Halawa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s see what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks here.

To be straight with you, the first week looks pretty average overall. We ain’t seeing any real standout windows, just a lot of messy conditions and inconsistent energy at Halawa. The main issue is the wind – it’s blowing fresh out of the east and east-northeast almost every day, which creates a lumpy cross-shore chop. The swell is small and generally weak, with combined wave energy values sitting between 22 and 227 (moderate at best, often weak). Water temp is running about average for this time of year, nothing wild.

Things get a little more interesting around the end of the first week and into the second. On Wednesday, August 26th, there’s a pulse of short-period swell from the east-northeast, heights around 5ft to 6ft, but the period is only 6 seconds – that’s not going to give you much shape. Still a cross-shore wind messing it up, so no good.

Friday, August 28th afternoon sees another pulse from the east-northeast, 6ft at 6 seconds, but again cross-shore winds kill it. Same story for the weekend.

Now, Monday afternoon, August 31st – the swell jumps up to 5ft from the northeast, with a period of 10 seconds, and combined energy hits 822 – that’s strong energy. But the wind shifts to a cross-onshore, making it choppy. So close, but no cigar.

Tuesday, September 1st brings the biggest swell of the outlook so far: 7ft from the east-northeast, period 9 seconds, energy 779 (strong). The wind is a gentle cross-onshore at 9 mph, so it’s only marginal – surfable but pretty choppy. This size is really for intermediate to experienced surfers; beginners would be out of their depth.

Saturday, September 5th – swell from the east-northeast at 6ft to 6ft, period 11 seconds (good period), but the wind is onshore and strong, poor conditions now.

Now here’s where it gets interesting: Sunday, September 6th. The morning has a fresh offshore wind from the south at 19 mph, clean conditions, with a 6ft swell from the east-northeast, period 8 seconds, energy 356 (moderate). By the afternoon, the wind drops to a moderate offshore from the south-southeast at 12 mph, and the swell is 5ft at 8 seconds, with energy 382 (moderate). This is the best window in the whole forecast. The offshore wind will make Halawa clean and lined up, despite the average period. This is a standout, and it’s coming up on September 6th. For a reef/river setup, that easterly swell direction (ENE) is working well with the optimum direction of north-northwest? Actually, Halawa works best with a north-northwest, so this isn’t perfect direction wise, but the clean conditions and moderate size will make it fun. Watch out for crowds – Halawa can get busy sometimes.

There’s then a gap from Monday, September 7th onward with no good recommendations, so the run of decent surf looks short-lived.

To sum up: The first week is a write-off. The only real standout is Sunday, September 6th, with clean offshore winds and a solid head-high swell. Mark it in the calendar. Everything else is either too windy, too short-period, or just messy. For the area, blank runs happen, but forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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