Kahului Harbor Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. The next sixteen days are a bit of a mixed bag for the harbor, but there’s one day that should get the heart pumping.

To kick things off, we’re looking at a spot that’s got some real grunt to it. Kahului Harbor is an exposed reef break that takes a north-northeast swell, and it’s not messing around. The water’s sitting at a warm 80°, which is right on the money for this time of year, feels normal, no surprises there. The wave energy is weak, coming in at just 1286 on the 16th, but that’s the calm before the storm, so to speak.

Starting off on the 16th, we’ve got chest-high waves around 8ft with an easterly direction and a short, punchy 8-second period. It’s a bit stormy with a risk of thunderstorms, and the wind is a cross-off breeze from the southeast at 9 mph. The wave energy is moderate at 1286. It’s not perfect, but it’s clean enough for the experienced crew to have some fun.

Then the wheels come off for a solid stretch. From the 17th all the way through the 26th, it’s a whole lotta nothing. The winds turn onshore or cross-shore, the swell drops, and the energy just fades away. You're looking at wave heights dropping to 5ft and below, with periods of 7 to 8 seconds. The energy is weak, dipping into the low hundreds, and it's mostly cross-onshore breezes, which make the harbor face a bit of a mess. We're talking over a week of groveling and chop. It’s a real dry spell. If you’re a kiter, this might actually look more appealing with the onshore winds and a bit of chop, but for paddle surfing, it's a washout.

Now, let’s talk about the standout. It’s the one you've been waiting for. On the 28th of August, things go off. We’ve got a solid 10ft of east-northeast swell pushing in with a long, powerful 10-second period, and the energy is through the roof at 1676 for the morning session. The wind is a light cross-off from the east-northeast at 9 mph, which will keep things reasonably clean, and the morning is looking clear. The forecast even says the wind and tide are favorable. But, and this is a massive but, 10ft is a serious amount of water on a reef. This is not a day for the faint of heart. This is expert-only territory. The afternoon builds even more, with the energy jumping to 2574 and a longer 12-second period. This is big, powerful stuff. This is the day to watch if you’ve got the nuts for it.

The days after that, the 29th through the 31st, the swell eases off but it’s still solid, with waves coming in around 7ft to 8ft. The wind, however, turns more cross-onshore, making it a bit lumpy. It’s still got power – energy readings are over 1000 – but the conditions won’t be as crisp as that Friday. It'll be a step down in quality.

So, mark your calendars for the 28th. That’s your window. It’s going to be big, mean, and only for the experienced. The rest of the time, maybe give the board a rest or find a kiter to borrow gear from. This is the reality of the harbor – when it fires, it fires, but it can also be flat and messy for a while.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

Read more