
Surf Forecasts:
Honokohau Harbour surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 8 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 11 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 14s period, SSW swell with 336 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period with SW 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 Saturday (Aug 08) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m 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 0.9m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 16s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Honokohau Harbour over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be real with you. The surf over the next couple of weeks is going to be a bit of a struggle. We've got a lot of small, weak swell and less-than-ideal winds lining up, so keep the expectations low and the wax fresh for the occasional knee-high runner.
We're looking at a real slow patch to start. Honokohau Harbour is the only spot on the map, and she's going to be mostly flat and poor for the first stretch. The water's sitting at a warm 81°, which is about normal for this time of year, so at least the wait will be comfortable.
Through this first week, we've got a mix of tiny SSW swells, mostly between 1ft and 3ft. The problem is the energy is weak, and the direction is all over the place. Friday the 7th is a non-starter, with the swell energy down at 56. It just gets a little more exciting, but not by much, over the weekend. The winds are mostly light and cross-onshore, which is never good for keeping things clean.
There is a tiny bump in the swell around the 10th and 11th, with some energy readings climbing into the 300s and even hitting 509 on Tuesday afternoon, but the waves are still only around 3ft and the wind is a nuisance. It's that frustrating kind of surf where you're just moving around for crumbly little shoulders. By Wednesday the 12th, we finally get a moment of glassy conditions in the afternoon. The swell is still only 3ft, but that clean surface is a major positive. It'll be worth a paddle for the novelty of a smooth wave, even if they're sectiony.
Then it gets weird. From the 13th through the 15th, the swell direction swings around to the NNE. This is a classic sign of a short-period, windswell event, and the periods tank to 6-7 seconds. That means waves that are weak, crumbly, and without any push. You'll see that combined energy drop way down into the double digits and low hundreds, which tells you there's just no power in the water. Not worth your time unless you're just keen for a float.
The second week gets into a slightly better pattern, but it's still nothing to write home about. The swell comes back from the west, with a better period of 12-15 seconds, but the sizes stay small. The first real sign of life shows up on Monday the 17th. The afternoon looks glassy, and we have a 2ft W swell at 15 seconds. The energy is climbing to 287 and the waves are expected to be clean. The period is long, which at a reef setup like Honokohau is a good thing, as it should wrap in with a little more shape.
Beyond that, it's a grind. The swell stays small, and the winds get a little more onshore, and the energy drops back off. The end of the run, around the 21st and 22nd, looks like it's petering out again before a possible bump from a new, longer-period SSW swell arrives, but it's a long way out and not something to bank on.
So, the big takeaway? This is a tough stretch. There’s no big swell on the horizon, so if you're desperate, your best bet is Wednesday the 12th, or Monday the 17th, but even then, we're talking about small, clean waves, not a proper session. This one is for the dedicated crew who are happy with a few small ones on a glassy surface, not for anyone looking for a push. Stay patient.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 25°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Mon morning, min 26°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
47 | 71 | 45 | 118 | 124 | 137 | 96 | 85 | 82 | 314 | 250 | 243 | 276 | 327 | 290 | 273 | 222 | 28 | 49 | 41 | 53 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 12:00PM0.69m | 11:15PM0.21m | 12:56PM0.75m | 00:37AM0.22m | 1:46PM0.80m | 1:40AM0.24m | 2:31PM0.81m | 2:32AM0.28m | 3:12PM0.81m | 3:20AM0.32m | 3:51PM0.77m | 4:06AM0.37m | 4:26PM0.72m | 4:52AM0.41m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:48PM0.16m | 5:01AM0.01m | 8:33PM0.11m | 6:04AM-0.01m | 9:11PM0.08m | 7:03AM-0.02m | 9:45PM0.06m | 7:57AM-0.02m | 10:17PM0.05m | 8:48AM-0.01m | 10:47PM0.04m | 9:38AM0.02m | 11:16PM0.04m | ||||||||
6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | |
— | 6:57 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | SSW 18 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | SSW 15 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 |
9 | 15 | 34 | 20 | 124 | 37 | 31 | 51 | 51 | 314 | 47 | 42 | 276 | 327 | 290 | 620 | 586 | 1017 | 575 | 644 | 530 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SSW 14 | S 10 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 16 | S 16 | NNE 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 |
47 | 71 | 29 | 118 | 43 | 137 | 96 | 195 | 186 | 33 | 250 | 243 | 42 | 47 | 49 | 273 | 222 | 21 | 49 | 41 | 53 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 11 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SW 17 | S 18 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSE 9 | SSW 11 | S 9 | S 21 | SSW 20 | S 19 | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | WNW 12 | S 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 |
20 | 20 | 45 | 84 | 37 | 107 | 158 | 85 | 82 | 29 | 49 | 39 | 80 | 135 | 365 | 26 | 41 | 28 | 103 | 28 | 28 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 2 | — | — | NNE 5 | — | — | SSE 5 | — | N 6 | — | N 6 | S 4 | N 6 | SSE 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 1 | — | — | 42 | — | — | 3 | — | 18 | — | 24 | 3 | 18 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 104 | 25 | 0 | 87 | 25 | 0 | 100 | 25 | 7 | 101 | 6 | 0 | 113 | 116 | 0 | 113 | 0 | 6 | 113 | 14 | 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.











