Kahului Harbor Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here with a look at what’s on the cards for our local waters. Honestly, it’s a pretty quiet stretch ahead, so we’re going to have to be patient.

The forecast starts with us on the back foot. For the first week and a half, there’s nothing really worth paddling out for. The whole setup is dominated by a persistent ENE wind flow that keeps things messy and cross-onshore, with the swell energy fluctuating between weak and moderate at best. The water temp is sitting at 80°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real standout doesn’t show up until the end of the run. On Thursday, 27 August and Friday, 28 August, things get interesting. We’ve got a long-period groundswell creeping in from the east, with a period hitting 16 to 17 seconds. That’s serious energy, with combined swell energy jumping to 1279 (strong) and 1065 (strong) respectively. The wave height is only around 4 ft, but that long period means those waves will have some real punch and shape. The wind is light and cross or cross-on, so it’s not glassy, but it’s manageable. This is a classic setup for a reef like Kahului Harbor (Maui) – that long period tends to wrap in nicely and offer up some lined-up walls. Just keep in mind, with a long period swell like this, the sets will be spaced out, so paddling out won’t be as hectic. The swell direction is out of the east, which is a good match for the exposed reef there.

The best window is probably Friday morning, 28 August, with light cross-shore winds and a solid 4 ft, 16-second swell. It’s not a massive day, but given the long flat spell we’ve had, this is the one to aim for. The best on offer is definitely that Friday morning session, but don’t expect perfection—tides might be a little tricky, so pick your timing.

Beyond that, we trickle back into smaller, weaker swell and onshore winds, so it’s a short-lived window. If you’re keen, pencil in that last week of August.

Rusty.

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