Surf Forecasts:
Kawaihae Breakwater surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 16s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 17s period, SW swell with 73 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 16s 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kawaihae Breakwater in the next 16 days are 0.4m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kawaihae Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let's break down the Kawaihae Breakwater outlook for the next 16 days. It's a pretty quiet stretch, with a lot of small, barely rideable swell. The water temp is about average for the season, nothing special.
The first real shot at anything comes on Thursday, August 20th. We're looking at a tiny 1 ft swell from the SW, with a very long period of 18 seconds. That's a true groundswell, but the energy is weak, at 87. The wind is light and cross-off, so it'll be clean, but you'll be fighting for a ripple.
Friday, August 21st, is the best of the bunch. Still small, with a 1 ft swell from the SW, period dropping to 16 seconds. The key here is the wind: dead glassy, calm conditions in the morning. The combined energy is a moderate 118. For a longboard, the glassy surface and that long period making the reef work might give you a few little rides. It's a reef, so the long period helps it wrap, but it's not going to be powerful.
Saturday, August 22nd, holds similar size with a 2 ft W swell in the morning, period dropping to 10 seconds, with a clean offshore wind. The afternoon energy is moderate at 116. It's ridable, but that's about it.
Then things go south. From Sunday, August 23rd, the wind kicks up hard. A near-gale offshore makes it impossible to paddle. The rest of the week is a mix of tiny, 0.7 ft swells and light winds, but the energy is gone. The breakwater is inconsistent at the best of times, and this is a flat spell.
The last chance to see anything is on the 30th and 31st of August. The 30th shows a 1 ft WNW swell, 14-second period, with a clean offshore breeze. The energy is a weak 67, but it's clean. The 31st has a similar 1 ft WNW swell, 13-second period, and a glassy afternoon. It's small, but it's clean. After that, it's back to flat conditions into the first week of September.
So, the standout is Friday, August 21st. It's the only day with true glassy conditions and a little bit of energy from a SW groundswell. It's not for everyone, and you'll need a log, but it's the cleanest window we have. The rest of the time is a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Wed morning, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 28°C on Sat morning, min 25°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the ENE on Sun night, calm by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 10 | SW 16 | SW 15 | WNW 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 11 | NW 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 33 | 48 | 28 | 41 | 49 | 47 | 69 | 69 | 65 | 64 | 54 | 63 | 60 | 69 | 43 | 32 | 19 | 11 | 5 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:44AM0.55m | 7:33PM0.25m | 10:59AM0.57m | 12:08PM0.59m | 11:45PM0.18m | 1:04PM0.62m | 1:02AM0.20m | 1:49PM0.66m | 1:48AM0.23m | 2:26PM0.69m | 2:25AM0.28m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:51AM0.05m | 5:41PM0.25m | 2:31AM0.07m | 3:32AM0.09m | 8:34PM0.15m | 8:53PM0.12m | 6:05AM0.06m | 9:13PM0.10m | 7:02AM0.04m | 9:33PM0.09m | |||||||||
 |  | | |  | |  | |  |  | | | | |  |  |  | | | |
 | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — |
 | 6:50 | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 30 | 31 | 32 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 26 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 31 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 6 |
| kJ | 8 | 8 | 11 | 22 | 16 | 19 | 31 | 31 | 54 | 44 | 46 | 75 | 60 | 69 | 43 | 62 | 64 | 105 | 62 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | WNW 10 | W 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 33 | 48 | 28 | 25 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 37 | 53 | 57 | 54 | 53 | 30 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 19 | 35 | 32 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | ENE 8 | SSW 16 | WNW 9 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | NW 11 |
| kJ | 5 | 5 | 8 | 41 | 49 | 47 | 69 | 69 | 65 | 64 | 37 | 63 | 58 | 6 | 24 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 46 | 57 | 63 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 49 | 86 | 49 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 46 | 50 | 46 |
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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