Honokohau Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the first few days look pretty grim. Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 30th through Friday the 31st are a write-off. Strong, cross-shore winds are just killing any chance of a decent wave. The swell is there, but it’s a messy, lumpy mess. Not worth paddling out for.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Wednesday morning, July 29th. Honokohau (a reef and point break) is our only option, and it’s the standout of the whole forecast. We’ve got a clean 5ft swell from the ENE with a 9-second period, and the wind is light and offshore from the SE. This is the window to get in the water. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. The wave energy is moderate (563), and while it’s not a massive day, that clean, offshore wind will make it worth it. Expect a few other folks in the water as it can get crowded, but it’ll be worth sharing it for the quality.

Now, the rest of the week and into the next is a real mixed bag. Saturday the 1st of August has a bigger 8ft swell, but it’s got a short 8-second period and the wind is still howling cross or cross-off at 22 mph. The energy is strong (over 1000), but the conditions are just not there for a clean ride. Sunday the 2nd sees a slight drop in size, but the wind is still a problem. Monday the 3rd through Wednesday the 5th is more of the same – consistent cross-shore wind and lumpy surf. The period is a bit longer on the 4th, hitting 11 seconds, but the wind is still cross. It’s frustrating.

Things get a bit weird on Thursday morning, August 6th. The swell drops to almost nothing, only 0.7ft from the west, with a very long 14-second period. The energy is super weak (31). That’s not a surfable size, but it might be a good day for a paddle or a swim. The wind is cross, so it’s still not clean.

Looking into the second week, the pattern doesn’t really improve. From the 7th to the 12th of August, we’re stuck with a mix of marginal and poor conditions. The swell hangs around 5ft to 8ft, but the wind remains a persistent cross-shore from the ENE at 19-22 mph. There are a couple of moments on the 8th and 10th with clean conditions, but the wave quality is still described as marginal. The energy is moderate to strong (380-1034), but the short period and cross-shore wind just won’t let it come together. By the 12th, the swell drops right off, and it’s pretty much done.

So, bottom line: if you’ve got a window, make it Wednesday morning, July 29th at Honokohau. It’s the only truly clean, decent surf in the whole 16-day window. The rest of the time, you’re better off finding something else to do.

Rusty.

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