Kawaihae Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let me level with you: looking out over the Big Island side at Kawaihae Breakwater, this is a pretty quiet spell we’ve got coming down the pike. The first real stretch of anything rideable doesn’t even show up until Saturday the 11th of July, so we’re looking at a solid week of flat-to-ankle-bump nothingness before that. Way out ahead, there’s some pulse coming through, but it’s not going to set the world on fire.

From Thursday the 2nd right through to Friday the 10th, it’s mostly tiny dribbles—0.1m to 0.3m from the SSW or West—with combined energies barely hitting double digits (2 to 54). The wind stays offshore and clean through that whole dry spell, so at least the water’s got that polished look. The water temp is sitting at 27° with a mild anomaly of 1.0°, so just a touch warmer than average for this time of year. But honestly, you’d be paddling around more than surfing.

Then things start waking up gradually. Saturday the 11th of July: the West swell nudges up to 0.5m with period stretching 14 seconds. The combined wave energy jumps to around 152, so we’re finally in moderate territory. Winds are still gentle offshore from the NE, keeping conditions clean. That continues through Sunday the 12th and Monday the 13th of July—same West swell, 0.4m to 0.5m, period from 14 to 17 seconds. The energy holds in the moderate range, and the light offshore breezes make it ridable.

Now, if you want the one standout window worth circling on your calendar, it’s Tuesday the 14th through Thursday the 16th of July. The swell bumps up to 0.7m from the West, with a solid 15 to 16 second period—proper groundswell energy there. The combined wave energy climbs into the strong range, peaking at 262 on Wednesday. That long period will wrap nicely into the point and reef setup at Kawaihae Breakwater (Hawaii), giving it shape and push. Best bit? On Thursday the 16th, we get glassy conditions with wind from the NNE at just 5 km/h. That’s about as clean as it gets. The swell direction is W, and this spot likes W swell, so it’s lining up well. Crowds can show up here sometimes, but with these modest heights still under a metre, it won’t be a circus.

The weekend after that—Friday the 17th—starts to fade again, back to 0.5m and energy dropping to around 100. So aim for that mid-week window.

It’s not a classic run, but for the patient surfer who wants clean lines and no stress, that 14th to 16th of July is your go.

Rusty.

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