Honokohau Harbour Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up at Honokohau Harbour over the next couple of weeks.

Overall, the pattern is a long, drawn-out stretch of small, marginal surf. The early part of the window has some tiny windows of glassy conditions, but the size is extremely limited. The best bet of the whole forecast is a late-arriving, long-period groundswell right at the end of the second week, but it comes with some caveats. For now, don’t expect much.

The first real chance to get wet is on Saturday, July 11th. The morning is not great, with a weak 2 ft SW swell (18 seconds period) and a cross-on breeze, but the energy is low (304). The water is running at 81°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The Saturday afternoon is the standout early on. The wind goes glassy, flat calm, and the swell pushes up to 2 ft from the SW, still with that long 18-second period. The combined energy rises to 397. It’s tiny, but it will be clean and workable on a longboard. That’s your best early session.

Sunday, July 12th has a glassy afternoon again, with 2 ft SW swell and 16-second period, but the morning is cross-on and messy. The energy is moderate (395). Honestly, the afternoon window is worth a look if you’re desperate.

From Monday, July 13th through to the end of the first week, things get pretty poor. The swell stays in the 2 ft to 3 ft range, but the wind turns consistently cross or cross-on, and the period drops into the 14-16 second range. The energy fluctuates, hitting a moderate 509 on Tuesday afternoon, but with rain showers and cross-shore wind, it’s not inviting. By Wednesday, July 15th, the swell direction shifts to WNW and the wind goes onshore, making it choppy and tough. The combined energy is moderate (562), but the quality is poor.

The first week ends with a whimper. Friday, July 17th and Saturday, July 18th see the swell drop back to 2 ft-2 ft, with only light cross-on breezes. The energy is weak to moderate (243-291). Not worth paddling out for.

Then there’s a real gap. From Sunday, July 19th through to Wednesday, July 22nd, the conditions are a mess. The swell is small (2 ft-3 ft) and mostly from the NNE with short-period, choppy windswell. The energy drops to very low levels (56-132). This is a dead zone. Even the morning clear skies get blown out by the afternoon rain showers. It’s a blank run.

Now, here’s the interesting part. The forecast picks up late in the second week. Wednesday, July 22nd afternoon brings a flash of something: a 2 ft swell from the SSW with a very long 22-second period. The energy jumps to 550 (moderate). The wind is light onshore, so it’s marginal, but that long-period groundswell is a sign of life. The next morning, Thursday, July 23rd morning, is the standout of the entire 16-day window. The swell is 3 ft from the SSW, 19-second period, and the wind is light cross-on. The energy is strong at 577. This is a proper groundswell. For a reef break like Honokohau Harbour, that long-period SSW swell will wrap in nicely. It’s still small, but it will have shape and power. This is the one to aim for.

Friday, July 24th and Saturday, July 25th are more of the same: 3 ft-3 ft SSW swell, but the wind turns cross-on and then cross-shore, making it less clean. The energy drops (439-354).

The final window, Sunday, July 26th, has a morning session with 3 ft SSW swell, 17-second period, and a light cross-on breeze. The energy is strong (619) – the highest of the whole forecast. It’s promising but still a little wind-affected. If you’re a confident intermediate, the Thursday the 23rd morning is your best bet. It’s not pumping, but it’s the cleanest, most consistent window of the run.

Rusty.

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