Kahuku Ranch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s happening for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the first week is a tough one. We’ve got a long stretch of very small, weak swell and constant cross-offshore winds that make it hard to get excited. The early days, from Thursday the 6th through to Sunday the 10th, are basically a write-off. Swell is tiny, around 1.0ft to 3ft, and the energy is weak (113 to 371). The wind is a consistent cross-off from the east, which is okay for keeping the surface clean, but there’s just no power in the water. It’s one of those periods where you’re better off doing something else.

Things start to pick up a little from Monday the 11th onwards. The swell ticks up, and by mid-week, Wednesday the 12th, we’re seeing some real energy with a combined swell energy reading of 1039. The wave height pushes to 4ft, but the wind is still a firm cross-offshore at 30 km/h, so it’s not going to be pristine. Still, for a reef break like Kahuku Ranch (Big Island), that south-southwest groundswell with a period of 17–18 seconds is going to have some push. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The best looking window in this whole 16-day run shapes up for the morning of Tuesday the 18th. The swell settles back a bit to 2ft, but the wind drops right off to a gentle breeze of 15 km/h, and the combined swell energy is still a solid 329. The swell direction comes from the south, which is the optimum direction for this spot. It’s not a big day, but it’ll be clean, and a reef break like this with a fairly consistent record can offer some fun lines. The only catch is that crowds are possible here, so you might have some company.

Further out, the morning of Friday the 21st is worth a mention. The wind goes glassy, the swell holds at 3ft from the south, and the energy is still moderate (245). It’s a long way out, so don’t lock it in, but it’s a promising sign.

Overall, it’s a slow start, but the second week offers a few windows of clean, rideable surf. The standout is Tuesday the 18th morning – small but clean, and that’s the best we’ve got.

Rusty.

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