Surf Forecasts:
Kawaihae Breakwater surf forecast from 11 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 19s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 15 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, W swell with 314 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 10 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 14s period with W 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 Friday (Jul 10) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 20s. 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 0.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 11) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 1ft (0.3m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Tue 14th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 19s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kawaihae Breakwater over the next 16 days.
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next two weeks at Kawaihae Breakwater (Big Island). It’s a tale of two halves – a little window of clean fun, then a whole lot of nothing.
Right now, the water is 80°F, which is a touch warmer than average for this time of year, so that’s a nice bonus.
Starting off Friday afternoon, July 10th, we’ve got tiny 1-foot waves from the west, but the energy is weak, only 74. The wind is a moderate offshore from the northeast at 15 mph, so it’s clean, but it’s small and ordinary. Saturday the 11th is a similar story, with 1-foot waves and a gentle offshore breeze in the morning. The afternoon brings a longer period, 18-second groundswell from the southwest, bumping the energy up to 143, but it’s still not big.
The real highlight is from Tuesday, July 14th through Thursday, July 16th. Tuesday morning, the swell jumps to 2 feet from the west, with a very long 19-second period and a combined energy of 298. That’s a proper groundswell, and with a light offshore wind from the northeast, it’s going to be clean. Wednesday the 15th is even better, with the energy at 354 and a glassy afternoon – dead calm, zero wind. The swell is holding at 2 to 3 feet from the west. Thursday the 16th is also glassy in the morning with no wind, swell still around 2 to 3 feet, and energy at 301. This is the best run of the whole forecast.
After that, it fades fast. By Friday the 17th, the swell drops to 2 feet, and by Saturday the 18th it’s back to 2 feet. Then it gets ugly. From Sunday, July 19th, right through to Thursday, July 23rd, the forecast is poor. Wave heights are 1 foot or less, and the energy drops to single digits. That’s a solid week of flat or near-flat conditions.
There’s a tiny glimmer of hope on Thursday, July 24th, with a 1-foot swell from the southwest (energy 79), and then Friday, July 25th shows a similar 1-foot swell from the south-southwest with a bit more energy (110), but it’s still very small and uncertain.
If you want to paddle out, your best bet is Tuesday the 14th through Thursday the 16th. The waves aren’t huge, but the long period and glassy winds will make it the cleanest and most fun you’ll see. The rest of the time, it’s a wait-and-see.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Fri afternoon, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Warm (max 27°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fri 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 14 | W 13 | W 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | W 18 | W 19 | W 16 | W 17 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 37 | 29 | 61 | 79 | 77 | 66 | 64 | 62 | 57 | 54 | 162 | 251 | 198 | 273 | 310 | 302 | 291 | 275 | 272 | 206 | 203 |
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 | cross-off | glassy | off | glassy | off | off | off |
High Tide | 00:46AM0.21m | 2:20PM0.83m | 1:57AM0.20m | 3:08PM0.87m | 2:58AM0.21m | 3:55PM0.89m | 3:53AM0.23m | 4:39PM0.88m | 4:46AM0.27m | 5:20PM0.84m | 5:38AM0.30m | 6:00PM0.78m | 6:33AM0.35m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:02PM0.12m | 6:31AM-0.08m | 9:51PM0.07m | 7:27AM-0.10m | 10:33PM0.03m | 8:21AM-0.11m | 11:13PM0.01m | 9:14AM-0.10m | 11:51PM-0.00m | 10:05AM-0.07m | 00:27AM-0.01m | 10:55AM-0.02m | 1:02AM-0.00m | 11:47AM0.06m | |||||||
 |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 |
 | 7:06 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:05 | — | 7:05 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 |
Feels °C | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 14 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | SW 16 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | NNE 7 | W 14 | NNE 7 |
| kJ | 37 | 60 | 83 | 110 | 61 | 101 | 64 | 83 | 111 | 75 | 59 | 84 | 86 | 61 | 310 | 302 | 291 | 275 | 84 | 206 | 81 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | W 13 | W 14 | W 14 | SW 17 | SW 16 | W 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | W 18 | W 19 | W 16 | W 17 | NNE 7 | SW 14 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | W 15 | NNE 7 | W 14 |
| kJ | 14 | 29 | 61 | 64 | 77 | 66 | 28 | 62 | 57 | 54 | 162 | 251 | 198 | 273 | 43 | 50 | 89 | 66 | 272 | 56 | 203 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 17 | W 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 13 | W 13 | S 10 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 18 | SW 16 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 23 | 19 | 51 | 79 | 55 | 30 | 2 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 51 | 47 | 46 | 44 | 44 | 31 | 64 | 26 | 42 | 53 | 25 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 7 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 77 | — | — | — | — | — | 138 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 77 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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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