Honokohau Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Honokohau has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.

Honokohau is a reef and point set-up that's generally consistent, but the winds are going to be a problem for a while. The water is sitting at 80°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Straight up, the first week is a write-off. From Monday the 20th right through to Friday the 24th, we've got a solid cross-shore wind howling out of the ENE, sitting between 12 and 22 mph. That's going to put a nasty cross-chop on everything. The swell is around 4ft to 6ft, with a short period of 6 to 8 seconds, so it's just weak, bumpy, and messy. The combined energy is weak to moderate (231 to 282), and none of it is worth paddling out for. The surf is just poor.

We get a bit of a reprieve on Saturday the 25th morning. The swell is still a bit bumpy with a cross-shore wind at 16 mph, but things start to shift in the afternoon. The wind is still cross-shore, but the swell picks up a 4ft groundswell from the E with a very long period of 17 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 1335. That's a lot of energy, but the wind is still fresh and lumpy, so it's marginal at best. It's a tease, really.

Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th are the real standouts in this forecast. The swell is still a solid E groundswell, with a period of 16 seconds on Sunday and 14 seconds on Monday, and the combined energy is pumping between 1662 and 1789. That's strong wave energy, and the swell size is a consistent 6ft to 7ft. The wind is still cross-shore, but it drops to a moderate 12 to 16 mph out of the NE. This is a point break, so that long period E groundswell is going to wrap in and line up beautifully. The sets will be clean and powerful, though the long period means there will be longer lulls between sets, making it easier to get out back. This is the best the forecast has to offer. It's going to be clean, punchy, and a proper springboard for some long rides. The crowds are listed as "often" here, so expect company, but it'll be worth it for the quality.

After that, it drops off a cliff. From Tuesday the 28th through to the end of the period on Tuesday the 4th of August, the wind is back to a messy cross-shore, and the swell direction swings around to the ENE and NE with a shorter period. The energy drops, and the surf quality goes back to poor or marginal. A few spots on the 2nd and 3rd of August show some moderate swell with 7ft to 7ft from the ENE, but the wind is still cross-shore and lumpy, so it's just not going to shape up. The 31st of July and 1st of August look particularly rough with fresh cross-shore winds.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a total bust. Don't even bother. Your window is Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th of July. That's where the magic is. The rest of the run is a frustrating mix of bumpy, choppy, and messy, with only a few marginal windows. It's a tough outlook, but those two days have real potential.

Rusty.

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