Surf Forecasts:
Kawaihae Breakwater surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 15s period, SW swell with 58 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 15s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Kawaihae Breakwater this week:
The surf forecast for Kawaihae Breakwater over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kawaihae Breakwater in the next 16 days are 0.4m 15s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 8s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kawaihae Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's check the horizon for the next couple of weeks.
To be honest, we're looking at a pretty flat stretch coming up. There's hardly any energy in the water to get excited about. The water temp is around 82°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least a paddle won't be a shock to the system.
We've got a long dry spell with no real swell to ride. The first little pulse shows up on Friday, August 28th, but it's only a 0.7ft SSW swell with a 13-second period. The wind is offshore though, which is nice, but the energy is weak. It's just not enough to bother with. This pattern of tiny, poor conditions carries right on through the whole first week and into the start of September. Days of nothing but ankle-biters.
The energy does try to creep up a little around September 10th. By Thursday afternoon, the combined swell energy hits 101, which is the first time we see a real number, but the swell height is still only 1ft from the WNW. The wind is a bit messy, blowing cross-onshore, so the quality is still poor.
If there's one tiny glimmer, it's on Friday, September 11th. The morning session at Kawaihae Breakwater has 1ft of WNW groundswell with a 14-second period, and it’s absolutely glassy calm with no wind. That long period will give the waves some shape, and that glassy surface is as good as it gets. But let’s be real, at 2ft in the afternoon, it's surfable but very ordinary. It’s the best we’ve got, but it’s not much to write home about.
Honestly, for the next two weeks, don't expect much. The ocean is taking a nap. Keep the board in the car just in case, but I wouldn't be holding my breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 24°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | W 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | W 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 58 | 33 | 20 | 20 | 31 | 31 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy |
High Tide | 3:56PM0.71m | 4:12AM0.43m | 4:24PM0.68m | 4:50AM0.48m | 4:52PM0.63m | 5:31AM0.53m | 5:21PM0.56m | 6:15AM0.57m | 5:51PM0.48m | 7:06AM0.60m | 6:23PM0.39m | 8:06AM0.61m | 6:59PM0.30m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:35PM0.03m | 9:51AM0.02m | 10:57PM0.01m | 10:34AM0.05m | 11:20PM-0.01m | 11:21AM0.09m | 11:45PM-0.02m | 12:16PM0.14m | 00:12AM-0.02m | 1:23PM0.19m | 00:44AM-0.01m | 2:57PM0.22m | 1:24AM0.00m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | 6:43 | — | — | 6:42 | — | — | 6:40 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:38 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 29 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 32 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | SSW 15 | NNE 5 | SSW 13 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 7 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 28 | 42 | 17 | 18 | 32 | 32 | 51 | 27 | 69 | 61 | 42 | 91 | 123 | 72 | 62 | 136 | 91 | 84 | 107 | 42 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | N 7 | NNE 7 | N 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | ENE 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | NE 8 | NE 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | W 10 |
| kJ | 44 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 34 | 16 | 15 | 5 | 25 | 22 | 58 | 33 | 20 | 41 | 35 | 31 | 51 | 51 | 45 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | W 9 | SSW 14 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | W 12 | S 12 | SSW 10 | SSW 8 | W 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 5 | 2 | 39 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 28 | 27 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 20 | 31 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 5 | — | NE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 8 |
| kJ | — | 17 | — | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 103 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 88 | 46 | 88 | 66 | 49 | 88 | 49 | 50 | 88 | 35 | 0 | 88 | 35 | 35 | 91 | 88 | 35 | 88 | 50 | 50 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Big Island | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Kawaihae Breakwater Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Kawaihae Breakwater provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Kawaihae Breakwater can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Kawaihae Breakwater surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Kawaihae Breakwater) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Kawaihae Breakwater may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Kawaihae Breakwater is 87 km (54 miles) from Hilo. If you plan a vacation in Big Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Hilo. Hilo has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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