Kawaihae Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get into it.

First off, the water here at Kawaihae Breakwater is sitting at 81°, which is right around that 1° warmer than average for this time of year. Nothing crazy, just normal tropical warmth.

Right now, we’re looking at a flat spell. There’s nothing to surf for the first week, from Sunday the 2nd through to Saturday the 9th. The ocean is basically just a lake during that time, with swell energy values in the single digits or teens. You’re getting a few tiny wobbles of 0.7ft to 1ft from the west, but there’s just no push behind it. It's not even worth paddling out for.

Things start to stir a little on Monday the 10th. The swell builds to 1ft, and by Tuesday afternoon we get that energy reading into triple digits for the first time – 107. It's still really small and weak, but the period is starting to lengthen, hitting 14 to 15 seconds. That’s the first hint of something more organized. The wind is super light and clean, mostly offshore from the northeast, so the surface will be glassy, but you’d be fighting for a knee-high ripple.

The middle of the week, the 12th and 13th, sees the energy climbing – we get up to 116 and then 183. The swell bumps to 2ft and then 2ft, and the period gets up to 16 seconds. It's still a far cry from epic, but it’s getting surfable for a log. The wind stays light and offshore for the most part, so conditions are clean.

Then, we hit the first real standout of the forecast. Friday the 14th afternoon and all of Saturday the 15th. The swell pushes up to 2ft, and then 3ft, with a solid 15-second period from the west. The energy readings are strong, in the 270s. This is the first time we can call it “good,” with clean, light offshore winds. Kawaihae Breakwater (Hawaii) will be the spot. It’s a reef break, so it handles this long-period west swell well, and the NE offshore wind is right in its wheelhouse. It won’t be big, maybe chest high at best, but it’ll have some push and shape. This is your best window of the first week and a half.

After that, there's a slight dip on the 16th with the energy dropping. But then, hold on to your board shorts. The real standout is Monday the 17th of August. That morning, the combined energy jumps to a massive 536, and the swell is a solid 3ft with a 16-second period from the west. This is the biggest, most powerful swell in the whole forecast. It’s still not huge, but it’s a proper head-high wave. The wind is glassy in the morning, turning to a light offshore in the afternoon. This looks like the pick of the entire 16-day run. It's a week and a half out, so don't book your flights yet, but this is the one to keep an eye on. Kawaihae is a fairly consistent reef, and this looks like the day it all lines up.

Keep in mind, while this is a reef break and better for the long-period swell, the size stays under 5ft, so it’s still manageable for a confident beginner, but we're really talking about a fun, clean day for the intermediate crew.

Right now, we’ve got a long, dry spell to get through, but the pattern points to some fun waves rolling in by the middle of next week and a real gem on the 17th.

Rusty out.

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