Surf Forecasts:
Kawaihae Breakwater surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 16 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s period, W swell with 287 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 16 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s period with W 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 Thursday (Jul 16) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 15s 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 0.8m 15s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 16) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kawaihae Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, let's take a look at what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks here on the Big Island.
We start off with a bit of fun on Thursday morning, July 16th, down at Kawaihae Breakwater. It's a reef setup that's fairly exposed to the west, which is exactly where the swell is coming from. We're looking at a clean 3 ft of long-period groundswell, a solid 15-second interval between sets. The combined energy is moderate at 317, and with a light NNE breeze going offshore, it's going to be glassy and clean. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no nasty surprises there. The wind stays light into the afternoon, turning glassy, keeping it clean. This is easily the pick of the period.
Friday the 17th drops off a touch to 2 ft, still from the west with that long 14-second period, but the energy dips to 228. The wind stays offshore but picks up a bit, so it's still surfable, just not as good as Thursday. It tails off into the weekend, with Saturday seeing 2 ft and energy dropping below 100. The wind remains offshore, but the swell is just too weak to get excited about.
After Saturday, we hit a long dry spell. From Sunday the 19th all the way through to the end of the month, the swell is tiny or non-existent. There are days with no rideable waves at all, just flat spells with glassy conditions. The combined energy figures are mostly in the double digits or zero, telling you there's nothing to work with.
There's a tiny flicker of life late on Friday the 24th of July, with a 1 ft SSW swell creeping in, period of 17 seconds and energy hitting 117. But it's not enough to call it a good session with the offshore breeze, just a very ordinary condition at best. The rest of the second week and into early August stays the same story – very small, poor surf conditions with consistent offshore winds but no swell to back them up.
So, the standout is clear: get on it Thursday morning, July 16th, at Kawaihae Breakwater for the cleanest, most energetic waves of the whole run. After that, you're waiting a long time.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 24°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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) | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 287 | 275 | 272 | 206 | 203 | 146 | 138 | 89 | 87 | 57 | 50 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | glassy | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:38AM0.30m | 6:00PM0.78m | 6:33AM0.35m | 6:36PM0.70m | 7:32AM0.39m | 7:10PM0.61m | 8:35AM0.44m | 7:42PM0.51m | 9:42AM0.48m | 8:14PM0.41m | 10:49AM0.54m | 8:47PM0.32m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:27AM-0.01m | 10:55AM-0.02m | 1:02AM-0.00m | 11:47AM0.06m | 1:35AM0.00m | 12:43PM0.14m | 2:07AM0.01m | 1:51PM0.22m | 2:39AM0.02m | 3:21PM0.28m | 3:12AM0.03m | 5:30PM0.29m | 3:48AM0.04m | ||||||
 |  |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — |
 | 7:06 | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:04 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 15 | W 15 | NE 7 | W 14 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 5 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 7 |
| kJ | 287 | 275 | 67 | 206 | 42 | 76 | 41 | 49 | 36 | 18 | 51 | 42 | 31 | 52 | 12 | 35 | 32 | 23 | 33 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | W 15 | NE 7 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | NNE 7 | WNW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 50 | 70 | 272 | 49 | 203 | 146 | 138 | 89 | 87 | 57 | 50 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 21 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 13 | SW 17 | SW 12 | SSW 16 | SW 12 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | NNE 7 | ENE 8 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | WNW 12 | SSW 16 | W 11 | W 11 | E 14 |
| kJ | 63 | 42 | 75 | 22 | 25 | 21 | 21 | 8 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 11 | 26 | 26 | 9 | 9 | 16 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 5 | — | — | NE 4 | — | — | — | — | NNE 5 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | 14 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 49 | 88 | 88 | 27 | 88 | 88 | 49 |
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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