Halawa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what’s on the cards for the Halawa area out there.

First up, it’s a bit of a rough start. We’ve got a solid push of swell coming through right now, but the wind is just ruining it. For the next week or so, that cross-shore and cross-onshore breeze is going to be a pain, leaving the ocean lumpy and chopped up. The water temps are sitting around average for the time of year, nothing to write home about there.

The first real chance of a wave comes in on Friday the 4th of September. The morning will see a new swell building, with a very long period of 13 seconds from the ENE. This is a proper groundswell, carrying some serious energy (792 for the combined energy) and will have some shape to it, but with a moderate cross-shore wind, it’s only going to be marginal. The wave heights are around 5 ft, so it’s not small, but the wind will keep it from being truly clean. This is the best option in the first week, but it’s a gamble with the breeze.

After that, the surf drops right off. There’s a long gap of several days with almost nothing worth paddling for. The waves shrink to ankle-snappers, with the wind still messing things up. It’s a quiet spell.

The real standout, and the one to circle on your calendar, is Friday the 11th of September. The morning kicks off with a very long period WNW groundswell at 21 seconds. That’s a serious amount of time between sets, but the energy is there (271 in the morning, building to 578 in the afternoon). The swell is only 3 ft, but with that period, it’s going to be lined up and beautiful. The wind is light and cross-shore, keeping the surface clean. This is a classic Halawa setup – a reef/river break that loves a long-period groundswell coming from the west. It can be a bit inconsistent, but when it lines up, it’s magic. The best waves will be on the Friday afternoon and into Saturday morning. Saturday the 12th holds similar energy, but the wind picks up a little, so the Friday is the jewel.

If you’re a beginner, be careful on the 4th of September when the swell is over 5 ft, and definitely steer clear of the 7th of September afternoon when it’s a solid 10 ft – that’s expert-only territory.

To be honest, the first week is a write-off. The second week has a promising few days, but it’s a long way out, so keep your fingers crossed. For now, the plan is to wait for that Friday the 11th.

Rusty.

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