Honokohau Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get real about this. I’m looking at Honokohau, and I hate to say it, but the next 16 days are looking pretty grim. There’s some swell in the mix, but it’s all coming in with a cross-shore wind that just won’t let up, leaving the surface all lumpy and chopped. It’s the kind of wind that makes you want to stay on the beach.

Right now, starting Saturday, July 11th, we’ve got a 7ft swell from the ENE, but that 22 mph cross breeze is just ruining it. The water temp is a warm 79°, which is about average for this time of year, but that’s the only nice thing I can say. The combined energy is moderate at 408, but it’s all for nothing with that wind. This pattern just keeps going. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday… it’s the same story. A mix of 4ft to 7ft swell, but always cross-shore, always choppy. The swell period is short, around 7 to 8 seconds, so it’s just weak, wind-driven junk.

There’s a slight blip on Tuesday the 14th afternoon where the swell drops to 2ft but the period jumps to 16 seconds, which is very long. That’s a groundswell, but it’s tiny. And the wind is still cross. Not worth paddling out for. The energy drops to a weak 367. That long period would be best at a reef or point, but it’s just too small.

The whole first week is a washout. Even into the second week, from July 18th onward, it’s the same old tune. Swell sizes bounce between 4ft and 7ft, but that persistent ENE cross-wind (12-19 mph) keeps the surface messy. The only real standout, and I use that term loosely, is Tuesday, July 21st afternoon. The wind shifts to a cross-offshore from the E, at 16 mph, and the forecast says “clean.” It’s the one time in the whole 16 days we get a clean window. The swell is 6ft from ENE, period 7 seconds, with a strong combined energy of 576. Still, 6ft with short period is not going to be world-class, but it’ll be the most rideable we get. For a surfer, that’s the one session to try and snag.

Honestly, for a consistent reef and point break like Honokohau, it’s a rough run. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing for most of this period, with that strong, lumpy cross-shore. The lack of any good swell with clean wind means this is a blank run. It’s one of those times when forecasts can change, so don’t lose all hope, but the next two weeks are looking like a board-waxing and beer-drinking kind of stretch.

Rusty.

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