Surf Forecasts:
Kawaihae Breakwater surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 17s period, SW swell with 44 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Kawaihae Breakwater this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Kawaihae Breakwater in the next 16 days are 0.3m 17s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 8s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kawaihae Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s call it like it is—this 16-day stretch is a total bust. The first surfable moment is a big fat zero, and we’re looking at long gaps of nothing. The combined swell energy is laughably weak, mostly in the single digits or low teens, like 18 (weak) and 28 (weak)—hardly any juice. Water temp is about 28°, which is about 1.0° warmer than usual for this time of year, so it’s a touch warmer than average, but that doesn’t help the waves.
Wind is consistently offshore from the NE or NNE, light to moderate, so it’d be clean if there was any swell. But swell heights are a measly 0.2ft to 0.3ft, with periods bouncing around from 8 to 18 seconds. That long period might sound like groundswell, but with almost no height, it’s just a long wait for a dribble. The break is a reef setup, exposed to the west, but the swell directions are all over the place—SSW, SW, W—and none of it lines up. It’s a total flat spell for paddle surfing.
A few days, like September 3rd, might catch a kite surfer’s eye with a tiny bump and moderate offshore breeze, but for wave riders, it’s a hard pass. Every single slot reads "poor surf conditions." Sometimes this area just goes quiet like this—blank runs are normal. Don’t get your hopes up, but forecasts can flip. For now, leave the board in the garage.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 25°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 14 | SSW 13 | W 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 28 | 44 | 25 | 22 | 36 | 33 | 20 | 36 | 31 | 31 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 21 | 19 | 17 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 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 | 9:20AM0.63m | 7:55PM0.22m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 5:16PM0.20m | 2:19AM0.02m | |||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | — | 6:42 | — | — | 6:40 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:38 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 |
Feels °C | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 26 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NE 7 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | ENE 8 | NNE 7 |
| kJ | 19 | 23 | 29 | 35 | 51 | 32 | 62 | 81 | 61 | 72 | 120 | 101 | 101 | 80 | 114 | 88 | 107 | 42 | 21 | 12 | 61 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | NNE 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | NNE 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | NNE 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | W 10 | W 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 39 | 8 | 34 | 16 | 15 | 6 | 25 | 22 | 36 | 33 | 20 | 20 | 31 | 57 | 51 | 51 | 45 | 8 | 7 | 19 | 17 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | SSW 13 | W 10 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | S 12 | S 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 12 | SSW 19 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 9 | W 9 |
| kJ | 8 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 28 | 44 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 36 | 20 | 31 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 112 | 84 | 56 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 88 | 88 | 49 | 88 | 46 | 50 | 88 | 35 | 46 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 88 | 88 | 35 | 88 | 88 | 50 | 46 | 54 | 49 |
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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