Surf Forecasts:
Kawaihae Breakwater surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 19s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 15 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, W swell with 314 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 11 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s period with SW 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 (Jul 11) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kawaihae Breakwater in the next 16 days are 0.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 12) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sat 11th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Tue 14th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 19s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kawaihae Breakwater over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break it down in feet and degrees Fahrenheit.
The first few days are a snooze. From Saturday the 11th through Monday the 13th of July, the swell is tiny, about 1 feet, coming from the southwest with a long period that makes it feel even weaker. The combined energy is only 143 (weak), so there’s no power. The wind is offshore from the northeast, keeping the surface clean, but the waves are just too small to bother with. It’s a flat start.
Things pick up a little come Tuesday the 14th. The swell bumps up to around 2 to 3 feet, swinging around to the west. The energy climbs into the moderate range (298 to 354), and we’ve got glassy conditions on Tuesday morning and afternoon, with clean offshore winds through Wednesday and Thursday. The water temp is about 80°F, which is normal for this time of year. Kawaihae Breakwater is the place to be. It’s a reef break, so that west swell will wrap in nicely. The wind is glassy or light offshore, which is a big plus for clean waves. Crowds are possible, so be ready to share. The best of this window is Tuesday the 14th and Wednesday the 15th, with the morning glass looking sweet. The swell direction (W) matches the optimum (W) for this spot.
After that, it drops off hard. From Friday the 17th onward, the swell shrinks to under 2 feet, and the energy tanks below 100. The conditions go from “ordinary” to flat-out poor by Sunday the 19th. There’s a big dry spell from the 19th through the 26th of July. A couple of tiny blips show up on the 22nd and 24th, like a 0.6 foot swell with a crazy long period (25 seconds) on Wednesday the 22nd morning, but that’s just a ripple. Not worth paddling out for.
The standout is Tuesday morning, July 14th, at Kawaihae Breakwater. It’s the best combo of clean, glassy conditions and a little west swell that has some life. Not a big wave day, but a fun one for a longboard.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sat afternoon, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 27°C on Tue afternoon, min 24°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sat 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | W 18 | W 19 | W 16 | W 17 | W 16 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 79 | 77 | 66 | 64 | 62 | 57 | 54 | 162 | 251 | 267 | 270 | 310 | 302 | 291 | 275 | 272 | 206 | 203 | 146 | 138 | 89 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | glassy | off | off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 2:20PM0.83m | 1:57AM0.20m | 3:08PM0.87m | 2:58AM0.21m | 3:55PM0.89m | 3:53AM0.23m | 4:39PM0.88m | 4:46AM0.27m | 5:20PM0.84m | 5:38AM0.30m | 6:00PM0.78m | 6:33AM0.35m | 6:36PM0.70m | 7:32AM0.39m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:51PM0.07m | 7:27AM-0.10m | 10:33PM0.03m | 8:21AM-0.11m | 11:13PM0.01m | 9:14AM-0.10m | 11:51PM-0.00m | 10:05AM-0.07m | 00:27AM-0.01m | 10:55AM-0.02m | 1:02AM-0.00m | 11:47AM0.06m | 1:35AM0.00m | 12:43PM0.14m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 |
 | 7:06 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | 7:05 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 |
Feels °C | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 25 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | SW 16 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | W 16 | NNE 7 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 14 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 |
| kJ | 120 | 56 | 111 | 114 | 62 | 99 | 75 | 53 | 64 | 88 | 64 | 310 | 66 | 291 | 275 | 272 | 206 | 61 | 74 | 61 | 40 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 14 | W 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | W 18 | W 19 | W 16 | W 17 | NNE 7 | W 15 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NE 6 | NNE 7 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 |
| kJ | 64 | 55 | 66 | 64 | 26 | 57 | 54 | 162 | 251 | 267 | 270 | 48 | 302 | 64 | 48 | 39 | 42 | 203 | 146 | 138 | 89 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 17 | W 13 | W 13 | E 8 | W 12 | W 12 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 13 | NNE 7 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 79 | 77 | 54 | 28 | 5 | 26 | 26 | 51 | 47 | 46 | 44 | 44 | 49 | 63 | 26 | 30 | 22 | 14 | 13 | 34 | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NNE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 107 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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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