Hookipa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s lined up for us.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is looking pretty grim. We’ve got a long stretch of poor conditions starting now, through the rest of August and into the first few days of September, with only a couple of barely rideable windows. From Sunday the 16th right through to about Wednesday the 26th, it’s mostly cross-shore winds, messy chop, and marginal surf at best. Not much to get excited about.

The one bright spot, and I mean the *only* standout in this whole 16-day window, is Hookipa. But it’s gonna take some patience.

We finally see a pulse of energy building late in the month. By Wednesday the 26th, swell starts to ramp up. Wednesday morning shows 8ft from the east at 10 seconds, with combined energy climbing to 1168 – that’s strong. But the wind is still cross at 16 mph, so it’s not perfect. The afternoon gets bigger – 10ft from the east, same period, energy up to 1650 – but again, that cross-breeze is there. It’s marginal, but for the big wave crew, this is where it gets interesting.

Thursday the 27th is the real peak. Morning sees 10ft from the east-northeast, 10-second period, and energy of 1946 – that’s *very* strong. By afternoon, we’re talking 12ft, same direction, 10 seconds, and energy hitting 2166. This is proper groundswell-sized surf. That long 10-second period means the waves will have some push and shape, but at these sizes, it’s only for experts paddling out. Beginners, stay on the beach for this one. The wind remains cross at 16 mph, so expect some texture on the face.

Friday the 28th stays solid – still 12ft from the east, 10-second period, energy up around 2738 in the morning and 2424 in the afternoon. It’s strong, but that cross-wind is persistent, so it’s not the cleanest big swell you’ll ever see. The swell direction is east, and Hookipa’s optimum is north-northeast, so it’s not quite the perfect angle, but when it’s this size, there’ll be waves.

The water temperature is sitting at 80°F, which is dead on average for this time of year. No anomaly, so just your typical warm Hawaiian summer water.

For the later part of the forecast – Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th – the swell drops back to 8ft and then 5ft, with energy fading to 765 and then 303. Still cross-shore breezes. It’s rideable for experienced surfers but nothing special.

So, if you’re an experienced big-wave surfer, aim for the 27th and 28th of August at Hookipa. It’s the only real power window in the whole outlook. Just be ready for that side-breeze and a crowd that knows what they’re doing.

Stay safe out there.
Rusty.

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