Honokohau Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s coming up for Honokohau. I’ve got to be straight with you – the next few weeks are a mixed bag, and you’ll need to pick your moments.

Right now, we’re in a bit of a flat spell. The swell is running, but the wind is a mess. For the first week, from Saturday, the 18th of July, right through to the end of next week, we’ve got a constant cross-shore wind. It’s fresh and messy, creating lumpy cross-chop. The swell is there, between 4 ft and 7 ft, but it’s short-period windswell, mostly from the East, around 7 to 8 seconds. The energy is moderate (values between 226 and 662), but the poor surf conditions mean it’s really not worth paddling out. It’s a tough look for the beach.

The water temperature is sitting at 80°, which is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Things start to get interesting as we head into the second week. On Sunday, the 26th of July, we see a shift. The swell period jumps to 15-16 seconds, and the energy starts to climb into the strong range (1582 to 1637). The wave height is around 5 ft to 5 ft. This is groundswell now, but the wind is still cross-shore, making it a marginal call. It’s a tease, really.

The real standout, though, is shaping up for the 29th of July. Wednesday morning, we’re looking at a massive 18 ft swell from the East-Northeast with a 14-second period. The combined energy is a staggering 22112 – that’s very strong. But here’s the thing: this is too big for Honokohau. The guidance says it’s predicted to be too big for this break. The wind is cross-shore from the Northeast at 12 mph, so it’s not even clean. This is for experts only, and even then, it’s a big ask. The afternoon gets even bigger, hitting 23 ft, but the wind switches to a cross-on, making it choppy. This is a beast of a day, but not your typical fun session.

Then, on Thursday, the 30th of July, we get a window. The swell drops to 12 ft in the morning, but it’s still cross-on. The afternoon, though, is the pick of the lot. The swell is 10 ft from the East with a 9-second period, and the wind turns light and cross-offshore from the East at just 6 mph. The energy is moderate (1215), but the conditions are clean. The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is your window. Keep in mind, with a 9-second period, it’s a shorter-period groundswell, so it’ll be a bit more consistent than the long-period stuff.

After that, we’re back to the same old story: fresh cross-shore winds and poor surf conditions through to the 2nd of August.

So, the best on offer is that Thursday afternoon, the 30th of July. It’s the only real window of clean surf. The rest is either too windy, too big, or just not worth it. Keep your eyes on the forecast, but for now, that’s your best bet.

Rusty

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