Honokohau Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – we’ve got a 16-day window ahead, but honestly, it’s a tough run for Honokohau (reef and point). The first week and a half is pretty much a write-off for decent surfing. The issue is a persistent, strong easterly wind that just won’t let up, blowing cross-shore or cross-offshore at 15 to 22 mph, which is mangling the surface. The swell is coming from the ENE, which is not the optimum N direction this spot likes to see, and the period is short, around 7-8 seconds. That combo is just producing lumpy, poor surf conditions from July 9th all the way through July 20th. The water temp is 79°, about normal for the time of year, but that’s the only thing that’s normal.

The only real standout, and I mean the only one that gets the heart beating a little, is July 21st. We’ve got a pulse of very long-period groundswell hitting the island. Tuesday morning sees a 4ft swell from the east with a period of 19 seconds, and the energy jumps to a strong 1471. The afternoon builds to 5ft at 18 seconds, with an even stronger 1629 energy reading. That’s a seriously long period, which means powerful, well-shaped waves on a reef and point break like this. The problem is the wind is still cross-shore at 15-18 mph, so it’s going to be lumpy, not glassy. The forecast is marginal and given it’s two weeks out, it’s promising but not a guarantee. If you’re an experienced surfer, that Tuesday is the only window to check. The following days (July 22nd-24th) drop right back off into poor conditions with weaker energy and short period slop.

So, one shot, and it’s a long-range bet. For the rest of the run, the consistent onshore breeze means those 7ft+ swells are just gonna be messy. If you’re a kite surfer, that solid ENE wind might look interesting, but for paddle surfing, it’s a long wait for a very short, uncertain window.

Rusty.

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