Honokohau Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards.

Honestly, it’s a pretty grim stretch ahead for Honokohau. The first few days are a complete write-off. From Monday afternoon, August 24, right through to the end of the month, we’ve got a solid run of poor surf conditions. The wind is hammering out of the ENE at 19 mph, all cross-shore, and the water’s getting chopped up and lumpy. Swell sits around 4 ft to 6 ft from the E, but with that wind on it, it’s just a messy, bumpy ocean. The combined swell energy is moderate, ranging from the low 190s up into the 500s, but it doesn’t matter when it’s that blown out. There’s nothing worth paddling out for through to the end of August.

We finally see a glimmer of hope on Wednesday morning, September 2. That morning, the wind backs off to a clean cross-off breeze out of the E at 19 mph. The swell jumps to 8 ft from the E, with a period of 8 seconds and combined energy of 727 - that’s solid, moderate-to-strong energy. The water temp is 81° with a tiny anomaly of 0.5°, so bang on average for this time of year. That Wednesday morning session is the one highlight in the whole outlook - clean lines and some proper size. But keep in mind, 8 ft is getting up there; it’s not for the faint-hearted. This spot (Honokohau) is a reef and point, so it can handle that E swell well, and with clean wind, it’ll be a proper session for an intermediate or better.

The rest of the first week of September is a mixed bag. The afternoons on the 2nd, and most of the 3rd and 4th, get smashed by that same ENE wind, blowing harder each day. By Friday the 4th, we’re looking at a near gale at 34 mph and gale-force 40 mph in the afternoon - that’s not surfing, that’s a survival mission. The 4th also brings thunderstorms and heavy rain.

Now, into the second week, things get a bit more interesting but stay uncertain. Saturday, September 5, has a 6 ft swell from the E, but here’s the kicker: that period is 12 seconds - that’s a proper groundswell, with very long period. Combined energy hits 819, strong. The wind is cross-off at 19 mph, so it’ll be clean. That’s a promising long-range standout, but two weeks out, you take it with a pinch of salt. That 12-second period will make it a bit straight at a beach setup, but on this reef and point, it’ll wrap in nicely.

Sunday the 6th holds similar energy with 5 ft from ENE, 11-second period, clean cross-off winds. Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th still have clean, marginal conditions with 5 ft to 6 ft swell, but the E and ENE wind stays light to moderate. The crowd factor at Honokohau is listed as “often,” so expect company, especially on those cleaner days.

To sum it up: The entire first week is mostly a bust. The standout is Wednesday morning, September 2 - big, clean, and punchy. The real wildcard is the second week, starting Saturday, September 5, with that long-period groundswell and clean wind, but don’t book the trip just yet. The rest is marginal at best, with a few decent windows for those willing to pick their moments.

Stay tuned, forecast can change.

Rusty.

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