Surf Forecasts:
Honokohau Harbour surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 17s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 17s period, SW swell with 298 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period with WNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Honokohau Harbour this week:
The surf forecast for Honokohau Harbour over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Honokohau Harbour in the next 16 days are 0.7m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 12s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Honokohau Harbour over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Honokohau Harbour.
The outlook for the next 16 days is pretty flat. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak swell and most days are a write-off. The best bet is going to be the morning of Saturday the 22nd and then Monday afternoon the 24th, but even those are just glimpses of something surfable.
We kick off on Tuesday the 18th and it’s poor, nothing happening. That carries right through the week. The swell is tiny at 1 ft with a long period from the SW, but the energy is weak (58). Wind is light but onshore, so it’s just messy.
The first time we see a glimmer is Wednesday the 19th afternoon. It’s glassy – dead calm wind from the WNW at only 6 mph – and the swell is still only 1 ft from the SW with a 16-second period. The combined energy is low (112). The report says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” Not one to get excited about.
Thursday the 20th morning, the swell bumps up to 2 ft from the SSW with a 18-second period and 226 energy, but the wind is onshore. Poor.
The first true standout is Saturday morning the 22nd at Honokohau Harbour. The wind goes glassy – 3 mph from the WSW – and the swell is 2 ft from the SSW. It’s a long period of 16 seconds, with moderate energy (257). This is the cleanest window we get, so if you’re going to paddle out, that’s your time. It’s a reef break, fairly exposed to the optimum WNW direction, but this swell is coming from the SSW, so it’s not a perfect match. Still, with perfect glass, it’ll be the best of a quiet run.
Monday afternoon the 24th shows a bit of promise too. The wind goes light from the NNE at 6 mph, cross-offshore, and the swell is 2 ft from the SSW. The combined energy jumps to 363, which is solid moderate energy. The report says “expect good surf conditions,” so that’s rare in this outlook. The period drops to 13 seconds, still decent.
After that, from the 25th onward, it’s back to mostly poor conditions. Winds pick up, we get some cross-on and choppy conditions, and the swell stays small. There’s a storm risk on the 26th, 27th and 28th. Not worth the paddle.
The first week of September looks similar – a glassy morning on the 1st with a tiny 1 ft WNW swell and low energy (78), but it’s “very ordinary.”
Honokohau Harbour is a consistent reef break, but with crowds listed as “sometimes,” you might find some company on those cleaner mornings. Water temps are about average for this time of year.
So, bottom line: sit tight for Saturday morning the 22nd or Monday afternoon the 24th. Everything else, you might as well stay on the beach.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Tue morning, min 26°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | SW 18 | WNW 13 | W 12 | WNW 12 | SW 16 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | WNW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
41 | 80 | 54 | 73 | 47 | 130 | 209 | 143 | 284 | 127 | 121 | 261 | 162 | 112 | 158 | 144 | 126 | 71 | 161 | 101 | 149 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | cross | on | on | glassy | on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:28AM0.53m | 7:04PM0.33m | 9:39AM0.55m | 7:48PM0.27m | 10:50AM0.59m | 9:25PM0.24m | 11:51AM0.62m | 11:15PM0.23m | 12:41PM0.65m | 00:27AM0.25m | 1:23PM0.68m | 1:17AM0.27m | 1:59PM0.70m | 1:58AM0.30m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:10PM0.27m | 1:45AM0.08m | 5:22PM0.26m | 2:34AM0.09m | 7:02PM0.23m | 3:38AM0.10m | 7:46PM0.19m | 4:47AM0.10m | 8:16PM0.16m | 5:47AM0.09m | 8:43PM0.14m | 6:38AM0.07m | 9:08PM0.12m | ||||||||
6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | |
— | 6:50 | — | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 13 | NNE 5 | S 12 | S 12 | NNE 5 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | S 12 |
162 | 121 | 13 | 71 | 72 | 18 | 209 | 143 | 284 | 127 | 121 | 261 | 44 | 62 | 49 | 88 | 117 | 56 | 45 | 88 | 356 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | S 12 | W 12 | NNE 7 | SW 16 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 6 | SSW 16 | WNW 10 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | SSW 15 | SSE 13 | SSW 14 | SSE 11 | NNE 7 |
17 | 15 | 69 | 73 | 17 | 130 | 17 | 18 | 26 | 17 | 21 | 47 | 162 | 58 | 158 | 65 | 126 | 92 | 161 | 119 | 77 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | SW 18 | WNW 13 | NNE 5 | WNW 12 | S 12 | S 11 | WNW 11 | S 11 | WNW 10 | W 10 | S 13 | W 10 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | WNW 11 | SSW 15 | SSE 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 |
41 | 80 | 54 | 9 | 47 | 44 | 37 | 40 | 37 | 35 | 52 | 126 | 54 | 112 | 150 | 144 | 45 | 71 | 79 | 101 | 149 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 3 | SW 3 | — | — | SW 9 | — | W 9 | — | — |
— | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 20 | — | 13 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 111 | 87 | 0 | 87 | 6 | 0 | 47 | 0 | 25 | 47 | 25 | 7 | 0 | 45 | 2 | 25 | 125 | 0 | 25 | 12 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Big Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Honokohau Harbour Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Honokohau Harbour provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Honokohau Harbour can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Honokohau Harbour surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Honokohau Harbour) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Honokohau Harbour may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Honokohau Harbour is 99 km (61 miles) from Hilo. If you plan a vacation in Big Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Hilo. Hilo has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











