Surf Forecasts:
Kawaihae Breakwater surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period, WNW swell with 91 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kawaihae Breakwater in the next 16 days are 0.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 2AM. 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 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kawaihae Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Kawaihae Breakwater on the Big Island has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: the first week plus is a real struggle. We've got a long, slow start. From Thursday the 20th right through to the end of August, we're looking at tiny, weak surf. The first recommendation doesn't show up until Thursday morning, with a meager 1ft swell from the southwest. The energy is practically nothing, just 87, and it's coming in on a super long 18-second period. That's a groundswell, but for a spot that likes a west direction, the combo here is just too small to do anything with. You’ll see some glassy conditions on Friday morning the 21st, with the wind going dead calm (0 km/h), and the swell bumps up to 1ft, but the energy is still weak at 121. It’s pretty clean, but you're basically bobbing around waiting for a knee-high ripple. Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd offer similar tiny waves with light offshore winds, but it’s all in the 1ft to 2ft range. The water temp is sitting at a lovely 81°, which is about normal for this time of year, so at least the wait is warm.
Then we hit a real dead zone. From Monday the 24th of August all the way through Wednesday the 2nd of September, conditions are poor. The swell drops to 0.7ft, the energy numbers are in the single digits and teens, and the surf quality is just non-existent. It’s a flat spell, plain and simple. There’s a lot of moderate offshore wind in there (NE 9-12 mph), but with no swell to push, it doesn’t matter.
Finally, things start to perk up a bit heading into the second week. On Thursday the 3rd of September, we see a tiny uptick. The swell hits 2ft in the morning and then 2ft in the afternoon, with the energy climbing to 165. It’s not big, but the afternoon goes glassy with a west swell, which is the direction this reef loves. The best day looks like Friday the 4th of September. The morning is dead calm with the wind at 0 mph – absolutely glassy. The swell is 2ft from the west, with a solid 14-second period, and the energy is a moderate 203. It’s the pick of the forecast, but let’s be real, 2ft is still small. Because this is a reef break and the direction finally matches up, those long-period waves should wrap in cleanly. Keep your expectations in check, though; it's more of a longboarder's session than anything with real power. The crowds *sometimes* show up here, so on that Friday you might have some company.
So if you're itching for a paddle, your best bet is that Friday the 4th of September. It’s far out, so treat it as a promising light at the end of a very long tunnel.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sat afternoon, min 25°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 11 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 | WNW 11 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
49 | 47 | 69 | 69 | 59 | 64 | 37 | 63 | 91 | 77 | 46 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 21 | 29 | 26 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | off | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:59AM0.57m | 12:08PM0.59m | 11:45PM0.18m | 1:04PM0.62m | 1:02AM0.20m | 1:49PM0.66m | 1:48AM0.23m | 2:26PM0.69m | 2:25AM0.28m | 2:59PM0.71m | 3:00AM0.33m | 3:28PM0.72m | 3:36AM0.38m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:32AM0.09m | 8:34PM0.15m | 8:53PM0.12m | 6:05AM0.06m | 9:13PM0.10m | 7:02AM0.04m | 9:33PM0.09m | 7:49AM0.01m | 9:53PM0.07m | 8:30AM0.00m | 10:13PM0.05m | ||||||||||
6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | |
— | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:44 | — | — | 6:43 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 31 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | WNW 11 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NE 5 |
33 | 42 | 31 | 31 | 52 | 40 | 54 | 54 | 91 | 51 | 85 | 18 | 46 | 58 | 31 | 31 | 24 | 21 | 13 | 21 | 28 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | W 10 | WNW 10 | W 11 | SW 15 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | NE 5 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 13 |
38 | 23 | 35 | 52 | 59 | 50 | 33 | 59 | 58 | 77 | 46 | 8 | 11 | 35 | 32 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 21 | 29 | 17 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 | WSW 9 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | SSW 16 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 |
49 | 47 | 69 | 69 | 39 | 64 | 37 | 63 | 9 | 34 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 25 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 18 | 26 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | NNE 5 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 52 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 47 | 21 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 87 | 51 | 46 | 88 | 35 | 46 | 88 | 54 | 50 |
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.











