Surf Forecasts:
Kawaihae Breakwater surf forecast from 9 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 8 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period, WSW swell with 551 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kawaihae Breakwater in the next 16 days are 1.7m 10s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 11s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Tue 8th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kawaihae Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be real with you about the surf ahead. The models are showing a pretty flat and quiet stretch for the next couple of weeks. It’s not looking great, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. Let’s break it down.
We’re kicking things off over at Kawaihae Breakwater. The water temperature is sitting at 82°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no worries there. The problem is the waves. The first few days are a write-off. Tuesday the 8th has a bit of push with a 7ft swell from the WSW, but the wind is on it and it’s messy. The energy is there – 1185 is strong – but it’s just poor conditions. Not worth paddling out for. Wednesday and Thursday drop right off to under 2ft, so definitely a board-waxing day.
There’s a gap of a few days here where there’s just nothing doing. The swell is tiny, the energy is weak, and it’s not going to be any fun. You’d be better off surfing the whitewash on your belly. This blank run is pretty normal for the area when it gets like this.
Now, come Monday the 15th, things start to perk up, but only just. We’re looking at a 1ft swell, mostly from the SW. It’s still small, but the wind turns more offshore and clean. The energy numbers are still low, like in the 80-100 range, which tells you it’s gutless. Still, if you’re desperate, Tuesday the 16th and Wednesday the 17th have that glassy, clean feel with light offshore winds. It’s surfable but very ordinary.
The long-range picture for the week after that is more of the same – small, clean but tiny waves. The 19th and 20th look like the most consistent of the bunch, with a 1ft SW swell and nice offshore winds. But don't get too excited; it’s not going to be a classic. The energy is moderate at best, but the direction is good for the break.
So, honestly, there’s no standout day in this forecast. The conditions will be clean, but the ocean isn't giving us anything to work with. It's a waiting game. Keep the board handy for the 17th or 19th if you just need to get wet, but don’t expect to be threading any barrels.
Alright, that’s the long and short of it. Keep your eyes on the horizon.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Tue morning, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 25°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WNW 8 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 10 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 10 | SSW 22 | SSW 21 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1101 | 551 | 85 | 22 | 20 | 6 | 42 | 49 | 67 | 23 | 57 | 57 | 49 | 29 | 29 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 8 | 46 | 45 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | glassy | glassy | off | off | off | glassy | off | glassy | glassy | off | glassy | off | off | off | cross-off | glassy | glassy |
High Tide | 2:32PM0.75m | 2:51AM0.39m | 3:10PM0.73m | 3:32AM0.46m | 3:45PM0.69m | 4:11AM0.53m | 4:16PM0.63m | 4:50AM0.58m | 4:46PM0.55m | 5:28AM0.61m | 5:15PM0.47m | 6:08AM0.62m | 5:43PM0.39m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:22PM0.01m | 8:26AM-0.02m | 9:48PM-0.01m | 9:15AM-0.00m | 10:13PM-0.02m | 10:03AM0.02m | 10:37PM-0.02m | 10:50AM0.06m | 11:00PM-0.01m | 11:39AM0.10m | 11:22PM-0.00m | 12:31PM0.14m | 11:45PM0.02m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | | | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:27 | — |
mm | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 30 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WNW 8 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 5 | NNE 4 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | NE 9 | NNE 9 | NE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 |
| kJ | 1101 | 551 | 85 | 44 | 45 | 51 | 60 | 54 | 16 | 8 | 39 | 37 | 43 | 46 | 65 | 75 | 49 | 72 | 61 | 26 | 26 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 9 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 16 | NNE 8 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | W 11 | SSW 14 | W 10 | SSW 22 | SSW 21 |
| kJ | 145 | 134 | 64 | 22 | 20 | 6 | 42 | 49 | 67 | 13 | 57 | 57 | 49 | 29 | 29 | 15 | 9 | 20 | 8 | 46 | 45 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | WSW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 9 | ENE 10 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | W 11 | SW 14 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 84 | 82 | 33 | 22 | 13 | 33 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 22 | 21 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 5 | — | — | NNE 5 | NNE 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | 14 | 7 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 21 | 21 | 0 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 88 | 54 | 0 | 86 | 0 | 65 | 86 | 88 | 47 | 86 | 86 | 46 | 86 | 65 | 46 |
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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