Hulihee Palace Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty comin’ at ya straight from the beach. Let’s break down what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

First up, we got Hulihee Palace (Big Island). It’s a reliable little reef setup, very consistent, and it loves a solid SSW swell – which is exactly what's coming. The water temp feels about average for this time of year, so nothing weird going on there.

Right now, we’re kicking off Sunday, July 5th, with a long-period groundswell from the SSW, rolling in at around 3 ft. The period is a juicy 18 seconds – that’s proper long-period energy, so you’ll get those deep, lined-up waves that are perfect for a reef like this. The combined energy is moderate (639), but the wind is a light cross-on, so there’s a bit of texture on the face. It’s not glassy, but it’s totally rideable for an intermediate. Good news is crowds are only *sometimes* an issue here, so you might get a bit of room.

Monday keeps that same vibe going – 3 ft SSW swell with a 16-second period, moderate energy (532). Still a light onshore breeze, nothing too nasty. It’s clean enough to have fun.

Tuesday the swell stays around 3 ft but the period drops to 14 seconds. Still decent shape, but the wind gets a bit more crossy, especially in the afternoon. It’s marginal – you can get waves, but you gotta work for ‘em.

Wednesday and Thursday we see the swell start to fade fast, dropping to 2 ft and then 2 ft by Friday. The energy dips into the weak zone (277 down to 138). Honestly, from Wednesday the 8th through to Friday the 10th, it’s looking poor – tiny, weak waves and onshore wind. A real flat spell. If you're desperate, you could paddle out, but don’t expect much.

Then we get a little glimmer. Saturday, July 11th – look at that afternoon session. The wind goes completely glassy (0 mph), and the swell bumps back up to a 2 ft SSW swell, but with that long period again: 18 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (349) and the conditions are described as glassy. This is the standout of the whole forecast. The waves will be clean, smooth, and lined up. For a reef break, that’s as good as it gets with this size.

Sunday the 12th through to Tuesday the 14th sees a bit more size, 2 ft to 3 ft, shifting more towards a SW/W direction. Winds are light but cross-on or onshore, so it’s not as perfect as that Saturday afternoon. The energy picks up a little (up to 638), but the quality is just “marginal”.

From Wednesday the 15th onwards, the swell gets a bit bigger, peaking around 3 ft from the WNW with moderate energy (670), but the wind stays mostly onshore or cross-on. The combo of a W/NW swell and an onshore wind isn’t doing this spot any favors. It’s not terrible, but it’s not special either. The period drops off into the 14-16 second range, so you lose that long-period magic.

From the 17th to the 20th of July, we’re back into the doldrums. Swell drops to 2 ft, energy falls below 300, and the winds are mostly cross-on or onshore. It’s a real flat run to finish the outlook. Nothing worth getting excited about.

So, if you’re planning a session, your best bet is Saturday, July 11th, in the afternoon. That glassy, long-period SSW swell is the one to aim for. The rest of the window is pretty average, with a lot of small, onshore days. Keep an eye on it, but don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

Read more