Surf Forecasts:
Kawaihae Breakwater surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 16 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s period, W swell with 275 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 16 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s 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 Thursday (Jul 16) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kawaihae Breakwater in the next 16 days are 0.8m 15s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 16) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kawaihae Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on offer for the Big Island’s west side, specifically Kawaihae Breakwater (Big Island). Straight up, the outlook is a bit of a bummer for the next couple weeks. The early days are your only real chance to get wet, and the wave heights are small. It’s not a total washout, but it’s a quiet stretch.
The pick of the period is Thursday 16 July. That morning, we’ve got a clean 3ft swell rolling in from the west with a long 15-second period. That’s proper groundswell energy, and the combined energy is moderate (317). The wind is light offshore from the NE, making for some really clean lines. The water temp is a nice 80°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. Thursday afternoon holds up as well, with the same size and direction, still clean. That’s your go-to window.
Friday 17 July, the swell drops a touch to 2ft, still clean and offshore, but the energy drops (228). It’s surfable, but ordinary. Saturday 18 July is smaller again at 2ft, and the energy is weak (97). It’s clean, but tiny.
From Sunday 19 July right through to Tuesday 29 July, it’s a long quiet stretch. There’s barely any useful swell. Most days show zero wave height, or just a tiny 0.7ft to 1ft wind swell with periods between 12 and 17 seconds, but the energy is very low, often under 30. The wind is often offshore or glassy, but there’s simply nothing to push you around. A few days, like 24 July afternoon, show a slight bump (1ft from SSW, 17 seconds, energy 164), but it’s ordinary at best. The break is a reef setup, so a long-period swell on a small day can still produce a few fun ones, but the consistency is "fairly consistent" and with these tiny heights, it’s a waiting game.
There’s a tiny blip on 31 July with 1ft from the SW at 17 seconds, but again, the energy is low (47). The wind is offshore, so it’s clean, but it’s not going to get your heart racing.
The bottom line: Thursday 16 July is the standout. It’s small but clean, with a bit of west energy. After that, it’s mostly flat or close to it. For a spot that’s "fairly consistent," this is a dry spell, but it happens. The forecast could change, but for now, get your surf in on Thursday if you can.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 25°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 27°C on Sun morning, min 24°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 26 | SSW 24 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 275 | 272 | 206 | 203 | 146 | 138 | 89 | 87 | 57 | 50 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 13 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 65 | 55 | 30 | 28 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:00PM0.78m | 6:33AM0.35m | 6:36PM0.70m | 7:32AM0.39m | 7:10PM0.61m | 8:35AM0.44m | 7:42PM0.51m | 9:42AM0.48m | 8:14PM0.41m | 10:49AM0.54m | 8:47PM0.32m | 11:51AM0.59m | 9:44PM0.25m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:55AM-0.02m | 1:02AM-0.00m | 11:47AM0.06m | 1:35AM0.00m | 12:43PM0.14m | 2:07AM0.01m | 1:51PM0.22m | 2:39AM0.02m | 3:21PM0.28m | 3:12AM0.03m | 5:30PM0.29m | 3:48AM0.04m | 7:48PM0.24m | 4:32AM0.04m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | | |  | |  | | | | | |
 | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — |
 | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:04 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 31 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 15 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 5 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 8 | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 5 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 5 |
| kJ | 275 | 78 | 59 | 59 | 54 | 47 | 61 | 30 | 50 | 54 | 46 | 54 | 8 | 12 | 50 | 32 | 8 | 33 | 43 | 43 | 12 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 7 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | NNE 7 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | WNW 12 | SSW 12 | NE 7 | SSW 12 | SSW 24 | SSW 23 | SSW 22 |
| kJ | 68 | 272 | 206 | 203 | 146 | 138 | 89 | 19 | 57 | 50 | 29 | 29 | 21 | 21 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 55 | 106 | 91 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 17 | SW 12 | SSW 16 | NNE 7 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | W 13 | ENE 8 | SW 11 | SW 11 | ENE 7 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | SSW 13 | W 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 26 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 |
| kJ | 42 | 75 | 22 | 25 | 18 | 21 | 8 | 87 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 27 | 13 | 17 | 9 | 13 | 65 | 24 | 30 | 28 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 88 | 88 | 46 | 86 | 88 | 84 | 86 | 88 | 0 | 0 | 98 | 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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