Honokohau Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Honokohau.

First up, the water's sitting at a balmy 81°, which is about what you’d expect for this time of year – nothing weird going on there.

Right now, and for the next week and a half, it’s a frustrating story. We’ve got a consistent, strong ENE wind blowing across the break, and it’s ruining everything. The surf is mostly cross-shore and lumpy, with a cross-chop that’s making it look like a washing machine. The energy is there, but it’s all messy. From Friday the 28th of August all the way through the first week of September, the swell is a mix of short-period, weak stuff, and it’s just not worth paddling out for. The combined energy stays in the weak to moderate range, and the notes keep saying "poor surf conditions." It’s a tough stretch.

By the end of the first week of September, the swell starts to build. On Thursday the 3rd of September, we see a jump in energy, but the wind is still fresh and cross. It’s a tease. The swell gets bigger, pushing 7ft from the E, but the onshore junk just chops it up. Friday the 4th of September looks even more promising on paper, with 8ft E swell and a period of 12 seconds, giving strong wave energy. But again, the wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-shore. It’s a "marginal" call at best – big, powerful, but ugly.

Then, right at the very end of the forecast window, we get a flicker of hope. On Thursday the 10th of September, the wind finally swings around to the SSE, blowing offshore at 19 mph. The swell drops to 6ft from the NE, but the period is a solid 10 seconds. The energy is still moderate, but the wind is clean. This is the best chance we have. The break is a reef and point setup, which is perfect for this kind of groundswell. The swell direction (NE) isn’t the optimum (N is best), but offshore wind can make a huge difference. Friday the 11th of September keeps the offshore or cross-offshore flow, with 4ft NE swell, but the energy drops off quickly.

Honestly, the standout window is Thursday the 10th of September. It’s the only day that ticks the boxes for clean, surfable conditions. The crowds are "often" here, so expect some company. It’s not a perfect forecast, but it’s the only one that’s worth setting an alarm for. After that, the wind swings back to the ENE and the surf gets sloppy again.

So, for the next 16 days, the surfing is a battle. The first week is a write-off. The second week offers a bit more size, but the wind is the enemy. Put a pin in Thursday the 10th of September.

Rusty.

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