Kawaihae Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Right off the bat, I gotta be honest with you – we’ve got a long, quiet stretch ahead. The first week of the forecast is basically a flat spell. From Tuesday the 28th of July all the way through to the end of July, we’re looking at almost no energy at all. The combined wave energy is sitting at zero on most days, and even when a tiny pulse shows up on the 30th, it’s only 0.7 ft to 1.0 ft with a very long period of 18 seconds. That’s a groundswell, but there’s just not enough height to push it over the reef. The water temp is sitting at 80°, which is only about 1° above normal for this time of year, so nothing unusual there – just your typical warm Hawaiian summer bathwater.

The first few days of August are more of the same. We’re talking Saturday the 1st through Wednesday the 5th with barely a ripple. A few little 0.7 ft to 1.0 ft pulses from the SW and W, but the combined energy is between 9 and 28 (weak). It’s just not enough to get the blood pumping. The wind is mostly light offshore or glassy, which would be a dream if we had any swell, but we don’t.

Now, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Around Friday the 7th of August, we start to see a little bump. The afternoon sees a 1 ft swell from the west with a period of 14 seconds, and the combined energy finally climbs to 82 (still weak, but it’s movement). The wind is offshore from the NE at 9 mph, keeping things clean. It’s still “surfable but very ordinary” – not a standout by any stretch.

The real highlight, if you can call it that, comes on Saturday the 8th of August. The morning shows 2 ft from the west, period of 12 seconds, and combined energy of 159 (moderate). The offshore wind is there at 9 mph. This is the best we’re going to see in the whole window. The swell direction is right in the optimum range for this spot (W), and the wind is offshore. It’s still small, but for a break that’s fairly exposed and fairly consistent, this is your window. The afternoon on the 8th holds similar energy at 140, with a bit more wind (12 mph offshore). Crowds are listed as “sometimes” here, so with the first real surf in over a week, you might find a few others out, but it won’t be a zoo.

Sunday the 9th still offers 2 ft from the west in the morning, energy at 133 (moderate), and lighter offshore winds. It’s a decent follow-up session. After that, the energy fades again. Monday the 10th has a pulse from the SSW with a very long period of 15 seconds and energy of 164 (moderate), but with only 1 ft, that long period is gonna make it dribbly and hard to catch on a reef. The 11th and 12th drop back to poor conditions.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a bust. The standout is the morning of Saturday the 8th of August, with 2 ft west swell, offshore wind, and moderate energy. That’s your best bet. The Sunday the 9th is a close second. Anything after that is not worth paddling out for.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on the horizon. This is a long lull, but it won’t stay flat forever.

Rusty.

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