Honokohau Harbour Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. Rusty here.

Right, so we’ve got a 16-day window ahead, but I’ll be straight with you – the first couple of days are pretty grim. We’re looking at a bit of a flat spell to kick off the run. The first proper blip of interest doesn’t show up until Tuesday the 15th of September, so you’re looking at a good week of waiting before anything worth paddling out for.

Let’s start with what’s on offer. The only break in the frame is Honokohau Harbour (reef). It’s a consistent spot, so it’s usually ticking over, but the opening days are a write-off. Tuesday the 8th through to Monday the 14th is a long stretch of small, weak, and mostly messy conditions. Winds are mostly cross or cross-onshore, and the wave heights are hovering around 1 ft to 2 ft with weak combined swell energy (between 93 and 347). Water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing weird going on. Honestly, you’d be wasting your time.

The real window opens up on Tuesday the 15th of September. The afternoon looks the goods – we’ve got a clean 2 ft swell from the SW with a nice long period of 19 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, and it’s running into a glassy surface. The combined energy is sitting at 361, which is moderate, so it’s not a powerhouse, but it’s surfable and clean. The wind is glassy, so the reef will be offering up some tidy lines. It’s a standout for the whole forecast period because it’s the first time the wind truly flirts with perfection at this break.

A close second would be Thursday the 18th of September. The Friday morning before that, the 18th, sees a 3 ft swell from the SSW, period around 16 seconds, and with light offshore winds from the WNW (6 mph). The combined energy bumps up to 684, which is moderate-strong, so there’s a bit more push. The offshore wind will clean it right up at the reef. It’s not as glassy as the 15th, but the extra size and energy make it a solid option for intermediate surfers.

Most other days are plagued by either poor surf quality, marginal conditions, or just too small. The period is decent (mostly 15-18 seconds when there’s any swell), but the size just isn't there until mid-month. The 15th is the one to circle.

Keep in mind, this is a reef setup, so those longer period swells (over 15 seconds) will wrap in nicely and hold shape. Paddling out should feel manageable with those long lulls between sets.

Alright, I’m out. Catch you in the water.

Rusty

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