Halawa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s take a hard look at what’s coming up for Halawa.

Honestly, the outlook for the next 16 days is a tough one to write. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor surf conditions for most of the period, with no real standouts to get excited about until the very end. From right now, starting Tuesday the 25th of August, through almost all of the first week and into September, the surf is mostly small, messy, and cross-shore. The first several days have tiny waves—around 1 ft with weak energy (22–33), and the wind is a fresh cross-shore breeze at 18 to 22 mph, making for lumpy, choppy conditions. Not worth paddling out for.

Wednesday the 26th through the weekend picks up a bit in size—around 5 ft to 7 ft—but the period is a short, weak 6 to 7 seconds. The combined energy climbs into the moderate range (200–387), but the wind stays cross-shore and fresh, so the surface is still rubbish. The next few days through early September are more of the same: wind in the 15–18 mph range, cross-shore or cross-onshore, and the surf quality remains poor. There’s a real dry spell here where the waves are just not cooperating.

Now, late in the forecast—around Saturday the 5th of September and into the following Monday—the swell starts to look a bit more promising in size, with 6 ft to 7 ft from the ENE, and period slowly builds to 9 seconds by the 5th, and then 11 seconds by Monday the 7th. The combined energy gets strong, hitting 642 to 801. This is the first time the surf looks like it has some push. However, the wind is still a moderate cross-shore at 12 mph, so it’s not glassy. Crowds at Halawa are possible—it’s a fairly consistent reef/river break, and it can get people on it.

The best on offer, even if it’s marginal, is the stretch from Saturday the 5th to Monday the 7th of September. The swell is 6 ft to 7 ft from the ENE, with a period of 9 to 11 seconds. That’s a solid groundswell, but the period is not real long, so it should still wrap into Halawa okay, especially because it’s a reef/river setup where longer period swells can be fun. The water temperature is about 80°F, which is normal for the time of year—no anomaly to speak of. The main issue is the cross-shore wind, which will keep things a little lumpy. It’s not gonna be epic, but it’s the only window where the swell and energy are worth a look. Up to 7 ft is getting into intermediate territory; beginners might find it a bit much.

If you’re a kiter, the beach/reef setup with that steady cross-shore wind could be more interesting than paddling, especially through the middle weeks when the surf is just choppy and blown out.

In short, the first 11 days are a write-off. The best chance is that Saturday the 5th through Monday the 7th window, but keep expectations tempered. Winds could always improve closer to the day.

Rusty.

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