Hanalei Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I've got the outlook for Hanalei Bay on the North Shore of Kauai. Let's be real, the next week and a half is a bit of a grind. Trade winds are up, and the swell is mostly short-period, wind-affected stuff. It's not going to be a time to remember.

We kick things off Sunday the 23rd of August with some bumpy 5-foot waves from the east, but with a 12 mph cross-off breeze, it's clean enough. The energy is moderate (375), but the short period of 8 seconds isn't doing us any favors. The water is a warm 80°F, which is dead average for this time of year. Honestly, the whole first week is a bit of a wash. From Monday the 24th through the 31st of August, it's all marginal, short-period swell (7 to 8 seconds) with consistent cross-off trades. The swell height bounces between 3 and 5 feet, and the combined energy drops into the low to mid hundreds – it's weak, mushy stuff. The surf is just not there.

We hit a dry spell from the 27th of August to the 31st, where the scores are a flat zero. It's poor out there, with the wind going more cross than cross-off, making it choppy.
Then the 1st of September rolls in, and we start to see a pulse. The swell jumps up to 6 feet from the east-northeast, and the period stretches to 10 seconds. That's real groundswell energy. The combined energy rockets up to 697 (moderate to strong). The trade winds are still blowing 12 mph, but it's cross-off, keeping the surface clean. The waves are bigger, and the shape is starting to get some juice. The 2nd of September is a bit of a step down, but then the 3rd and 4th of September see a solid 6 to 7-foot swell from the east-northeast, with 8 seconds period. The energy is solid (987 on the 3rd, 720 on the 4th morning). It's still a cross-off wind, but the afternoon of the 4th gets a little bit of a cross-chop.

Now, the real standout is the window from the 5th of September into the 7th. This is the one to keep an eye on. We get a long-period groundswell from the east-northeast. On the 5th, the period is 14 seconds, and the swell jumps up to 7 feet by the afternoon with a combined energy of 1593 (strong). The wind is cross-off at 12 mph. This is big, powerful, and clean. The 6th of September holds a solid 7 feet from the east-northeast with a 13-second period and energy over 1500. The wind eases to a gentle 9 mph, making it glassy. The 7th of September sees the swell peak at 8 feet with a 12-second period, and the energy is massive at 1862 (very strong). The wind is light and cross-shore, so there's a slight chop, but the power is undeniable.

Now, for the caveat. Hanalei Bay is a reef and point break. This long-period groundswell (over 12 seconds) is going to wrap in and produce some very clean, long lines, especially on the point. It's an advanced break, so you need to know what you're doing. With that size, over 8 feet, it's for experts only. The crowds are listed as "often," so expect a lineup. The swell direction is east-northeast, which is spot-on for the optimum swell direction from the north. This is the best bet of the whole period.

The first week is a write-off for quality surf. The real action is from the 1st of September onward, with the 5th to 7th of September being the standout. It's a long-range call, so it's promising but not set in stone. Keep your eyes on that window.

Rusty

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