Hideaways Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The surf has been pretty gutless lately, and honestly, the next few days are a bit of a write-off. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak, short-period wind swell rolling through, and it’s just not going to offer much. The water temp is sitting at 80°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so at least it’s warm while you’re sitting there waiting for something half-decent.

The first few days, from the 8th through the 12th, are looking pretty poor. The swell is small, around 4ft to 4ft, with a super short period of 6 to 7 seconds. That’s just not gonna push through with any power. There’s a bit of east in the wind, which is cross-off at Hideaways (Big Island), but the energy is weak, with the combined swell energy maxing out in the low 200s. It’s clean, but it’s just flat mush. You’d be fighting for a knee-high dribble.

There’s a bit of a pulse starting on the 13th and 14th, with the swell picking up slightly to 5ft to 6ft, and the period stretching to 7-8 seconds. The energy is starting to build, up to 338 and then 468 on the afternoon of the 14th. It’s still not amazing, but it’s looking a bit more rideable. The wind stays mostly cross-off from the east, which will keep it clean. It’s still a marginal call, but you might snag a few fun ones if you’re keen.

Then things get interesting for a moment on the 15th. The swell jumps to 7ft to 8ft, with the period finally hitting 9 seconds. The energy is climbing fast, hitting 785 and then 959. That’s a moderate-energy swell, and the direction is from the east, which is right in the wheelhouse for this spot. But here’s the catch: the wind swings more east-northeast and turns cross, so it’s going to be a bit lumpy with a cross-chop. It’s still your best bet for the first week, but the conditions aren’t perfect.

Don’t get too excited, because the 16th is a shocker. The swell gets to 10ft, but it’s coming with a strong cross-onshore wind that ramps up to a gale in the afternoon. The energy is massive, over 1700, but it’s completely blown out. That’s not a surfing day; that’s a day for kites if you’re into that sort of thing. The wave quality is going to be terrible.

After that mess, the 17th cleans right up. The swell drops back to a solid 7ft in the morning, dropping to 6ft by the afternoon, with the period still around 8 seconds. The wind swings to a light southeasterly cross-off, and the afternoon looks like it’s going to be really clean. The energy is still decent, around 529, and this is the standout of the whole period. It’s not the biggest, but the conditions are going to be the best we’ve seen. The crowd factor is something to keep in mind though – Hideaways is often busy, so expect company.

From the 18th onwards, we’re back to the smaller stuff. The swell backs off to 4ft to 5ft, with the period dropping back down to 8 seconds. There’s a brief bump on the 19th morning to 6ft with better energy (799), but it’s inconsistent. The wind stays mostly cross-off, keeping it clean, but the power just isn’t there. The 21st and 22nd have a similar story – small, clean, but nothing to write home about.

The long-range outlook for the second week is pretty much the same. The 22nd and 23rd are looking at 4ft to 5ft waves with a 7-8 second period. It’s not going to be great, but there might be a few fun ones if you’re patient. The energy is weak, though, so don’t expect much push.

So, if you’re looking for a score, the 17th afternoon is your best bet. It’s not huge, but it’s clean and has enough push to make it fun. The 15th has more size, but the lumpy cross-wind will make it a bit of a fight. Beyond that, it’s a waiting game. The forecast can change, so keep an eye on it, but for now, that’s the picture.

Rusty

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