
Surf Forecasts:
Honokohau Harbour surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 18 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 18s period, SSW swell with 534 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 14s 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 Monday (Sep 14) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s is also forecast. 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 18s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 18) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Honokohau Harbour over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer at Honokohau Harbour over the next couple of weeks.
Straight up, this isn’t a period that’s going to have you calling in sick. The surf is small for the most part, and we’ve got a lot of days where the wind is just a bit too messy or the energy is lacking. The water temp is sitting at a pleasant 82°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t need a thick suit.
We kick off Monday, 14th September, with tiny 1ft swell from the SW and a period of 14 seconds. It’s a light west wind, but the wave comment is "poor surf conditions" and the combined energy is only 84 – that’s weak. Not worth paddling out for. Monday afternoon is a bit of a head-scratcher: a tiny 1ft swell but a very long 22-second period, giving a combined energy of 232. It’s clean with a light west wind, but that period is so long it’ll likely break too straight at a beach setup; this is a reef break, so it might offer something, but at that size it’s not really breaking with any power.
Tuesday, 15th September, we see a slight lift to 2ft swell from the SW with a period of 19-20 seconds. The combined energy climbs to 385 in the morning and 380 in the afternoon. It’s marginal at best. Clean conditions with light offshore winds, but the size is still tiny.
Wednesday, 16th September, brings the first real glimmer of hope. We’ve got 3ft of SSW swell with an 18-second period. The combined energy is strong, hitting 427 in the morning and 494 in the afternoon. The morning has a cross-onshore breeze, but the afternoon goes glassy. That’s the standout moment of the first week – clean, glassy conditions on a reef break with a decent long-period groundswell. The swell is small enough for intermediates, and that glassy wind is a major positive. It won’t be big, but it’ll be the cleanest wave of the period.
From Thursday, 17th September, things fall apart. The wind picks up, becoming cross-onshore and choppy, and the swell stays small. The combined energy stays moderate to strong (484 to 578) but the quality is poor. Friday and Saturday are much the same – cross-shore winds, thunderstorms possible, and marginal surf. Sunday the 20th and Monday the 21st remain in the marginal zone with 3-3ft swell and light winds, but the period drops to 13-15 seconds and the conditions are just ordinary.
Then we hit a real lull. Tuesday, 22nd September, the swell drops to 1.0ft with a combined energy of only 39 and 56. That’s weak. Wednesday the 23rd and Thursday the 24th see a slight bump to 2-2ft, but it’s mostly poor or ordinary. The one bright spot is Thursday afternoon, 24th September: 2ft SW swell, 15-second period, and glassy conditions. The combined energy is 287, and the wave comment is "expect good surf conditions". That’s the second standout, but it’s a long way off and the energy is only moderate.
After that, the last few days of the forecast (25th to 29th September) are a mixed bag of marginal surf, cross-onshore winds, and small swell. There’s a slight increase in energy on the 29th (657 in the morning, 729 in the afternoon) with 3-3ft SSW swell and a 16-second period, but the wind is cross-onshore and the conditions are only marginal. It’s promising but not a sure thing.
Overall, the best bet is Wednesday afternoon, 16th September, at Honokohau Harbour. It’s small but glassy, and that’s about as good as it gets in this run. If you can’t make that, Thursday afternoon, 24th September, offers another glassy window. For the rest, you’re mostly waiting.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 26°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 26°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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 | SW 22 | SSW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
50 | 118 | 180 | 309 | 303 | 372 | 395 | 395 | 373 | 212 | 264 | 534 | 305 | 295 | 344 | 159 | 414 | 432 | 360 | 360 | 322 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 5:21PM0.39m | 6:39AM0.60m | 5:51PM0.33m | 7:34AM0.60m | 6:28PM0.28m | 8:40AM0.59m | 7:35PM0.24m | 9:53AM0.60m | 9:42PM0.23m | 10:59AM0.61m | 11:23PM0.25m | 11:54AM0.63m | 00:21AM0.29m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:22PM0.20m | 11:27PM0.08m | 1:32PM0.23m | 11:56PM0.09m | 3:07PM0.25m | 00:32AM0.12m | 5:02PM0.23m | 1:25AM0.14m | 6:15PM0.20m | 2:46AM0.16m | 6:54PM0.17m | 4:14AM0.16m | 7:22PM0.15m | ||||||||
6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | |
— | 6:27 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
Feels °C | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 4 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 18 | NNE 6 | SSW 17 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | SSW 18 | SW 17 | NNE 7 | SSW 16 | NNE 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
6 | 39 | 37 | 309 | 303 | 372 | 395 | 80 | 373 | 66 | 70 | 534 | 305 | 59 | 344 | 38 | 414 | 432 | 360 | 360 | 322 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 21 | NNE 8 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 11 | SW 16 | SW 16 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | SW 17 | NNE 7 | S 18 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 |
28 | 75 | 180 | 35 | 19 | 24 | 11 | 395 | 12 | 206 | 264 | 68 | 49 | 295 | 50 | 225 | 56 | 37 | 37 | 54 | 33 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 22 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | NNE 7 | SW 12 | SW 11 | WSW 8 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
50 | 118 | 44 | 41 | 58 | 10 | 21 | 19 | 7 | 212 | 205 | 61 | 155 | 211 | 129 | 159 | 169 | 112 | 75 | 75 | 52 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 4 | — | NNE 5 | — | N 7 | S 4 | — | N 7 | S 6 | SSW 6 | S 5 | W 3 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | 41 | — | 39 | 6 | — | 22 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 111 | 87 | 0 | 45 | 2 | 7 | 45 | 0 | 6 | 100 | 45 | 0 | 12 | 42 | 0 | 104 | 25 | 0 | 104 | 12 | 7 |
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.










