Hakalau Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I gotta be straight with you – the next two weeks at Hakalau look like a real mixed bag, and honestly, mostly a letdown. We’ve got a lot of wind and slop to work through before we see any real potential.

The first real bit of hope doesn’t show up until Friday the 27th of August. Before that, it’s a long stretch of poor conditions. From the 14th through the 26th, we’re looking at a solid run of onshore and cross-onshore winds, with a lot of heavy rain and even thunderstorms in the mix. The swell is there, but it’s blown out. The combined swell energy is moderate to strong, hitting 10893 on the 15th, but it’s all for nothing because the wind is just trashing it. That’s a week and a half of frustration.

So, let’s talk about the light at the end of the tunnel. The standout window is Friday the 27th of August into the weekend. On Thursday the 27th afternoon, we start to see the shift. The wind finally goes light offshore from the ENE at 12 mph, and the swell jumps up to 12 ft from the ESE with a period of 11 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell with real energy (3239). The combined energy is strong, and that long period means the waves will have some punch, but at a river mouth like Hakalau, that long period can make things a bit straight and fast. Still, it’s a damn sight better than anything else.

Then Friday the 28th of August morning is your best bet. You’ve got a 10 ft swell from the E at 10 seconds, with a light offshore breeze from the ENE at 6 mph. That’s glassy conditions, and the wave energy is still strong (2120). The wind will be clean, and the swell is still solid. For intermediate surfers, this is the one to aim for. It’s a big swell, over 8 ft, so it’s for experienced heads only. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The crowds at Hakalau are a factor, and with a decent window like this, you can expect plenty of company. It’s a fairly consistent spot, but this is the only real game in town for a while.

Saturday the 29th of August morning sees the swell drop right off to 3 ft, but with a very long period of 14 seconds. That’s a tiny, long-period groundswell. It’ll be clean with the light offshore wind, but you’ll be scratching for a wave. The combined energy is weak (513), so it’s more of a longboard or a cruise than a proper session.

To sum it up: the first two weeks are a write-off. Don’t bother. The only real hope is the window from Thursday the 27th afternoon through Friday the 28th morning. That’s your shot. The rest is just waiting for the wind to sort itself out.

Rusty.

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