Hanalei Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the surf ahead. The next 16 days are a real mixed bag, a bit of a waiting game, but there’s a solid pulse of energy coming in the long run.

Right now, we’re looking at a pretty slow start. The surf on offer for the first week or so is weak and unorganized. The energy is there, but it's just not strung together. We're talking small, short-period waves with poor shape, and the winds are mostly cross or cross-off, which isn't doing us any favors. It’s going to be a grind for the next several days. If you’re just dying to get wet, Hanalei Bay (North Shore) is your only real option, but it’s not going to be pretty. Water temps are sitting at 80°, which is right on the average for this time of year, so no worries there.

The first truly notable day looks to be Thursday the 4th of September, but that’s a long way off. Before that, from the 28th of August onwards, we start to see some longer period swell showing up in the data. The period jumps up into the 14-16 second range, which is promising, but the swell height is still on the smaller side and the quality is questionable. There’s some moderate to strong energy building in the water by the end of August, but it just doesn't have the shape yet.

But the real standout, the one you should circle on your calendar, is the last couple of days of the forecast window. The 31st of August and the 1st of September bring a significant jump in size and power. We’re talking swell building to over 7ft with a solid 12-13 second period from the ENE. This is where it gets interesting. The energy numbers are through the roof—over 1400 on the 31st—that’s strong to very strong wave energy. This is real groundswell, the kind that gets the pulse going. It’s going to be too big for beginners, for sure, and only really for the experienced crew out at Hanalei. The wind is cross, which could put a bit of a bump on the surface, but for a reef and point break like Hanalei, the long-period energy should wrap in nicely. It’s not perfect, but it's the best on offer by a long shot.

So, the plan is this: sit tight for the first week, maybe get some small, fun ones if you're desperate. Then, keep an eye on that big pulse that arrives at the very end of the month. That’s our window.

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