Kawaihae Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cookin’ for Kawaihae Breakwater.

Honestly, I’ll level with you – this stretch of the forecast is a quiet one. For the next 16 days, the surf is tiny and the energy is low. There’s a long gap right at the start with no real surf on offer, from Monday the 27th through to Tuesday the 29th, with nothing but poor conditions. The water is sitting at a warm 80°F with a 1°F anomaly, so it’s basically about average for the time of year – doesn’t feel any different from usual.

The first pulses of swell show up on Thursday morning, July 30th. We’re looking at a tiny 1.0ft SW groundswell with a very long 18-second period, and combined swell energy is weak at 63. The wind is glassy in the morning, shifting to a light offshore NE breeze by the afternoon. It’s clean, but the size is barely a ripple. The break is a reef, so that long period will help it shape up a bit, but it’s still small. Crowds are *sometimes* an issue here, but honestly, with waves this small, you might have it to yourself.

Friday the 31st and Saturday the 1st of August are pretty much the same story: 1ft SW swell, periods dropping from 16 to 14 seconds, and gentle offshore NE winds. Combined energy sits between 48 and 65 – weak. The best of it is probably Friday morning, with that gentle offshore wind keeping things tidy. But it’s not a standout by any stretch.

Sunday the 2nd fades to 0.7ft, and then from Monday the 3rd through to Tuesday the 11th of August, we’re in a long stretch of mostly flat or near-flat conditions. There are a few tiny pulses: a 0.7ft W swell on the 4th, a 0.7ft SSW on the 6th, a 1.0ft W on the 7th, and a 1ft W on the 8th. The best of the lot is the Friday morning, August 7th – 1.0ft W swell with a 14-second period, combined energy of 55, and a gentle offshore NE breeze. It’s surfable, but small. The 8th of August has a similar pulse, 1ft W at 12 seconds, but still not enough to get excited about.

The last chance in the window is Tuesday, August 11th. A 0.7ft SSW groundswell with a 20-second period – that’s a very long period groundswell. Combined energy is only 38. With glassy conditions, it’ll be clean, but it’s tiny and inconsistent. For a reef, that long period could give a few fun lines, but you’ll be waiting for them.

The only real standout, if you can call it that, is the morning of Friday, July 31st. It’s the most consistent tiny pulse we get, with a 1ft SW swell, 16-second period, and gentle offshore NE wind. It’s not a day to call in sick for, but if you’re desperate for a paddle, that’s your window.

Overall, it’s a quiet run. The swell energy is weak (just two-digit numbers, mostly under 65) and the size never gets above 1ft. There’s nothing for beginners or experts here – it’s just small. For a reef break, the long periods might give a few funkier waves, but the lack of size is the story. The break is fairly consistent, so it’s not weird to see it this flat, and forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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