakalau in the next 16 days are 2.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 19s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (HST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Thu 27th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 15s
Best Surf 8PM (Thu 27th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 15s
Most Powerful 8AM (Sun 23rd Aug)8ft (2.5m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s talk about what’s coming up.

Honestly, for the next couple of weeks, it’s looking like a rough go for a paddle. We’ve got a long dry spell to start, with no decent surf on the table. The whole first week and into the second is dominated by cross-onshore wind and choppy, messy conditions, with the highlights only coming through as "marginal" at best. It’s one of those periods where you’d be better off doing something else. The combined swell energy is mostly weak to moderate, with the reading sitting around 168 to a few hundred early on, so not much punch behind it.

Then, there's a slight shift around Thursday, August 27th. The swell goes long period—around 16 seconds—coming from the east. That’s groundswell, and the combined energy picks up to 441. But the wind is still onshore or cross-on, and the height is only around 2ft to 3ft. It’s not clean enough to get excited about.

Now, if you’re looking for the best of a bad lot, you gotta skip ahead to Monday, August 31st. By the afternoon, Hakalau (Big Island) sees an 8ft swell from the ENE, with period around 11 seconds, and the combined energy is strong at 1808. The wind switches to a light cross-shore from the NNW, which will clean it up a bit. It’s still a marginal call, but that’s the best shape we’ll see. That kind of size (over 8ft) is for experienced surfers only though. The cross-shore wind will help keep it from being a complete mess, but it’s not glassy.

Earlier in the day, on the same Monday morning, the swell is similar in size but the wind is a moderate cross-onshore at 12 mph from the north, causing more chop. So the afternoon window is your pick. Crowds are possible here sometimes.

Other than that, Tuesday, September 1st morning has the same 8ft from the NE with a 10-second period, but it's a light cross-onshore again, so it’s still not a standout. Energy is 1220. The rest just fades back into smaller, shorter-period, wind-affected surf.

So, the long and short of it: wait until the very end of August and hope the wind plays nice. The water temp is sitting around 81°F with a slight positive anomaly of 1°F, so it's pretty average for this time of year—nothing unusual.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Warm (max 27°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 56mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 26°C on Mon morning, min 25°C on Sun afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Thu
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
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)
0.9
NNE
7
0.6
SE
9
0.8
NE
7
1.1
ESE
8
1.3
ESE
8
1.6
ESE
8
1.6
ESE
8
2.2
E
9
2.5
ESE
9
2.1
E
9
1.9
E
8
1.8
E
8
1.8
E
8
1.8
E
8
1.7
E
8
1.6
E
8
1.5
E
8
1.6
ENE
7
1.6
E
7
1.3
E
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
83
50
55
157
206
354
354
775
1041
726
524
450
439
418
373
323
253
269
277
186
Wind (km/h)
10
ESE
20
SE
25
SE
20
ESE
10
SE
20
E
20
E
15
E
25
E
25
ESE
20
SE
25
SE
20
SE
20
SE
15
E
15
E
15
NE
15
ENE
15
ENE
10
E
Wind State
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
on
cross-on
on
on
on
cross-on
High Tide
11:55AM0.77m
12:41PM0.82m
11:36PM0.43m
1:15PM0.88m
00:32AM0.48m
1:44PM0.92m
1:11AM0.53m
2:10PM0.96m
1:46AM0.59m
2:34PM0.97m
2:21AM0.65m
Low Tide
2:34AM0.27m
4:18AM0.26m
8:21PM0.39m
5:31AM0.21m
8:20PM0.36m
6:22AM0.17m
8:30PM0.32m
7:02AM0.13m
8:46PM0.29m
7:39AM0.11m
9:03PM0.25m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
thunderstorm
rain showers
mod rain
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
thunderstorm
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:01
6:01
6:01
6:03
6:03
6:03
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:45
6:44
6:44
6:43
6:42
6:40
6:39
 mm
2
9
7
14
18
5
3
4
5
2
3
2
1
4
Temp °C
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
26
25
25
25
26
26
26
26
26
25
25
25
25
Feels °C
31
31
28
27
29
28
28
28
27
26
26
27
27
28
28
28
27
27
27
26
  • Map Icons:
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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 Hakalau Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Hakalau provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Hakalau can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Hakalau 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 (Hakalau) 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 Hakalau 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.

Hakalau is 21 km (13 miles) from Hilo. If you plan a vacation in Big Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Hilo. Hilo has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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