Kahului Harbor Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. The outlook for the next 16 days at Kahului Harbor is a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a lot of swell energy coming through, but for most of the window, the winds are just not playing nice, keeping things choppy and messy. The water temp is sitting at 80°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first stretch from Tuesday, August 11, right through to Sunday, August 16, is pretty much a write-off for a decent paddle. We’ve got swell heights ranging from 4 ft to 8 ft, but the wind is almost always cross or cross-onshore, between 9 mph and 31 mph. The energy builds from moderate (203) all the way up to strong (1401) by Sunday afternoon, but it’s all lumpy, choppy, and messy. The swell is short-period (7 to 11 seconds), which doesn’t help. Honestly, for a reef break, this setup is looking more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Now, hold on to your board, because Monday, August 17, is the one true standout. The early morning delivers a clean, glassy window with a gentle cross-offshore breeze (ESE at 9 mph). The swell is a solid 10 ft, but it’s a long-period groundswell (11 seconds) from the NE, which is a good direction for this spot. The combined energy is massive at 2305, but the file warns that this swell is predicted to be too big for this break. This is only for experts – if you’re a beginner, stay on the sand. The afternoon holds similar size (10 ft) but the wind goes cross-shore, so the morning is the moment.

After that little spike, it drops right off. From Tuesday, August 18, through to the end of the forecast on Wednesday, August 26, we’re back to poor surf conditions. Swell heights bounce between 2 ft and 6 ft, but with short periods (5 to 8 seconds) and cross or cross-onshore winds mostly in the 9 to 12 mph range, the energy is weak to moderate (as low as 79, up to 416). It’s just not worth suiting up for a paddle. There’s a gap of about 8 days with no real recommendations, and that’s pretty normal for this area when the trades don’t line up.

So, the call is simple: if you’re an expert and you’re brave, set your alarm for Monday, August 17, early. For the rest of us, let the next few days pass and watch the charts.

Rusty, signing off.

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