Hakalau Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

First up, we’re looking at a solid run of swell, but the wind is going to be the main character for a while. The good news is there’s plenty of energy in the water, but the bad news is that it’s going to be a battle with the cross and cross-onshore stuff for most of the first week. The water temp is sitting at 80°F which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no wetsuit worries there.

The only real standout window is right around Tuesday the 28th. Sunday the 27th morning is a tease with a clean 6 ft east swell at 13 seconds, but that north wind is cross-on, so it’s going to be a bit bumpy. The swell energy is already building though, with a combined energy of 1248 (moderate). Come Monday afternoon, we’re looking at 7 ft east swell, but still cross-on from the north with a combined energy of 1759. The quality is still marginal.

Now, Tuesday the 28th is the one to circle. We’ve got a solid 10 ft ENE groundswell on the morning with a 13-second period, and the combined energy is a strong 3674. The wind is cross-shore from the north, which is actually the best of a bad bunch. This is going to be a heavy, powerful wave—definitely not for beginners. It’s a river mouth, so that long period groundswell will wrap in nicely, but expect it to be a bit walled up on the banks. It’s big, it’s got push, and it’s going to be a handful. By Tuesday afternoon, the swell holds at 12 ft but the period drops to 12 seconds, and the wind swings to NNW, still cross-shore. The energy is still massive at 3400. This is the pick of the whole outlook, but it’s for experienced surfers only.

After that, it’s a sad story. Wednesday the 29th through to the end of the first week is a write-off. The wind goes cross-onshore, the period drops to 8-9 seconds, and the combined energy drops off a cliff. The swell is still around 5 ft to 6 ft, but it’s just lumpy, weak, and messy. Surf quality is poor, and the scores reflect that.

Heading into the second week, we get a bit of a reprieve on Sunday the 2nd of August. The morning has a 6 ft ENE swell but cross-on wind again, so it’s still marginal. But the afternoon shows a 3 ft east swell with a 15-second period and combined energy of 827, and the wind turns onshore from the east. That long period will give some clean lines, but the size is small. It’s a decent option for a longboard or a fun mid-length, but it’s not going to get the heart pumping.

From Monday the 3rd onwards, the swell drops off and the wind stays problematic. The energy drops to weak levels, with combined energy values under 650. By Wednesday the 5th, we’re down to 3 ft and 129 energy. It’s flat and poor. There’s a slight uptick around Thursday the 6th afternoon with a 5 ft east swell and 7-second period, but the energy is only 535 and the wind is cross-on again. It’s just not worth the paddle out.

The runs from the 29th of July through to the 9th of August are pretty much a blank stretch of poor to marginal conditions. The good news is that Hakalau is a fairly consistent spot, so a blank run like this isn’t the norm.

Overall, the only real standout is Tuesday the 28th. If you’re an experienced surfer and you can handle some serious power, get on it. The rest of the window is a waiting game.

Rusty.

Read more