Hakalau Surf Break

Lat Long: 19.90° N 155.13° W

Hakalau Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 17 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Hakalau sea temperature is
26.5° 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 17 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, E swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period, E swell with 493 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Hakalau in the next 16 days are 1.9m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.1m 14s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 8AM.

Wave TypeTime (HST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Mon 20th Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 8s
Best Surf 2AM (Mon 20th Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 8s
Most Powerful 2PM (Sat 18th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 8s

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


The Lowdown

Right, listen up. Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you—this 16-day window for Hakalau is a bit of a tough one. The first ten days or so are pretty much a write-off thanks to persistent onshore and cross-onshore winds mucking up any real quality. The surf isn't totally flat, but the conditions are just poor for a proper paddle session. The best of the bunch comes much later, in the second week, but it's a real mixed bag.

Let's start with the first day we've got a recommendation, which is Friday the 17th of July. It's a no-go. We're looking at a weak 4 ft easterly swell with a short, weak period of 7 seconds and combined wave energy at a meagre 320. The wind is a cross-on from the east at 12 mph, making it choppy and poor. This pattern repeats through Saturday and Sunday the 18th and 19th—the swell pushes up to 7 ft on Saturday (energy of 533), but it's still a short-period E/ENE swell and the wind is still cross-on or onshore, so it's messy. The swell drops back down through the start of the next week, and the wind stays easterly, keeping things poor.

Now, there's a bit of a pause. The first half of the week is a blank run of nothing worth paddling out for. The conditions are just too poor for any decent surf.

Then things get interesting, but tricky. We get a big pulse of long-period groundswell starting on Sunday, the 26th of July. The swell jumps to 4 ft but with a very long period of 15 seconds and a massive energy reading of 1056. The wind is light and onshore from the ENE, so it's not clean. The following days, Monday and Tuesday the 27th and 28th, the swell builds to 5 ft and 7 ft with periods of 16 and 13 seconds, putting energy values through the roof (up to 2147). But the wind is still cross-onshore, making it choppy and difficult. With that size and the onshore wind, it's a zone for kite surfers, not paddle surfers.

The real standout in this forecast is Wednesday, the 29th of July. The swell holds at a solid 7 ft from the ENE, with a period of 12 seconds. The combined energy is a strong 1636. The wind finally plays ball, turning light and onshore from the NE at just 6 mph. This is the best shot for a decent session. The 7 ft is a bit meaty, but with the light wind, it's the cleanest window in the whole outlook. It's a big-fella swell, but it's the one to watch. The next day, Thursday the 30th, the swell drops to 7 ft from the NE, still with a period of 11 seconds and light winds, keeping it a solid runner-up option.

After that, the swell fades out quickly into the start of August, with weak, shorter-period swells and cross-onshore winds returning. So, the long and short of it is: forget the first week and a half, and mark your calendar for Wednesday the 29th of July. It's the best, and maybe only, real chance for a wave.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 26°C on Fri morning, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Warm (max 25°C on Mon morning, min 24°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
AM
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
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
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)
1.3
E
7
1.2
E
6
1.6
E
8
1.9
E
8
1.9
E
8
1.5
E
8
1.4
E
8
1.3
E
8
1.3
E
8
1.1
E
7
0.9
E
7
1.3
ENE
7
1.2
ENE
7
0.9
E
7
1
E
7
1
E
7
0.7
E
12
1.2
E
12
1.1
E
11
1.5
ENE
7
1.4
E
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
150
119
308
481
493
305
252
212
191
130
88
149
124
76
94
94
148
396
289
198
187
Wind (km/h)
20
E
20
ESE
15
ESE
15
E
15
ENE
10
E
15
E
10
E
0
NE
10
ENE
10
ENE
5
E
15
E
15
E
10
SE
15
E
15
E
10
ESE
15
E
15
E
5
SE
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
on
on
glassy
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
5:30PM0.96m
5:52AM0.62m
5:58PM0.87m
6:55AM0.63m
6:23PM0.77m
8:11AM0.65m
6:42PM0.68m
9:44AM0.68m
6:51PM0.60m
11:15AM0.74m
12:18PM0.79m
Low Tide
10:38AM0.16m
00:14AM0.23m
11:23AM0.27m
00:47AM0.22m
12:12PM0.39m
1:22AM0.22m
1:16PM0.49m
2:01AM0.22m
3:17PM0.56m
2:48AM0.23m
3:47AM0.22m
4:51AM0.21m
clear
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
clear
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:50
5:50
5:50
5:50
5:52
5:52
5:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:01
7:01
7:01
7:00
7:00
7:00
7:00
 mm
3
5
1
2
1
3
2
1
2
Temp °C
26
26
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
24
25
26
25
Feels °C
27
27
26
26
26
26
26
26
27
28
27
27
27
26
27
26
26
25
25
26
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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