Kawaihae Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for us over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: this is a quiet stretch. We’re looking at a long, long gap with barely a ripple. The first real chance of a paddle won’t come until Friday the 25th of July, and even then, it’s a tiny tease. The swell is just not showing up for this spot.

The only break we’ve got to work with is Kawaihae Breakwater. It’s a reef setup, fairly exposed to the west, and it’s a fairly consistent spot when there’s something to catch. The water temp is sitting at 80°, which is about normal for the time of year, so no surprises there.

The first few days are a write-off. Thursday the 23rd through to Thursday the 30th of July are mostly flat with combined wave energy sitting at zero (0). There’s a tiny blip of 0.7ft from the SSW on the 23rd and 24th, but the energy is weak (25), and the period is so long—16 seconds or more—that it’s just not wrapping in with any push. You’ll be bobbing around with nothing to ride.

Friday the 25th of July morning has a sniff of something with a 0.7ft SSW swell but the energy is a paltry 37. It’s not gonna get you out of your wetsuit. The wind is offshore, nice and clean, but there’s just no water moving.

Then we hit a real dead zone. From Saturday the 26th of July right through to Thursday the 7th of August, the combined energy reading is a flat zero for most days. That’s a solid 11-day stretch of absolutely nothing. There are a couple of glassy, calm afternoons on the 30th of July and the 4th of August, but the swell is either missing or so small it’s not worth mentioning.

Now, the only light at the end of the tunnel comes on Friday the 7th of August. We finally see a pulse of energy. The swell direction swings around to the west, which is pretty much bang on the optimum direction for this reef. The height picks up to 2ft, with a period of 16 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 177 in the morning and 188 in the afternoon. That’s moderate energy, and it’s backed by a clean, gentle offshore breeze (15 km/h from the NE). The water will be clean, and the waves will have some shape to them. It’s still small, mind you—definitely beginner-friendly, not too big for anyone—but it’s the best we’re going to see. The afternoon session on the 7th looks the pick of the entire forecast: 2ft west swell, offshore wind, and that moderate energy. It’s a long way off, so don’t set your watch by it, but it’s a glimmer of hope.

In summary: we’ve got a massive dry spell until the 7th of August. If you’re desperate, keep an eye on that Friday. Otherwise, the boards are staying in the car for a while.

Rusty.

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