Kawaihae Breakwater Surf Break

Lat Long: 20.05° N 155.84° W

Kawaihae Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 pm 19 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Kawaihae Breakwater sea temperature is
27.1° C
0.5° 

Kawaihae Breakwater surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Kawaihae Breakwater surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 16s period, SW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period, WNW swell with 93 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 16s period with SW 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 12s. 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 0.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (HST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Wed 19th Aug)1ft (0.3m) 16s
Best Surf 8PM (Wed 19th Aug)1ft (0.3m) 16s
Most Powerful 8PM (Sat 22nd Aug)2ft (0.6m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kawaihae Breakwater over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Kawaihae Breakwater over the next couple of weeks.

Water temps are sitting at 81°F which is about average for this time of year, so nothing out of the ordinary there.

The first part of the outlook is pretty quiet. We’ve got a few small, surfable waves starting Wednesday morning, August 19th, with a tiny 1 ft swell out of the WNW at 12 seconds. The wind is light cross-off from the NNE at 3 mph, so it’s clean enough but the energy is weak (73). Honestly, it’s very ordinary—just something to get wet on. The rest of that week and into the next is a real mixed bag of tiny, poor surf conditions. Thursday morning the 20th, it drops to 1.0 ft from the SW with a long period of 18 seconds—that’s a groundswell, but it’s so small it’s barely a ripple. The afternoon goes glassy, which is nice, but the swell is still tiny. Friday the 21st shows a little bump in energy to 122 (moderate) with a 1 ft SW swell at 16 seconds and glassy conditions, so that’s the most interesting of the early period, but it’s still small for the reef.

After that, from Saturday the 22nd through the middle of the following week, we’re looking at a real lull. The swell is consistently 0.7 ft to 1.0 ft, mostly from the W or SSW, and the energy is weak (often under 50). The wind is offshore or glassy at times, but the waves are just too small for any real surfing. This spot is a fairly consistent reef break, but it’s going through a flat spell here. There’s a solid gap of several days with no real surf on offer.

The standout in this 16-day window, if you can call it that, is actually at the very end of the forecast. On Thursday morning, September 3rd, we see a bit of a pulse: 1 ft swell from the WNW at 14 seconds, with energy up to 81 and glassy conditions. The wind is light from the NNW at 3 mph, and the afternoon stays glassy with a calm wind. It’s still small, but given the run of flat days, this is the best you’re going to get—clean, glassy, and a little more energy. The optimum swell direction for Kawaihae Breakwater is W, and this is WNW, so it’s close enough to be working the reef. The 1 ft is a beginner-friendly size, and with the long period, the waves will have some shape, but it’s a reef break so it won’t be too walled-up.

Overall, this is a quiet period. The first week is mostly poor, the second week is a long gap, and the only real glimmer is that first week of September. Don’t expect much, but keep an eye on that Thursday.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Wed afternoon, min 25°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 25°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Sun morning, calm by Mon morning).

Wed
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
WNW
12
0.3
SW
16
0.3
SW
18
0.3
SW
17
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.5
W
10
0.6
WNW
11
0.6
WNW
11
0.5
WNW
12
0.4
WNW
11
0.3
WNW
10
0.2
SSW
13
0.2
WNW
12
0.2
WNW
11
0.3
SSW
12
0.2
SSW
16
0.2
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
28
41
49
47
69
69
65
64
56
91
91
78
46
20
18
13
12
0
24
21
Wind (km/h)
10
NE
5
ENE
5
NNW
5
N
0
SSE
5
NNW
5
ENE
10
ENE
10
NE
20
NE
20
ENE
30
ENE
20
ENE
10
ENE
0
W
5
SSE
5
E
0
NNW
0
S
0
E
Wind State
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
glassy
off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross-off
glassy
glassy
glassy
High Tide
7:33PM0.25m
10:59AM0.57m
12:08PM0.59m
11:45PM0.18m
1:04PM0.62m
1:02AM0.20m
1:49PM0.66m
1:48AM0.23m
2:26PM0.69m
2:25AM0.28m
2:59PM0.71m
3:00AM0.33m
Low Tide
5:41PM0.25m
2:31AM0.07m
3:32AM0.09m
8:34PM0.15m
8:53PM0.12m
6:05AM0.06m
9:13PM0.10m
7:02AM0.04m
9:33PM0.09m
7:49AM0.01m
9:53PM0.07m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:03
6:03
6:05
6:05
6:05
6:05
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:49
6:47
6:46
6:46
6:45
6:45
6:44
 mm
2
Temp °C
28
26
28
28
27
28
28
26
28
28
27
28
27
27
28
28
28
28
28
27
Feels °C
31
29
31
31
32
32
33
29
30
31
27
26
27
29
32
33
32
33
33
32
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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