Hookipa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s look at this same forecast in the old-school measurements.

Okay, the outlook for Hookipa on Maui. This 16-day forecast is a tough one. We have a long stretch of poor surf and cross winds, so you’re going to need a lot of patience.

The pattern is locked in with persistent trade winds from the ENE to E. That means cross-shore conditions for Hookipa, which faces a different way. For the first week, we’ve got a moderate breeze that’s not giving us any clean faces, just lumpy cross-chop. The swell is small to moderate, but energy is weak, with readings mostly between 221 and 359 for the first few days. The period is short, mostly 7 to 8 seconds. That’s windswell, not proper groundswell. It’s just not worth paddling out.

We start to see a change around Wednesday, July 22nd in the afternoon. The period jumps to 12 seconds, which is better, and energy climbs to 553. But the wind is still cross, and it’s only scored as marginal, so don’t go crazy yet.

Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th go right back to poor conditions. A 6-second period on the 23rd is total junk, and the fresh breeze on Friday hits 19 mph, making it ugly.

The next chance comes on Saturday, July 25th. The morning shows 6ft at 8 seconds from the ENE, still cross. It’s okay. But the *afternoon* is where we see something: a building 4ft swell from the east with a period jumping to a massive 17 seconds. That groundswell energy skyrockets to 1228. This is the best looking window early on. Even with the cross-shore wind at 16 mph, that long period should set up long, walling lines. It's only called marginal, but for a reef like Hookipa, long period from the east can be special.

Sunday the 26th keeps the energy pumping, but the wind swings to the NE, becoming cross-onshore and choppy. We see readings of 6ft and 6ft at a 16-second period, with energy over 2000. That is a strong, powerful groundswell. The problem is the wind. It turns it into a bumpy mess. If that wind was offshore, this would be the standout. As it is, it’s frustrating.

Monday the 27th of July is similar, with solid 6ft at 14 seconds, but a lighter NE cross-onshore breeze. There might be a window, but it’s compromised.

The best chance for truly clean waves looks like Tuesday, July 28th. The swell comes down to a manageable 5ft at 12 seconds from the ENE. The wind drops to a light breeze at only 6 mph, and it’s cross-shore. That’s the cleanest wind we’ll see. The energy is moderate at 848. This is the day to circle on your calendar.

Wednesday the 29th is similar, with a light breeze, but the swell picks up to 7ft at 11 seconds and energy is strong at 1002. That’s a proper swell, but it’s getting big for a spot with cross-onshore wind. Likely a bit lumpy.

From the 30th of July on, it all fades. The swell drops back to 4ft, the period crashes to 9 seconds or less, and we’re back to cross winds and poor surf. It looks like a classic early August lull.

The Standout Call: If I have to pick one, it’s Tuesday the 28th of July. The 5ft swell from the ENE with 12 seconds of period and light, cross-shore wind is the classic Hookipa combo. It won’t be huge, but it will be clean and fun. The water temp anomaly isn't mentioned, so figure it's average for this time of year.

The Saturday afternoon the 25th is the raw power pickup, but the wind is a factor.

If the wind doesn't cooperate during the big swell days, honestly, a beach and reef setup like Hookipa with strong cross-onshore wind... it’s going to be more fun for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer on those days.

For the rest, treat it like a normal summer. Wait for the light wind days.

Rusty.

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