Hanalei Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’re looking at a long stretch ahead for Hanalei Bay, and I gotta be straight with you—the first week or so is pretty flat and uninspiring. The good stuff is hiding way out in the back half of the forecast.

The first real surf worth paddling out for is a small window on Wednesday morning, August 5th. We’ve got a 4ft ENE swell rolling in with a 10-second period, and the energy’s sitting at a modest 340. The wind is a solid cross-off from the east at 9 mph, which should keep the surface tidy. The water temp is about average for this time of year. It’s not a standout, but it’s a start. That afternoon, the swell drops a touch to 4ft with the same direction, and the energy eases to 285. It’s clean, but small.

After that, we hit a real dry patch. From Thursday, August 6th, all the way through to the morning of Friday, August 14th, the surf is marginal or poor. The swell hangs around 3ft to 5ft, mostly from the ENE or E, with periods bouncing between 6 and 8 seconds. The energy never gets above 351 in that stretch, and the wind stays cross-off from the east at 9 to 12 mph. It’s clean, but there’s just no juice. You’ll be bobbing around waiting for a knee-high roller. This is a proper gap with no real recommendations.

Now, we start to see a pulse on the afternoon of Friday, August 14th. The swell pushes to 5ft from the ENE, period climbs to 8 seconds, and the energy jumps to 489. It’s still being called marginal, but it’s a sign of life. Saturday, August 15th, holds similar with 5ft to 6ft ENE swell, energy around 492-497, still cross-off winds. You can get wet, but it’s not the main event.

The real standout begins on Sunday, August 16th. That morning, we see a jump to 7ft from the ENE with an 8-second period, and the energy kicks up to 1214. That’s moderate wave energy finally, and the swell continues to build. The wind is still clean cross-off at 12 mph. This is when it starts to get interesting for the experienced crew.

Monday, August 17th, keeps the 7ft to 6ft ENE swell alive with energy in the 600s, and the period stretches to 9 seconds by the afternoon. Getting better.

Then, Tuesday, August 18th, is the one to circle on the calendar. We’re looking at 8ft of ENE swell, 9-second period, and the energy hits 2327. That’s strong. The wind is cross-off at 12 mph. This is a punchy, powerful swell. At 8ft, this is expert territory. The bay handles it, but it’s gonna be a handful. The long period (9 seconds) means it’ll have some push, but it’s not that super-long groundswell that races past.

The window closes out on Wednesday, August 19th, with a solid 10ft ENE swell – very strong energy at 2422 – and gentle cross-off winds at 9 mph. Again, this is for the experienced only. Thursday, August 20th, drops to 8ft but the wind shifts to a true cross-shore, introducing a little cross-chop, so it’s not as clean.

So, the best of the lot? Tuesday, August 18th and Wednesday, August 19th. The swell is solid, the energy is strong, and the wind is clean. Hanalei Bay (Kauai) is a classic for a reason—it’s a reef and point setup that loves a good north swell, and this ENE direction is a solid match. It’s exposed, so it’ll take the energy well. Remember, crowds are often here, so get there early. For the first few days, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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