Hulihee Palace Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s coming up for Hulihee Palace.

The overall pattern for the next 16 days is a bit of a slow burn. There are no real standouts, just persistent small, marginal surf with a couple of half-decent windows if you’re keen and not expecting much. The first week is pretty lackluster, with a lot of “questionable” or “poor” conditions. The second week offers a few more promising moments, especially around the middle of the second week, but nothing that’ll have you calling in sick.

We start off on Saturday, July 4th, with a small 2ft swell from the SSW. The period is a very long 20 seconds, which is a proper groundswell, but the combined energy is only 646 (moderate). This long-period SSW groundswell will wrap in nicely to this reef break, but the size is small. Morning has a light offshore wind from the W, 6 mph, which is clean and glassy. The afternoon picks up to 3ft, same direction, but the wind goes cross-onshore, putting a few ripples on it. It’s marginal, but Saturday morning is your best shot for the opening weekend.

On Sunday, July 5th, and Monday, July 6th, it’s more of the same: 3ft to 3ft range, still a long period (16-18 seconds) from the SSW. The combined energy stays moderate (531-631). The wind is mostly light and cross-on or offshore, so the surface won’t be too choppy. Conditions are described as marginal, so it’s sessionable for a longboard or a funboard if you just want to get wet.

Tuesday, July 7th, through to Friday, July 10th, things drop off significantly. Swell height sinks to 2ft to 2ft, the period drops to 12-14 seconds, and the energy dips into the weak to low-moderate range (127-377). The wind, while light, is often cross or cross-onshore. The guidance flags these days as “poor surf conditions.” This is a gap of four days with no real recommendations.

Saturday, July 11th, into Sunday, July 12th, there’s a little bump. Swell picks back to 2ft-2ft from the SSW/SW with a long period of 16-18 seconds. Energy climbs back into the moderate range (293-374). Morning winds are light and offshore on Sunday with a slight air. Still considered marginal, but a step up from the previous dead days.

Monday, July 13th, is another poor one, but then we get the best window of the outlook starting Tuesday, July 14th. Swell size builds to 3ft-3ft from the WNW, with a 17-second period. The combined energy jumps to 629-635 (moderate). Tuesday morning has a light offshore wind from the W, 6 mph, which will keep it glassy at the takeoff zone. This is the highlight: the wind is clean, the swell is the most energetic we’ve seen, and it’s a true groundswell. Crowds are listed as “sometimes” possible here, so you might have a few others in the water. For a point or reef like this, that long-period WNW energy should draw some nice, lined-up waves.

Wednesday, July 15th, and Thursday, July 16th, are still rideable, with 3ft from the WNW, period dropping from 16 to 15 seconds, and energy staying in the moderate range (464-573). The wind is light and cross-on, which isn’t perfect but not blown out. This whole stretch from Tuesday to Thursday (July 14-16) is the only time it’s worth making a plan.

From Friday, July 17th, through to the end of the outlook on Sunday, July 19th, it fades back to small 2ft-2ft, weaker energy, and poor or marginal tags. The window is closing.

The water temperature is not specified as an anomaly in the file, so it’s just about average for the time of year here at Hulihee Palace (Big Island).

So, the honest truth: there’s no epic swell on the cards. The best on offer is Tuesday, July 14th, morning, with 3ft of 17-second WNW groundswell and a light offshore wind. That’s the one to aim for if you want a clean, classic reef-break session. Other than that, it’s mostly small and marginal. Not the best 16 days for this spot, but forecasts change.

Rusty.

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