Kawaihae Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the Kawaihae Breakwater (Big Island) area over the next couple of weeks.

To be honest, if you're looking for a proper day of surfing, you're going to have to be patient. There's a real dry spell happening right now. The first week and a half is basically a write-off. From Tuesday, August 4th, right through to the 12th, it's poor surf conditions with tiny waves. You'll be looking at ankle-snappers around 0.7ft to 1.0ft, with a weak combined swell energy reading between 15 and 48. It's clean, with some nice light offshore winds and even a few glassy windows, but there's just no swell to work with. That first solid week is a gap of nothing.

Things start to get a little more interesting from Thursday, August 13th. We finally see the swell energy pick up, with a combined energy reading of 71. The surf is still small, just 1ft, but it's a long-period groundswell from the WNW at 15 seconds. That period is a good sign, suggesting some proper shape and push, especially for a reef break like Kawaihae. The winds are offshore, so it should be clean, but it's still described as "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." The water temperature is a comfortable 81°F, and that's about normal for the time of year.

The standout window, and what I'd call the best on offer, is over the weekend of August 15th and 16th. We see the swell nudging up to 2ft from the W, with a really nice long period of 15 seconds. The combined energy is solid, hitting 155 to 156. This is where the long-period groundswell really starts to show its teeth. The winds are light offshore, so the waves should be clean and lined up. This isn't a day for the foam boards – the period is long, meaning the sets will be more powerful and have longer waits between them. Makes paddling out easier, but when they come, they'll have some punch. It's still small, but for a reef break, that's a nice, rideable size. The crowds are listed as "sometimes," so you might have a few friends out, but nothing inevitable.

The run into the following week, from August 17th to 19th, holds onto similar conditions. We're looking at 2ft to 2ft swells from the W, with periods of 13 to 15 seconds. The energy is moderate, with readings hovering around the 100 to 175 mark. The winds stay offshore, keeping it clean. While it's not a massive swell, it's the most consistent and cleanest run of small-to-medium surf in the entire 16-day forecast. It's a consistent, quiet period for those who are keen.

The bottom line: this is a slow start, but the second week has a persistent, clean, long-period groundswell that will make the Kawaihae Breakwater a fun, mellow wave. The best bet is the weekend of the 15th and 16th, with the Monday and Tuesday after also looking promising.

Rusty.

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