Halawa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a rough stretch ahead. The first week and a half is basically a write-off. From Friday, August 28th, all the way through to Thursday, September 3rd, the surf is poor. It’s a mess of fresh cross-shore winds and lumpy, choppy conditions. The swell is there, but it’s a short-period, wind-affected ENE swell, and the wind never lets up. The only break in the region is Halawa (reef/river) , and it’s just not cooperating. You’ll see combined wave energy creep up to moderate levels (350) by Sunday, but it’s all junk. There’s a gap of over a week with nothing to recommend.

Then, the system changes. We get a tiny lull on September 3rd and 4th, with the swell dropping to near nothing. But September 5th (Saturday) morning shows a pulse. The swell jumps to 8ft from the ENE with a period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy is a whopping 1296 – that’s strong water moving around. However, the wind is still fresh cross-shore, so it’s a marginal call. The water is sitting at a warm 80°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The real standout, and the only thing worth getting excited about, is Thursday, September 10th. Look at the morning: the wind finally swings to the SSE, blowing fresh offshore. That’s a game-changer. The swell is a solid 7ft from the ENE with a 10-second period, and the combined energy is strong at 1247. This is a classic case of a reef break cleaning up nicely. The offshore wind will groom it, and the longer period means better shaped waves and more energy. That said, 7ft is at the top end for intermediates, so it’s a proper session for experienced surfers. The afternoon is a bit more cross-off, but still clean. The swell backs off a little on Friday, and by Saturday, September 12th, it’s fading into the small stuff.

So, to sum it up: the first 9 days are a complete bust. Don’t bother. The one window to circle is Thursday, September 10th. That morning at Halawa with offshore wind and a solid 7ft ENE swell is your best bet. It’s the only true standout in the whole 16-day window. The rest of the second week is small and fading.

Stay tuned, forecasts can change, but right now, I’d be planning your life around that Thursday morning.

Rusty.

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