Kawaihae Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab a seat. Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s shaking on our shores. Honestly, there’s not a lot to get fired up about, but let’s walk through it. For the break in the forecast, we're looking at Kawaihae Breakwater (Big Island). The water temp is sitting pretty average for this time of year, so no shock there.

Right now, and for the next week and a bit, we’ve got a tough run. From Sunday, August 30th, straight through to almost the end of the first week of September, it’s a total flat spell. We’re talking tiny, poor surf with next to no energy from the swell – the combined swell energy is barely registering, often in the single digits (20-35 range). It’s clean with offshore winds, which is a tease, because the swell just isn’t there. Waves are ankle-high at best. This is a real desert.

We hit a small shift starting Thursday, September 10th. The morning still looks ordinary, but by Thursday afternoon that combined energy bumps up to 109 – finally some moderate juice in the water. The swell bumps to a tiny 1 ft from the west, with a 14-second period. This is a long-period groundswell, which means it could wrap into the reef with a bit more shape, but it's still small, so you're hunting knee-high runners. The wind goes glassy on the afternoon of the 10th, and that’s the best moment in the whole window. It’s still just "surfable but ordinary," so don’t expect any barrels.

Friday, September 11th, carries that same little bump, with 1 ft of SW swell and glassy conditions all day. The energy is still moderate (105-113), and that long period (15-16 seconds) means the reef could offer up a cleaner wave than the beach, but don't get carried away. Crowds are sometimes around here, so you might have the place to yourself, which is a small win.

The best on offer? It’s really a tie between Thursday afternoon and Friday, September 10th and 11th. Those glassy windows with just a touch of long-period energy are the only real chance to get a slide in. It’s not going to get your heart racing, but it’s all we’ve got.

After that, from the 12th onward, it drops back into the doldrums. The swell stays tiny (1.0 ft), the energy fades into the 40s and 50s, and we’re back to poor conditions. The last call on Monday, September 14th, shows a whisper of hope with 1 ft WNW groundswell and clean conditions, but it’s still just a whisper.

Overall, this is a lean, mean, no-swell machine for the next 16 days. The middle of the first week to the start of the second week is a massive gap of no real recommendations. Keep an eye on that Thursday and Friday, though – you might scratch an itch.

Rusty.

Read more