Honokohau Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s break it down.

The next 16 days are lean. Real lean. The first time you’ll actually want to look at the ocean is Saturday, August 15th. Before that, there’s basically two weeks of nothing good, so don’t bother.

Our only spot is Honokohau (Big Island). It’s a consistent reef and point that can handle swell, but the wind is the story here. For the first week and a half, the trades are pumping from the ENE and E at 20 to 35 mph, mostly cross or cross-off. That’s putting a hard chop on everything. The swell is there, but it’s junk. The combined swell energy bounces around (920 down to 41), but with periods only 7 to 8 seconds, it’s just messy, short-period wind slop. Water temp is 80°F, right about average, so at least you’re warm while you’re not surfing.

The whole first two weeks are a bust. Morning of Sunday, August 3rd has the swell dropping, wind stays cross, and every comment says “poor surf conditions.” Moderate to fresh breeze, cross-chop, lumpy. Not worth the wax.

Here’s the only window: Saturday morning, August 15th. You’ve got a 2.4m (about 8 ft) swell from the east, with an 8-second period. The combined energy is solid (848), and for the first time, the wind is a true cross-off from the east at 35 mph. That’s going to clean up the face at Honokohau. The comment calls it “marginal” instead of poor, which is the best we’ve seen. That’s your session. It’s a solid size, maybe a bit much for beginners, but for the intermediate crew and above, that cross-off wind will make it work. Crowds are “often” a thing there, and on a Saturday morning with the first decent surf in ages, expect a full lot.

After that Saturday morning, the afternoon turns to strong breeze and messy cross-chop, and Sunday the 16th is back to lumpy. So, that Saturday morning is the one and only call. It’s not perfect, but it’s the only game in town.

Honokohau, Saturday the 15th morning. That’s your shot.

Rusty.

Read more