Surf Forecasts:
Kawaihae Breakwater surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 14s period, WSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 14s period, WSW swell with 1,422 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 11s period with SSW 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kawaihae Breakwater in the next 16 days are 1.9m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kawaihae Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk in feet, ‘cause that’s how some of us measure it.
The first few days are a bit of a snooze. Saturday afternoon, September 5th, we’ve got a tiny 3ft swell from the SSW, with a 12-second period. The wind is glassy, but the energy is weak (171). It’s a paddle-around wave, nothing more. Sunday the 6th looks about the same.
Monday morning, the 7th, the swell picks up to 4ft from the SW with a 14-second period, and the energy jumps to 532 (moderate). The wind is glassy and the water temp is 82°, which is normal for the season.
Monday afternoon, the 7th, is the highlight. The swell hits 6ft from the WSW, with a very long 15-second period. The energy is strong at 1158. The wind is dead calm, glassy as can be. The direction is a bit off the optimum west, but with that power and glass, it’s the best window of the whole forecast. It’s a solid intermediate swell, not too big for most.
Tuesday the 8th holds up. The afternoon has glassy conditions with 6ft from the W, 11-second period, and energy of 765 (strong). A solid backup.
From Wednesday the 9th all the way through the 19th, it’s a flat spell. Swell sizes drop to 1ft or less, with energy reading under 100 most days. The 20th of September is flat, zero swell. There’s a long stretch of small, weak surf.
The standout is clearly Monday afternoon, the 7th of September, at Kawaihae Breakwater. That’s your best bet for clean, lined-up waves with that glassy wind and long-period groundswell.
The water is 82°, typical for the time of year.
This reef break can get a few heads in the water sometimes, so be ready to share. And remember, long-period swell on a reef can be a bit more powerful than it looks.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 26°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | WSW 15 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | W 11 | W 10 | WNW 9 | W 7 | SW 8 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 171 | 126 | 150 | 252 | 341 | 532 | 1158 | 1283 | 872 | 726 | 250 | 80 | 28 | 14 | 42 | 49 | 67 | 65 | 57 | 57 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross | glassy | glassy | glassy | off | cross-off | off | glassy | glassy | glassy | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:08AM0.19m | 12:59PM0.72m | 1:17AM0.24m | 1:49PM0.75m | 2:08AM0.31m | 2:32PM0.75m | 2:51AM0.39m | 3:10PM0.73m | 3:32AM0.46m | 3:45PM0.69m | 4:11AM0.53m | 4:16PM0.63m | 4:50AM0.58m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:52PM0.09m | 5:12AM0.03m | 8:26PM0.06m | 6:29AM0.01m | 8:55PM0.03m | 7:32AM-0.01m | 9:22PM0.01m | 8:26AM-0.02m | 9:48PM-0.01m | 9:15AM-0.00m | 10:13PM-0.02m | 10:03AM0.02m | 10:37PM-0.02m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  | | | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | 6:35 | — | — | 6:34 | — | — | 6:32 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:29 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 |
Feels °C | 32 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | WSW 15 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | W 11 | W 10 | WNW 9 | NE 7 | NE 7 | SW 8 | NE 7 | NNE 5 | NNE 8 | NE 5 | NNE 7 |
| kJ | 171 | 126 | 150 | 252 | 341 | 532 | 1158 | 1283 | 872 | 726 | 250 | 80 | 44 | 53 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 23 | 22 | 33 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 7 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 10 | SW 8 | NE 8 | W 7 | SW 8 | SW 16 | SW 18 | NE 8 | SW 16 | NNE 7 | ENE 11 |
| kJ | 49 | 34 | 38 | 66 | 26 | 52 | 236 | 228 | 165 | 113 | 66 | 50 | 28 | 14 | 42 | 49 | 31 | 65 | 21 | 23 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 14 | E 13 | E 12 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 9 | NE 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 10 | SW 8 | SW 16 | ENE 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 61 | 86 | 73 | 47 | 82 | 83 | 90 | 78 | 84 | 39 | 57 | 35 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 67 | 28 | 57 | 57 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 7 | NNE 5 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 50 | 23 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 50 | 35 | 32 | 0 | 86 | 88 | 51 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Big Island | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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