Honokohau Harbour Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty here. I’ve been looking hard at the charts for your stretch of coast, and the honest truth is this: the next fortnight is mostly about waiting. There’s a long quiet patch up front, then a slow grind of swell late in the run, but nothing that’s going to be spawning legends.

The first chance of anything remotely rideable doesn’t pop up until Saturday morning, the 9th of August at Honokohau Harbour. We’re looking at a small 2ft of SSW swell, but the energy is starting to stir, coming in at 360. It’s still just a marginal call, though, with a light cross-on breeze and a few showers around. Not the dawny you’d race down for.

Through the next week, it starts to build. By Monday the 10th, we’ve got 3ft of SSW groundswell with a 16-second period and the energy climbing into the 500s. That long-period pulse is great for this reef, but the wind is still light and cross-onshore, so it’ll be lumpy, not lined up. Tuesday the 11th holds the size and period, with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. It’s still only a one-out-of-ten – surfable if you’re keen, but nothing special.

The first afternoon that really perks me up is Friday the 14th. We get 4ft of W swell with a 15-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 649. Winds are a gentle cross-shore, which is a big step up from what we’ve had. It’s still marginal, but it’s the most promising it’s been all run, and it’s now over the 5ft mark, which is getting a little more serious for the beginners.

Saturday the 15th keeps the W swell at 4ft but bumps the energy to 716. The morning has clean, offshore WNW winds, and that’s your standout session. This is the one to set the alarm for – a proper glassy dawny before the afternoon cross-shore messes it up. It’s not huge, but with that long period and better wind, it’ll be as clean as we get.

Sunday the 16th sees the swell nudge up to 4ft from the WNW, but the wind turns cross-onshore and there’s rain in the mix, so it’ll be messy. Energy is still solid at 627, so there’s power, but the conditions won’t do it justice.

So, if you can pick your moment, aim for the morning of Saturday the 15th. Everything else is a battle. Water temps are about average for this time of year, which is no surprise. The harbour is a consistent reef, so it does break even in small stuff, but “consistent” doesn’t always mean “good.” Crowds are possible on the better days, so you might get it semi-clean.

And remember, it’s a reef, so those longer-period swells will hold shape better than a sandbar. Just don’t expect fireworks – this one’s about patience.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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