Hookipa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the next couple of weeks for the North Shore of Maui. Honestly, it’s a rough start. We’re sitting through a long stretch of messy, cross-shore winds and weak, short-period windswell. The first real bit of hope doesn’t show up until the end of the month, so we’ve got a solid 12-day gap of poor conditions to get through. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing wild there.

The only standout in the whole window is Hookipa (reef). It’s a fairly consistent spot that’s exposed to the NNE, which is exactly where the optimum swell direction is. For the first dozen days, though, it’s a washout. Constant cross and cross-onshore winds from the ENE and E, gusting 12 to 16 mph, with lumpy, choppy lines. Swell heights are mostly in the 4 ft to 6 ft range, but the period is short—6 to 8 seconds—so it’s just wind slop. The combined energy is weak to moderate (237 to 455), and the surf is described as poor. Nothing to write home about.

Things start to get interesting around Thursday, July 24th. The morning shows a gentle cross-shore breeze with a slight cross-chop, and the swell is 5 ft from the ENE at 8 seconds. The combined energy creeps up to 455, and it’s flagged as marginal. That’s better than the total garbage before it. By Friday, July 25th, the morning looks the best of the first two weeks. Winds are light and cross-shore, swell is 6 ft from the ENE, still 8 seconds, but the combined energy hits 539. Still not perfect, but it’s rideable and clean. Keep in mind the shorter period means it’ll be a bit walls at Hookipa, but with the right wind, it’ll be fun.

Then comes the real wildcard. On Sunday, July 26th, the swell direction goes E, and the period jumps to 15 seconds. That’s a very long period groundswell. The heights are smaller—4 ft to 4 ft—but the energy is huge (894 to 956). That kind of long period is best on a reef like Hookipa, but it can make the waves break a bit too straight unless the direction is perfect. The wind is still cross-shore, so it won’t be glassy, but it’s a promising sign of deeper ocean energy finally arriving. This is the one to watch, but it’s a long-range call, so keep your fingers crossed.

Beyond that, Monday, July 27th and Tuesday, July 28th keep the long period groundswell, but the winds go cross-onshore, which chops it up. The 28th has a 7 ft swell from the ENE at 12 seconds, and the energy is very strong (1491), but the onshore wind will make it a bumpy ride. More for the experienced crew.

So, the best on offer is the Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25th for the cleanest windows, and the Sunday the 26th for the long period groundswell, though it’s smaller. If you’re patient, there’s something to look forward to in the second week.

Rusty.

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