Hanalei Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer.

Honestly, for the next two weeks, the surf around Hanalei Bay is in a real funk. We’ve got a long stretch of small, short-period windswell pouring in from the ENE, with heights hanging around 4 to 6 feet and periods barely scraping 8 seconds. The wind’s stuck in that cross-off groove from the east, between 9 and 12 mph, which keeps the surface tidy, but the waves are just lacking any punch or shape. The combined swell energy sits mostly between 300 and 500 (moderate), so there’s some water moving but it’s not making anything special. Water temp is sitting around 78°, right about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We kick off Thursday, July 2, with that same windswell. It’s clean, but the wave comment says “marginal” and I wouldn't argue. That’s the story right through until Saturday, July 11: a grind of knee-to-waist high, short-period swell with that persistent cross-off wind. Not a single standout in this first week.

Now, on Sunday, July 12, there’s a slight uptick – the swell height bumps to 7 feet in the morning from the ENE, and the combined energy jumps to 947 (moderate-strong). That’s the most interesting reading in the whole period. The wind is still cross-off and light at 9 mph, so it’ll be the cleanest and most powerful it gets, but it’s still that short-period stuff. For Hanalei Bay, a point and reef setup, this short-period windswell doesn’t wrap in well. It’s best for a shortboard or a fish if you’re an advanced surfer, but beginners should sit this one out – 7 feet is pushing it for them. The crowds here are “often,” so expect company.

Then from Monday, July 13 through Tuesday, July 14, the swell drops to a tiny 2 feet from the west, but the period jumps to 15-17 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell. The combined energy stays around 450-570 (moderate), which is decent for such a small swell. That long period means better shaped, more lined-up waves, especially on this reef and point break. The wind is cross-off and light; it’ll be glassy and clean. This is the sneaky good window. Only for the patient surfer though – it’s inconsistent and small, but the quality will be high.

After that, a return to the ENE junk from Wednesday, July 15, through the end of the forecast. Small, weak, short-period windswell again, with moderate wind. Nothing to write home about.

The only true standout here is that Sunday, July 12, for a bit more size and power, even if the quality is limited by the short period. The better quality, though, might just be those tiny, long-period groundswell days on July 13 and 14 – clean, lined-up waves for a longboard or a fish. I’d pick July 12 for a push, and the 13th and 14th for pure beauty.

Rusty.

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