Kahului Harbor Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about what’s brewing for the next couple of weeks, just looking at the one spot we’ve got the scoop on. It’s a bit of a tough go for the lineup. We’re talking about Kahului Harbor (Maui). It’s a consistent spot, an advanced reef break, but the wind and swell direction just aren't playing ball.

The whole outlook is a grind, starting from Wednesday, July 8th, through the end of the run. The swell is hanging around 5 to 6 feet, coming from the ENE, which is almost the wrong way from the break’s optimum direction (NNE). That’s a key problem. The wind is a constant headache—a moderate breeze out of the ENE, mostly cross or cross-onshore, keeping the surface chopped up and messy. We’re getting moderate wave energy, in the 300 to 440 range, which isn’t bad, but it’s all being wasted by the dirty conditions. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

There’s no standout session in the first week. The energy is there, but the quality is consistently poor. The period is short, around 7 to 8 seconds, meaning weak, crumbly waves. This is a beach and reef setup, and with the strong cross-winds and poor surf quality, honestly, it looks more interesting for the kite surfers than paddle surfers during this whole stretch.

There’s a tiny flicker of hope on the morning of Wednesday, July 15th, where the swell drops to about 4 feet and the wind eases to a gentle breeze, but it’s only marginal and the energy is way down. Not worth paddling out for.

Further out, on Wednesday, July 22nd, we finally see a change. The swell drops to about 3 feet, but the period jumps to a very long 14 seconds. That’s groundswell energy, and the combined energy is a solid 427. This is the one to watch. The wind is still a gentle cross-shore, which will keep it a bit bumpy, but a long-period groundswell like that on a reef? It could get good. The swell is from the E, which is a bit better. The water will still be average temp. This is the only hint of a decent session in the whole window, but it’s more than a week away, so treat it as promising but uncertain. The crowds are listed as “sometimes” here, and for a long-period groundswell on a reef break, you might find a few others with the same idea, but it won’t be a circus.

Keep your expectations low for the next ten days or so. The first real glimmer is that Wednesday, July 22nd morning. Keep an eye on it.

Rusty

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