Honokohau Harbour Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again, let’s break this down in feet and Fahrenheit so you don’t have to do the math.

First off, the water’s sitting around 82°F, which is about 2°F warmer than average for this time of year – feels real nice and tropical.

The start of the period is a total bust. From Wednesday 9th September right through the weekend, the swell is tiny, the wind is mostly cross-onshore, and the wave energy, while moderate in numbers, isn’t giving us anything rideable. Everything is marked as “poor surf conditions.” You’re looking at at least four or five days of flat, bumpy ocean. A slight flicker on Sunday the 13th afternoon – glassy conditions with a light breeze, a tiny 1ft swell from the southwest. The report calls it “surfable but very ordinary.” That’s a 1 out of 10. Not much more than a pool session.

Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th don’t bring any real change. The swell stays small, wind is light but not helpful. The wave energy bumps up a bit on Tuesday afternoon, but with a 2ft swell, it’s all just push and no shape.

The highlight of the entire 16-day run is Saturday 19th September in the afternoon. The wind goes glassy, dead calm, and we’ve got a 2ft southwest swell with a 16-second period. That’s a proper groundswell. The combined energy is moderate (339), and the report says “expect good surf conditions.” For a reef break like Honokohau Harbour, that long period will make it line up nicely. The direction isn’t a perfect match for the optimum (WNW), but the clean conditions more than make up for it. It’s small enough for everyone, but the spot has a reputation for being consistent, so you should get a few. Just remember, it can get a bit crowded there.

That Saturday arvo window is your best shot. After that, it’s back to small, onshore slop right through to the 24th. Not much else worth paddling for, but that one session could be worth the wait.

Rusty.

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