Kawaihae Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s shaping up.

Alright, so right off the bat, we’ve got a small window of surfable waves, but honestly, it’s a bit of a tease. The forecast is built around one spot: Kawaihae Breakwater (Big Island). The water temp is sitting at 80°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.

The first real action kicks off on Tuesday, 14 July. It’s not going to be big, but it’s clean. We’re looking at a 2-foot to 2-foot west swell, with a period around 16-19 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, which means it’ll have some decent push for its size, and the breaks will be more defined. The wind is light, going glassy in the afternoon, so the surface will be clean. The combined energy is moderate (298 to 313). This is the standout of the whole outlook. It’s not a big day, but it’s the best quality we’re going to see.

Wednesday, 15 July and Thursday, 16 July are more of the same, with a steady 3-foot west swell, still that long-period energy (15-16 seconds), and glassy or light offshore winds. The combined energy is still in the moderate range (300-353). The break is a reef, and the swell is coming from the optimum direction (W), so it should line up nicely. It’s fairly consistent, but crowds are possible here, so don’t expect it to be empty.

By Friday, 17 July and Saturday, 18 July, the swell starts to taper off. We’re down to 2-foot to 2-foot, and the period drops to 13-14 seconds. The energy is fading (100 to 228). It’s still cleanish with offshore winds, but the quality is dropping. It’s surfable, but very ordinary.

From Sunday, 19 July onwards, it’s a long, dry spell. The swell drops to 1-foot or less, and the energy is very weak (55 or less). The period goes up and down, but there’s just not enough push. This quiet period runs all the way through to the end of the forecast on 29 July. The waves are small, weak, and hardly breaking. There’s a brief moment on Wednesday, 22 July where the period jumps to 24 seconds, but with only 0.7-foot of swell, it’s just a ripple. The wind is occasionally glassy, but it doesn’t matter because there’s no wave to ride.

So, bottom line: the best bet is the first few days – Tuesday the 14th through Thursday the 16th. That’s your window. After that, it’s a long wait for the next swell. It’s a bit of a bummer, but that’s how it goes sometimes.

Rusty.

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