Hakalau Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s chew the fat about what’s shaping up at Hakalau.

Right off the bat, this 16-day stretch is looking grim. We’re staring down a long, flat, and messy spell with barely anything worth getting wet for. Water temp is sitting at 82°, which is a touch warmer than average for this time of year, but that’s the only good news.

The forecast kicks off on Monday the 24th, but don’t hold your breath. There’s 6ft of easterly swell rolling in, a short period of 8 seconds, and combined energy is moderate at 442. The problem is that ESE wind is blowing cross-onshore at 12 mph, leaving us with poor, choppy junk. A total washout.
Tuesday the 25th through Sunday the 30th? More of the same. Swell hangs around 4ft to 3ft, mostly east-northeast, but that wind never cleans up. It’s a long stretch of crummy conditions.

There’s a flicker on Monday the 31st of August. The swell pushes up to 7ft from the northeast in the afternoon, period still short at 8 seconds, and combined energy climbs to a solid 580. It’s still cross-onshore, though, and the call is marginal at best. Lots of power, but messy with it.

Rolling into September, Tuesday the 1st gives us 5ft from the east-southeast with a 9-second period and onshore wind, combined energy at 579. Still just marginal. Wednesday the 2nd brings the biggest swell of the whole run: 8ft from the east, period 8 seconds, and combined energy jumps to a strong 1313. That’s serious size. A 8ft east swell is for experienced surfers only. But with a moderate breeze straight onshore, it’s going to be a fight. Not a day for beginners.

From Thursday the 3rd onward, things really fall apart. Winds hit gale force on Friday the 4th, with 40 mph from the east-southeast and 5ft of swell. Completely blown out. The swell period does stretch to 12 seconds from the east-northeast on the 4th and 5th, which would mean better shaped waves, but with near-gale cross-shore winds, it’s a nightmare. Honestly, that setup on the 4th and 5th looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The standout here is Wednesday the 2nd of September. A 8ft easterly swell with strong energy (1313) is the most powerful of the window. But at that size, it’s expert-only, and the onshore wind will make it a messy handful. For most of us, it’s a maybe. The forecast is still a way off, so it’s promising but far from certain.

Overall, it’s a thin outlook. Maybe one or two afternoons in the first week for the die-hards, but mostly this bay is telling us to stay on land. That’s just how it goes sometimes.

Rusty.

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