Surf Forecasts:
James Kealoha Beach Park surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period, ENE swell with 497 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for James Kealoha Beach Park this week:
The surf forecast for James Kealoha Beach Park over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at James Kealoha Beach Park in the next 16 days are 1.9m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.1m 14s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sat 18th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for James Kealoha Beach Park over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for James Kealoha Beach Park (Hawaii) over the next sixteen days.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: this is a tough stretch. For the first week and a half, it’s pretty much a write-off. We’ve got a long, dry spell on our hands. From Saturday the 18th right through to the morning of Saturday the 25th, the surf is just not cooperating. The wind is constantly cross-onshore, the swell is small and wonky, and the energy is weak – barely cracking 100 to 300 in the combined energy readings. The waves are lumpy, choppy, and just plain messy. It’s one of those stretches where you’re better off leaving the board in the car and just watching the horizon. The wind is a constant problem, and the swell direction (ENE to E) is just not working with the break’s optimum NE direction.
Then, finally, a glimmer. On Sunday the 26th, things change. The morning brings a bit of magic. The wind drops to glassy – absolutely glassy – and the swell picks up to a solid 6 ft. The energy jumps to a massive 2081 (very strong wave energy). That’s the kind of number that gets your attention. The swell period is a very long 16 seconds, which is proper groundswell. This is definitely one for experienced surfers only—6 ft at that period is no joke. It’s a reef break, so that long-period energy will wrap in nicely, but it’ll be powerful. That Sunday morning is the standout. It’s the only time in the whole 16-day window that gets a score above a 2. Get it while it’s good.
The rest of the week after that cools off. The wind swings back cross-onshore, and the energy drops back down. By Wednesday the 29th, we’re back to marginal surf. The very end of the run, on Friday the 31st of July and Saturday the 1st of August, does see the wind clock around to a light cross-offshore direction, which cleans things up a bit. The swell is only 4 ft to 4 ft with a short period of 7 seconds, so it’s ordinary but at least ridable. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing wild there.
In short: if you’re an experienced surfer, mark your calendar for the morning of July 26th. That’s the one. The rest is a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 26°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 26°C on Tue afternoon, min 24°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 12 | E 7 | E 13 | E 12 | ENE 11 | ENE 7 | E 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 259 | 497 | 450 | 298 | 224 | 182 | 142 | 111 | 86 | 61 | 80 | 131 | 95 | 78 | 398 | 396 | 161 | 187 | 240 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 6:10AM0.48m | 6:18PM0.74m | 7:17AM0.50m | 6:46PM0.64m | 8:37AM0.52m | 7:11PM0.55m | 10:07AM0.57m | 7:32PM0.47m | 11:28AM0.63m | 7:34PM0.40m | 12:26PM0.69m | 9:37PM0.34m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:31AM0.09m | 11:41AM0.12m | 1:08AM0.08m | 12:34PM0.25m | 1:46AM0.07m | 1:45PM0.35m | 2:27AM0.07m | 3:45PM0.42m | 3:14AM0.07m | 7:14PM0.40m | 4:08AM0.06m | 8:21PM0.34m | |||||||
 |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |
 | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — |
 | 7:00 | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — |
mm | 6 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
Feels °C | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 13 | E 12 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 |
| kJ | 259 | 497 | 450 | 298 | 224 | 182 | 142 | 111 | 86 | 61 | 80 | 78 | 93 | 76 | 398 | 396 | 119 | 187 | 168 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 6 | S 14 | S 16 | N 7 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 |
| kJ | 24 | 4 | 5 | 34 | 33 | 31 | 51 | 50 | 44 | 59 | 47 | 32 | 56 | 36 | 31 | 31 | 161 | 93 | 65 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | S 22 | S 16 | S 19 | S 19 | S 18 | S 16 | S 16 | NNE 7 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 12 | E 10 | S 13 | SSE 15 | NNE 7 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 |
| kJ | 31 | 9 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 25 | 21 | 20 | 36 | 25 | 39 | 63 | 95 | 78 | 13 | 21 | 5 | 20 | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | E 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | 131 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 240 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 89 | 89 | 106 | 177 | 177 | 8 | 175 | 2 | 2 | 175 | 177 | 0 | 177 | 179 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Big Island | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the James Kealoha Beach Park Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for James Kealoha Beach Park provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at James Kealoha Beach Park can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our James Kealoha Beach Park surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (James Kealoha Beach Park) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for James Kealoha Beach Park may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
James Kealoha Beach Park is 7 km (4 miles) from Hilo. If you plan a vacation in Big Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Hilo. Hilo has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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