Kawaihae Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break it down in feet and degrees for the mainland crew.

It’s a real quiet stretch comin’ up at Kawaihae Breakwater (Big Island). The swell is tiny, mostly 0.7ft to 1ft from the SSW or W, with a super long period – 15 to 18 seconds – so those waves are gonna be weak and slow. The water is 82°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you’ll be comfortable in boardies.

The winds are offshore or glassy for most mornings and afternoons, which is nice for the surface, but it doesn’t help much when there’s almost no push. The combined swell energy is weak, often in the 30s or 40s (30–47), and sometimes even zero. That’s barely a ripple. There’s a couple of afternoons, like August 31 and September 1, where it goes glassy, but the swell is still 0.7ft – you’d be better off floating on a pool toy.

The best of a very poor bunch might be September 10. Thursday morning shows a little bump: 1ft from the WNW at 12 seconds, with the combined energy getting up to 87 (moderate), and light offshore winds. That’s the most energy we see in the whole 16 days. It’s still small, but with a clean offshore breeze and a reef break, you might get a few knee-high runners. Afternoon brings a risk of thunderstorms, but it goes glassy. It’s not a standout – just the least bad option.

Honestly, if you’re keen on a paddle, any of the glassy mornings with 0.7ft will be clean, but you’ll be fighting for scraps. For the first week, there’s nothing worth getting excited about. The second week stays similar – tiny swells, mostly 0.7ft to 1ft, with a few short-lived bumps. The 10th of September is the only day that even squeaks into “surfable” territory, and even then it’s ordinary.

For a beginner, these tiny waves are fine, but for anyone else, it’s a frustrating wait. Since it’s a reef break, that long-period swell at 15+ seconds can make it break straight and fast, but with this little height, it’s not a problem. Crowds are possible, but honestly, with this surf, I doubt many will show up.

Stay patient, mates. The ocean’s having a nap.

Rusty.

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