Honokohau Harbour Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening at Honokohau Harbour.

First up, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty bleak for paddle surfers. This is a consistent reef break, but the swell window is just not cooperating. From Monday 27 July right through the first week, it’s mostly poor or marginal surf. The swell is tiny – 0.8 ft to 3 ft – mostly from the SSW, with short periods around 13 to 14 seconds. That’s short-period junk, not a real groundswell. The wind is light, but it’s cross-onshore, so the surface is messy with wind ripples. The combined wave energy is weak, mostly under 300 (354 on Monday 27 July afternoon, then dropping into the 200s and 100s). On Wednesday 30 July afternoon, there’s a 2 ft swell from the SW at 18 seconds – longer period, more push – but the wind is still cross-onshore and choppy. Not great.

Then we hit a dead zone. From Sunday 2 August morning through to Saturday 9 August morning, the energy drops into double digits (87, 115, 53, 12, 50, 70, 100) – that’s weak. The swell is 1 ft to 3 ft, and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore. The only half-decent moment is Thursday 6 August morning – glassy conditions, a 1 ft swell from the SW at 15 seconds, energy 100. It’s surfable but very ordinary. Don’t get excited.

The standout window is around Sunday 9 August and Monday 10 August. That’s when the long-range energy shows up. On Sunday 9 August morning, we’ve got a 3 ft swell from the SSW at 21 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell. The combined energy spikes to 799 (strong). The wind is light and onshore from the WSW, not ideal, but it’s light. Sunday afternoon sees a 3 ft SSW swell at 19 seconds, energy 974. Monday 10 August morning is a 4 ft SSW swell at 17 seconds, energy 903, but the wind picks up to 9 mph from the WNW, cross-onshore, making it choppy. Monday afternoon is better – 4 ft, 17 seconds, 749 energy, and light cross-onshore wind from the SW. This is the best energy of the whole period – strong, long-period groundswell. This reef break will handle that long period well. The water temp is about average for the time of year, around 81°F, with a small anomaly of 1°F warmer – nothing unusual.

For the second week, it’s more marginal. Tuesday 11 August has a 3 ft SSW swell at 15 seconds (756 energy) and a 3 ft SSW at 18 seconds (819 energy) – still moderate energy, but the wind is cross-onshore or onshore. It’s not going to be a classic.

Honokohau Harbour can get crowded sometimes, but with this small, onshore stuff, it’ll be quiet. The optimum swell direction is WNW, but we’re getting mostly SSW and SW – a mismatch, so the waves won’t be lining up cleanly. For beginners, the swell is under 5 ft, so it’s not too big, but the wind and period aren’t making it easy. For experts, it’s not worth it.

If you’re a kite surfer, the setup from 9 August onwards – with stronger energy, onshore wind, and a beach-and-reef layout – looks more interesting than paddle surfing. The waves are small and messy, but there’s enough wind and swell to get a kite session in.

So, if you’re really keen, target Sunday 9 August or Monday 10 August – that’s your best shot. The first few days are a write-off, and there’s a gap from 2 August to 8 August with nothing worth paddling for. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a tough run.

Rusty.

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