Kawaihae Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

We’re looking at a pretty quiet stretch ahead for the Kawaihae Breakwater. The first week is a write-off. From Friday the 7th to Sunday the 16th, the swell is tiny—mostly 0.7ft to 1ft—and the combined energy is weak, staying below 100. You’ll see a few afternoons with glassy or light offshore winds, but there’s just no wave power to work with. It’s a real flat spell.

Things start to perk up a little on Monday the 17th. The swell nudges up to 2ft to 2ft from the west, with a period of 14 seconds—that’s a proper groundswell. The combined energy climbs into the moderate range (150 to 153) and the wind stays light offshore from the ENE. It’s still not breaking necks, but the reef will start to show some shape. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so not a shock when you get in.

That Wednesday the 19th, the afternoon turns glassy again with a 1ft WNW swell, but the period drops to 11 seconds. It’s rideable, but nothing special.

The best window looks like Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd. The swell shifts to the SW, with a long period of 17 to 19 seconds, and the energy sits in the 100 to 126 range—moderate but improving. Winds are light and variable, mostly offshore. The wave heights are still only 1.0ft to 1ft, so it’s a small-wave reef session. The period is long enough that the waves will bend nicely around the point, but for a break this exposed to the west, that long-period groundswell can straighten out a bit at the beach. Still, with the light winds and the reef setup, it’s the pick of the fortnight.

The big standout? Monday the 17th through Tuesday the 18th gets the nod for the best combination of swell size, moderate energy, and clean offshore winds. It’s not a classic, but it’s the best we’ve got.

Crowds can be an issue at Kawaihae Breakwater sometimes, so keep that in mind if you’re heading in.

Rusty.

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