Ka'anapali Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The next 16 days are looking pretty flat for the most part, with a few small windows of surfable waves. The real action is a week and a half away, so keep your board waxed and your expectations in check till then.

Ka’anapali Point (Maui) is our only spot here, and it’s a consistent reef break that’s good for beginners. Right now, it’s a quiet story. The water temperature is sitting at 81°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first few days—Wednesday the 26th through Sunday the 30th of August—are mostly tiny. We’re talking ankle-snappers at best, with swell heights under 0.5 ft and weak energy readings (9 to 90). The wind is a steady cross-off from the ENE, so the surface looks clean, but there’s just no push. It’s a lull.

Then we hit Monday the 31st of August. The morning brings a bit of a pulse: 5 ft of short-period NE swell (7 seconds) and moderate energy (347). The wind is still cross-off from the NE at 15 mph, so the waves will be clean, but that short period means they’ll be a bit choppy and weak. Tuesday the 1st of September morning is similar: 5 ft, 8 seconds, moderate energy (352). The score is marginal because of the short period, but if you’re keen, you’ll find something to ride. Nothing to write home about though.

After that, it drops off again. From Tuesday afternoon through Saturday the 5th of September, it’s back to tiny surf, with most readings under 1 ft and energy levels below 100. Rarely any swell at all.

The standout window arrives on Sunday the 6th of September. The morning shows 4 ft of NE swell, 8-second period, and moderate energy (386). The wind is light from the ENE at 6 mph, cross-off, which is about as good as it gets for clean conditions. This is the best run of the forecast. Monday the 7th of September carries that same theme: 4 ft, 8 seconds, NE swell, with light ENE winds. The energy stays around 283–296. It’s not a big swell, but it’s consistent, clean, and the break is fairly exposed to this direction. The optimum swell direction for Ka’anapali Point is NW, so this NE swell is a little off-angle, but still workable, especially for a beginner-friendly reef. The longer gaps between sets from the short period will make paddling out easier.

From Tuesday the 8th of September onward, it fades again. The swell drops under 4 ft, and the wind picks up to 12–18 mph, making it less appealing. The last few days of the forecast are mostly flat.

So, to sum it up: the best bet is the morning of Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th of September at Ka’anapali Point. The light wind and clean cross-off conditions will give you the smoothest surfaces for the modest 4 ft NE swell. It’s not a standout for power, but it’s the only real window of decent surf in the whole 16 days. Keep an eye on it, but don’t book your flights just yet.

Rusty.

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