Surf Forecasts:
Kawaihae Breakwater surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 16s period, SW swell with 66 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Kawaihae Breakwater this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Kawaihae Breakwater in the next 16 days are 0.4m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 11s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kawaihae Breakwater over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let's be real with you about Kawaihae Breakwater on the Big Island over these next 16 days.
We’re looking at a long, quiet stretch here, with a lot of flat or near-flat days. We're going to have a massive dead period through the end of July and into the first week of August. From now, Saturday the 25th of July, all the way through Sunday morning the 2nd of August, it’s just a whole lot of nothing. The combined swell energy is literally zero for most of that time. There isn't a single wave to chase. About the only thing happening is the wind staying offshore or glassy, which is nice, but pointless without any swell.
The first tiny pulse of life shows up on Wednesday morning the 29th of July, but it’s a feeble 0.3 ft from the SW with very weak energy (3). That’s not surf. Thursday the 30th morning gets a little bump with a 0.7 ft groundswell from the SSW at 18 seconds, combined energy hitting 31. The water temp here is sitting at 80°, which is a touch above average for this time of year, but with no waves, that doesn't matter.
The best chance we get – and I’m using the term loosely – is on Sunday morning the 9th of August. We see a small 1 ft swell from the W, with a period of 13 seconds and the combined energy finally getting up to 62. It's still small, but it’s the most energy we see in the whole outlook. The wind is a light offshore from the NE, keeping it clean. For this spot, a W swell is what you want.
That’s it. There’s no standout session in the next two weeks. The reef at Kawaihae Breakwater is fairly consistent, but there’s just no swell to make it happen. It might look better for a kite surfer on those breezy days, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a write-off.
Stay patient, the forecasts can always change. Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NNE 8 | SW 14 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | NE 11 | SW 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 49 | 41 | 40 | 60 | 56 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | on | glassy | glassy | cross-off | glassy | off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 2:14PM0.70m | 1:52AM0.20m | 2:52PM0.72m | 2:37AM0.22m | 3:27PM0.74m | 3:16AM0.24m | 3:59PM0.76m | 3:54AM0.27m | 4:30PM0.76m | 4:33AM0.31m | 4:59PM0.74m | 5:14AM0.34m | 5:28PM0.71m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:52PM0.11m | 7:09AM0.01m | 10:16PM0.09m | 7:56AM-0.01m | 10:41PM0.08m | 8:38AM-0.02m | 11:05PM0.06m | 9:17AM-0.02m | 11:30PM0.05m | 9:55AM-0.00m | 11:55PM0.04m | 10:35AM0.03m | 00:20AM0.03m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — |
 | 7:02 | — | — | 7:02 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 10 | NNE 8 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | NE 11 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 162 | 126 | 123 | 120 | 93 | 93 | 27 | 91 | 187 | 321 | 471 | 237 | 112 | 43 | 45 | 69 | 59 | 68 | 54 | 13 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | NE 13 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | NNE 7 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | NE 8 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 102 | 102 | 86 | 84 | 48 | 42 | 33 | 60 | 37 | 39 | 37 | 40 | 33 | 26 | 10 | 49 | 41 | 40 | 15 | 56 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SW 14 | E 14 | E 15 | E 14 | E 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | — | — | — | ENE 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | N 9 | SW 15 | N 8 |
| kJ | 2 | 8 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 31 | 41 | 41 | — | — | — | 19 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 15 | 6 | 60 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 8 | — | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | — | SW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 93 | — | 125 | 222 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 34 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 35 | 35 | 88 | 35 | 35 | 86 | 49 | 35 | 50 | 46 | 21 | 23 | 88 | 35 | 86 | 87 | 35 | 88 | 91 | 35 |
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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