Hakalau Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into what’s happening at Hakalau. It’s a river mouth spot, exposed to the open ocean, and it’s got some potential hidden in a bumpy forecast, but we’ve got to be patient.

For the first week and a half, it’s a rough ride. From Thursday the 6th of August right through to Monday the 17th of August, the wind is a problem. It’s hammering in from the east and east-southeast, mostly cross-on or onshore, blowing anywhere from 6 to 12 mph. That’s keeping the surface choppy and messy. The swell is building, but it’s being trashed by the wind. The combined wave energy is moderate at first, hitting around 113, and then climbs into strong territory by the 9th, reaching 541, but it’s all poor surf conditions. This is a river break, and with the wind howling like that, it’s just not going to be clean. It’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session right now.

The water temperature is around average for this time of year, nothing to write home about.

Now, the diamond in the rough. The real standout window is the afternoon of Thursday the 20th of August. The wind drops to absolutely nothing, glassy conditions. The swell is from the north-northeast at 3 ft, with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy is moderate at 271. The forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” This is the one. The only real window of clean, rideable waves in the whole 16-day stretch. It’s small, but it’ll be glassy and perfect for a longboard or a funboard. Just be aware that crowds are possible here, so get out there early.

The swell is short-period, 8 seconds, so it won’t have that deep groundswell punch, but on a glassy afternoon, it’ll be fun. The morning of the 21st of August has a bit more size at 3.6 ft from the north-northeast, and the period bumps to 9 seconds, with a combined energy of 342, but it’s a light cross-onshore wind, so it’s not as clean as the glassy afternoon before it.

So, to sum it up: The first two weeks are a write-off thanks to the wind. The only truly good surf is that glassy afternoon on the 20th of August. If you can wait for it, it’ll be worth it. After that, the forecast gets shaky again. It’s a long wait, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.

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