Hulihee Palace Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Been staring at the charts for this stretch, and honestly, it’s gonna take a bit of patience. The next week to ten days are looking pretty lackluster, with a whole lot of small, wind-affected slop. But don't bail just yet, because there's a pulse of energy showing up later in the window that could be worth the wait.

The standout days are going to be the 24th and 25th of August. We’ve got a new swell filling in from the south, building some moderate wave energy (501 on the 25th) and a period that stretches into the 16-second range on Monday. That long-period groundswell is a good sign, though at a place like Hulihee Palace, a reef setup, that long period should actually be ideal and not close out like it could at a beach break.

Now, about the conditions along the way. The wind is mostly light, but it’s almost always cross-shore or cross-on, which is going to keep things a little lumpy. The swell direction is also mostly from the south, but the size is just too small early on to make much of it.

Let’s break it down day by day.

This Saturday morning, the 15th, it’s tiny. We're looking at 3ft of south swell with a 13-second period. The energy is weak, just 309, and the light rain and cross-shore wind will make it feel even messier. It’s a pass, not worth paddling out. Saturday afternoon sees a touch more size, 4ft, and the energy jumps into the moderate range (517). The wind is light and cross-offshore, so it might clean up a bit, but it’s still small and marginal. The water temp is 82°, which is about average for this time of year.

Sunday the 16th is worse. The swell drops to 3ft, and the wind clocks around to the northwest, making it cross-on and choppy. With a risk of thunderstorms in the afternoon, you're better off doing something else.

The start of the week stays quiet. Monday and Tuesday the 17th and 18th are small and pretty much cross-on. The swell period drops to 13 seconds, and the energy is still weak. It’s just a flat, bumpy mess.

From the 19th through the 23rd, we're in a real lull. The swell drops to 1-2ft. The period gets long, up to 18 seconds, but with no size and a lot of onshore or cross-onshore wind, it’s basically flat. This is about as blank as it gets for a spot that's usually pretty consistent.

Now, here's where things start to change. On Monday the 24th, there's a glimmer. The morning is still small, but the afternoon flips to glassy with a light south-southwest swell at 2ft and a 17-second period. The wave energy is starting to pick up (323). That glassy condition with the long period is a beautiful combination, but the size is still a factor. It's worth a look if you're desperate, but it's the calm before the storm.

Tuesday the 25th is the day. The south-southwest swell is up to 3ft, and the energy is building into the strong range (582 by the afternoon). The wind is light, though the conditions are still called marginal. The key here is that the direction is matching the optimum for this spot, and the period is a solid 15-16 seconds. This is the best bet for a proper surf.

Wednesday the 26th sees a bit more size, hitting 3ft in the afternoon, with the energy really cranking up to 834. There’s a risk of thunderstorms, but the wind is super light. It’s going to be bigger and more powerful, but still under the 5ft mark, so it’s manageable for intermediate surfers. Just keep an eye on the sky.

After that little surge, it fades again. The 27th to the 30th is back to small and onshore, with the swell dropping and the energy leveling off. There might be a few fun ones on the 27th when the wind goes light and cross, but it’s inconsistent.

So, bottom line. If you want to get wet, hold out for the 25th and 26th of August. The surf won't be huge, but that combination of clean, light wind and a long-period south swell at Hulihee Palace is the clear winner. It’s promising, but we’re far enough out that I wouldn’t set my watch by it. Keep your fingers crossed. This is Rusty, signing off.

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