Surf Forecasts:
James Kealoha Beach Park surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period, E swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 10s period, E swell with 910 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period with NNE 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at James Kealoha Beach Park in the next 16 days are 2.2m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) 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 0.2m 15s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 8AM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 10s |
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 on the menu for the next couple of weeks.
We're looking at a pretty quiet start with only small, ordinary waves on offer. The water temperature is sitting at 81°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there. The first real chance of anything decent is a few days out.
The standout in this forecast is Monday, the 24th of August. We've got a solid 6 ft of swell rolling in from the East, with a clean cross-offshore breeze from the SE. The wave energy is moderate, sitting around 450 (combined energy of all swells directed here). This is easily the best bet for the week, with consistent, clean conditions expected all day. The break is James Kealoha Beach Park, a reef setup that's beginner-friendly, but that 6 ft will be a fun step up for the learner crew.
Tuesday, the 25th, is a step down with 5 ft to 5 ft, and the wind shifts to a cross-shore, making things a bit choppy. Not terrible, but not the gem of Monday.
Looking further out, the end of August and start of September is a mixed bag. You'll see some bigger numbers, with swell heights climbing to 7 ft and even 8 ft by the 31st of August and 1st of September. The combined energy spikes into the strong category (over 1400), but the wind is mostly onshore and gusty, which will trash the surface. This is expert territory in size, but with the wind on it, honestly, it's looking more interesting for the kite surfers than for paddle surfing. The long period (15 seconds) in late August will also make waves break a bit straighter at this reef break, so it's not the best match.
The final few days of the forecast, the 3rd and 4th of September, show a drop back to smaller, cleaner surf with a cross-offshore breeze, but the size is back down to 3 ft to 5 ft.
So, the clear call is Monday, the 24th of August. That's your window. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or too big. Stay salty!
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 27°C on Fri morning, min 25°C on Thu afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 93mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 26°C on Sun morning, min 24°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 68 | 83 | 56 | 55 | 92 | 137 | 338 | 284 | 528 | 910 | 813 | 509 | 450 | 438 | 428 | 334 | 280 | 201 | 138 | 114 | 158 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:44AM0.63m | 11:57AM0.68m | 9:40PM0.31m | 12:45PM0.72m | 11:41PM0.34m | 1:21PM0.77m | 00:34AM0.39m | 1:51PM0.81m | 1:14AM0.44m | 2:18PM0.84m | 1:51AM0.50m | 2:43PM0.86m | 2:27AM0.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:11AM0.13m | 8:36PM0.31m | 8:07PM0.28m | 5:43AM0.08m | 8:15PM0.25m | 6:32AM0.04m | 8:30PM0.22m | 7:12AM0.00m | 8:48PM0.19m | 7:48AM-0.02m | 9:09PM0.15m | ||||||||||
 | |  |  | |  |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — |
 | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:44 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:42 | — | — | 6:40 | — | — | 6:40 | — | — | 6:39 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 25 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 1 | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 29 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 |
| kJ | 68 | 83 | 56 | 55 | 92 | 137 | 338 | 284 | 528 | 910 | 813 | 509 | 450 | 438 | 428 | 334 | 280 | 201 | 138 | 114 | 158 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | S 15 | S 15 | NE 7 | S 13 | S 13 | SSE 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 59 | 35 | 31 | 25 | 36 | 52 | 17 | 17 | 65 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 22 | 33 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | E 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | S 12 | S 12 | SSE 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSE 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 20 | S 20 | S 20 | S 18 |
| kJ | 21 | 20 | 28 | 20 | 15 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 50 | 48 | 71 | 62 | 59 | 49 | 50 | 28 | 8 | 8 | 30 | 25 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | NE 7 | — | NE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 52 | — | 63 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 92 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 89 | 89 | 89 | 92 | 89 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 177 | 99 | 101 | 177 | 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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