Honokohau Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, grab a seat, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Honokohau (Big Island) over the next couple of weeks.

Look, I’m gonna be straight with you – this is a tricky run. The forecast is mostly a story of persistent cross-shore wind and messy, poor surf conditions. We’ve got waves coming in, but the quality just isn’t there for most of the period. The first recommendation isn’t until nearly two weeks out, so we’ve got a long, quiet gap to sit through.

The setup here is a reef and point break, and it’s generally consistent, which is a good sign – it tends not to stay flat for long. The water temperature is sitting at 79°, which is about what you’d expect for this time of year, nothing wild.

The wind is the real killer. From Tuesday 14 July right through until late July, it’s locked in from the ENE, blowing at 12 to 22 mph, and it’s always cross-shore. That’s creating a lumpy, cross-chop that’s making a mess of things. The swell direction is mostly from the E or ENE, with periods around 6-8 seconds – short period windswell, not the cleanest stuff.

There’s a bit of a rise in energy around Saturday 18 July with a 6 ft swell from the east (combined energy of 523), and again on Saturday 25 July with 6 ft from the ENE (energy of 509). But the wind is still on it, so even with that size, it’s going to be choppy and hard to enjoy. That 6 ft is getting into the bigger range, so it’s not really for beginners anyway.

The only flicker of something half-decent appears on the very last day – Sunday 26 July. The morning shows a 6 ft ENE swell (energy of 690) and the wind is still cross-shore, but it’s a moderate breeze, so it’s not as brutal. The afternoon gets interesting: a 3 ft swell from the east with a very long period of 14 seconds (energy of 780). That’s a groundswell, and it’s got real potential. The problem is that the wind is still cross-shore, but the longer period means better shape and energy. For a point break like Honokohau, this could actually be the standout. But it’s far out, so treat it as promising but not locked in.

Honestly, for the whole 16-day window, there’s not a single day where I’d say “drop everything and go.” The constant cross-shore wind just ruins the quality. If you’re desperate, the Sunday 26 July afternoon is the best bet, but it’s a long way off and the wind might not play ball.

Rusty

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