Halawa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Halawa on Molokai. I gotta be honest, this is a rough stretch. The first week and a half is basically a dust storm on the water. We’re looking at a long, dry spell of poor surf, with cross-shore winds blowing over 25 mph and lumpy conditions. The first hint of anything decent doesn’t show up until over a week away.

We’ve got no real surf to speak of until the end of the 16-day window. The first few days are all tiny, junky windswell. Then around Wednesday, August 26th, we get a pulse of 5ft ENE swell with a short 6 second period, combined energy (195) is moderate, but the cross-shore wind is still hammering it, so it’s a mess. That pattern of moderate energy but terrible wind holds through the whole first week and into the start of September.

We do see the swell size building up. By September 1st, we’re looking at 8ft from the ENE with a combined energy of 672 – that’s strong wave energy. But the wind is still fresh cross-shore, so it’s going to be a lumpy, blown-out mess. The ocean is offering up power, but it’s not going to be a pleasant paddle. For a beach break, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The only real glimmer of hope comes right at the end of the outlook. On Friday, September 4th, we get a big jump in quality. The swell hits 7ft from the ENE, with a very long period of 14 seconds, and the combined energy is a massive 1824. That’s a serious groundswell. The wind is a moderate cross-shore, so it’s not perfect, but it’s a hell of a lot better than what we’ve been seeing. The water temp is about 81°, which is normal for this time of year. This is a standout for the whole window, but it’s a long-range call, so don’t lock it in just yet. It’s worth keeping an eye on.

Then September 6th offers a similar, slightly smaller swell of 5ft at 11 seconds with combined energy (669) and a light cross-shore breeze. It’s a marginal call, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Finally, way out on Tuesday, September 8th, we get a small, clean window. The morning is glassy with a tiny 2ft NNE swell, and the afternoon shows a 3ft WSW groundswell with a 13-second period and a light cross-offshore wind. That afternoon session is the cleanest we’ll see, with a combined energy of 218. It’s small, but it’s clean. That’s your best bet, but it’s a long way off.

So, to sum it up: a long, dry, windy stretch, then a big, powerful groundswell that might be messy, and a small, clean day at the very end. Keep your expectations low, and check back closer to the date.

Rusty.

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