Kawaihae Breakwater Surf Break

Lat Long: 20.05° N 155.84° W

Kawaihae Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 12 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Kawaihae Breakwater sea temperature is
26.7° C
0.8° 

Kawaihae Breakwater surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Kawaihae Breakwater surf forecast from 13 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 19s period, W swell with glassy 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★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 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 Sunday (Jul 12) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m 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 0.8m 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 8s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 12) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (HST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Sun 12th Jul)1.5ft (0.4m) 16s
Best Surf11AM (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, this is Rusty. Looking at the charts for the next couple of weeks, it’s a pretty quiet story for us. The first few days offer some small, rideable waves, but there’s a real standout window mid-week that’s worth getting excited about. After that, the surf dries right up. There’s a long gap from the end of the week through the rest of the outlook with nothing worth paddling out for.

The first real chance to get wet comes this Sunday afternoon at Kawaihae Breakwater. We’re looking at a tiny 1ft swell from the SW, and the combined wave energy is weak at 117. It’s surfable, but you’ll be fighting a moderate offshore breeze, so conditions are just ordinary. The water temp is sitting at a comfortable 80°, which is right on average for this time of year.

Monday stays much the same – small 1ft SW swell again, with the wave energy dropping to 124. Monday afternoon looks a touch cleaner with a light offshore.

Now, here’s the good stuff. Tuesday the 14th through Thursday the 16th is our window. The swell bumps up to 2ft to 3ft from the W. The combined swell energy jumps into the moderate range, peaking at 353 on Wednesday morning. That’s a solid pulse for this spot. The real kicker is the wind: we’re seeing glassy conditions from Tuesday morning right through to Thursday afternoon. That means clean, smooth faces. The swell period is hanging around 15-16 seconds, so it’s a proper groundswell, long lines, and decent shape. For a reef break, that’s a dream scenario. This is the standout for the whole outlook.

Friday the 17th starts to ease off, dropping back to 2ft from the W. The wind is still glassy in the morning, but the energy is fading (237). By Saturday the 18th, the swell is back down to a weak 2ft, and by the afternoon it’s a messy cross-off shore wind. After that, from Sunday the 19th through the end of the forecast period on the 27th of July, the swell fades to nothing – between 0.7ft and flat. The wave energy falls into single and low double digits. Conditions are technically clean with light offshore winds, but there’s just no wave to ride. It’s a long blank run for us.

So, get on it mid-week for the cleanest, most fun waves on offer. Everything else is just a wait.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 23°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Fri morning, min 23°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sun
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
15
0.4
SW
14
0.5
W
18
0.6
W
19
0.7
W
16
0.7
W
17
0.8
W
16
0.8
W
15
0.8
W
15
0.8
W
15
0.8
W
15
0.7
W
14
0.6
W
14
0.6
W
14
0.6
W
14
0.5
W
13
0.4
WNW
13
0.4
WNW
13
0.3
WNW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
89
86
78
54
162
251
267
270
310
302
291
275
272
206
150
146
140
89
57
57
30
Wind (km/h)
20
NE
20
ENE
20
NE
5
ENE
15
ENE
5
N
0
ENE
0
NE
5
NNE
0
N
10
E
0
NW
5
ENE
10
ENE
5
NNE
5
NE
5
ENE
5
NE
5
N
10
ENE
15
NE
Wind State
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross-off
glassy
off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
off
off
High Tide
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
6:36PM0.70m
7:32AM0.39m
7:10PM0.61m
8:35AM0.44m
Low Tide
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
1:35AM0.00m
12:43PM0.14m
2:07AM0.01m
1:51PM0.22m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:50
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:06
7:06
7:06
7:06
7:05
7:05
7:05
7:05
 mm
1
Temp °C
27
25
25
26
24
26
27
25
27
26
25
27
27
26
28
28
26
28
28
26
27
Feels °C
28
24
24
26
25
28
29
28
29
29
29
30
31
29
32
32
30
31
32
30
28
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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