Kawaihae Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what we’ve got on the cards for Kawaihae Breakwater.

Right off the bat, it’s a flat start. The first few days are a total write-off with hardly a bump. We’re looking at a real dry spell until things start to show a pulse around the 5th of September. Even then, early next week is pretty weak – we're talking ankle-snappers in the 2.3ft to 3.3ft range from the SW. The combined energy is in the weak-to-moderate category (133 to 245), so nothing to get excited about. The wind is mostly light and glassy, which is a huge plus for a reef setup like this, keeping the surface clean. But with such small swell, it's really only going to tempt a longboarder out for a cruise. The optimum swell direction here is W, and we’re getting SW, so it’s a bit off the money.

The real standout window hits on Monday the 8th of September. That afternoon, we see a proper pulse of energy. Swell jumps to 6.9ft from the WSW, with a long period of 13 seconds. That’s a solid groundswell. The combined energy rockets up to 1427, which is strong. Now, 6.9ft is getting into the territory that’s more for experienced surfers. But with glassy conditions and that long period, the waves will have real shape and punch. Kawaihae Breakwater is a reef, so a long-period WSW swell will set up nicely. The crowd factor is "sometimes", so you might have company, but it won't be a zoo. This is the clear winner across the whole forecast – a proper session for those who know what they’re doing.

Tuesday the 9th of September is still surfable with a cleaner 3.3ft on the morning, but the swell drops away fast after that. The second week from roughly the 10th onwards slips back into that weak, ordinary pattern. We get tiny pulses of long-period swell (15 to 21 seconds) but the height is pitiful – 1.0ft to 1.6ft. The combined energy values are in the double digits to low triple digits (19 to 188), which is just not enough to push a decent wave. It’ll be flat and frustrating.

So, bottom line: sit tight through the first week. The only real chance to get a decent wave is on Monday the 8th of September. Mark it in your calendar.

Read more