Honokohau Harbour Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s see what we’ve got for the next stretch.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a long, flat spell ahead. The first real pulse of surf doesn’t show up until the 9th of August, so we’re looking at a solid gap of over a week with nothing much to write home about. From the 28th of July through to the 8th of August, it’s mostly tiny, weak, and choppy. Don’t bother paddling out for that.

The only spot on the radar is Honokohau Harbour (Big Island). It’s a reef setup, consistent, and intermediate-level. The water temp is sitting at 81°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year – nothing weird there.

The standout window kicks off around Sunday, 9th August. The swell starts to build from the SSW, pushing in around 3ft to 4ft, with a period of 17-18 seconds. That’s a proper long-period groundswell, and the combined energy gets up to 911 (strong). This kind of long-period swell really suits a reef break like Honokohau Harbour – it’ll line up nicely and give you some clean, well-shaped waves. The wind is light and cross-onshore, which is a bit of a bummer, but it’s not howling. It’s still surfable, especially if you’re keen for a solid session.

Monday, 10th August is probably the pick of the bunch. The swell peaks at 5ft from the SSW, still with a 16-second period, and the energy hits 1054 (very strong). That’s a serious amount of juice for this spot. The wind is light and offshore in the morning, which is a major positive – you’ll get clean, glassy faces. For intermediates, this is a great session. For beginners, 5ft is manageable but you’ll want to be careful. It’s not too big, but it’s not a pushover either.

After that, the swell eases through the 11th and 12th, dropping back to 2ft-3ft with shorter periods, and the wind turns more cross-onshore or onshore, so the quality fades.

Overall, the best bet is Monday 10th August at Honokohau Harbour. The combination of that strong, long-period SSW swell, the offshore wind, and the reef setup means you’ll get some of the best waves in this whole 16-day run. The crowds are a possibility at this spot, but with the long gap leading up to it, you might get a bit more space.

This is a wait-and-hope situation. The forecast is promising for that second week, but it’s still a week away, so don’t book the day off just yet.

Rusty.

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