Kawaihae Breakwater Surf Break

Lat Long: 20.05° N 155.84° W

Kawaihae Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 10 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Kawaihae Breakwater sea temperature is
26.8° C
1.0° 

Kawaihae Breakwater surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Kawaihae Breakwater surf forecast from 10 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 19s period, W swell with offshore 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★+): Friday 10 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 15s period with W 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 Friday (Jul 10) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 19s. 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 cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 11) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (HST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Fri 10th Jul)1.5ft (0.4m) 15s
Best Surf11AM (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, lookin’ at the charts for our stretch. It’s gonna be a bit of a slow burner, so don’t go gettin’ your hopes up for the next few days.

Right off the bat, Kawaihae Breakwater has got nothin’ for ya. The swell is barely a ripple at 1ft from the west, and it’s weak as dishwater, with a combined swell energy of just 45. The water’s sitting at a warm 80°, which is about a degree and a half warmer than normal for this time of year, so it’s a touch more tropical than usual. But the surf? It’s poor. Honestly, Friday is a write-off.

We’ve got a gap of quiet days to sit through. Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th are still small, with 1ft waves and energy barely tickling 100. They’re surfable, but very ordinary. Monday the 13th is the same story – you’d be paddling for tiny, weak lines.

Now, Tuesday the 14th morning is where it starts to wake up. The swell bumps to 2ft from the west, and that combined energy jumps to 298, which is a solid pulse. The wind is a gentle offshore, makin’ for clean faces. That’s the first real standout of the period. The period is 19 seconds too, which is a long-period groundswell – that means better shaped waves and more punch, but also longer waits between sets. It’s a reef break, so that long period will wrap in nicely.

Wednesday the 15th is the best on offer. Swell is up to 3ft from the west, with a combined energy reading of 352 – that’s proper moderate energy for this spot. The wind goes glassy in the morning and stays light offshore through the afternoon. This is the one to circle. The period is 15 seconds, still a nice groundswell, makin’ for some really good conditions.

Thursday the 16th keeps that 3ft west swell goin’ with energy in the 300s, and again, glassy or light offshore winds. That’s a solid run of days from Tuesday through Thursday.

After that, it fades. Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th are back to ordinary, small surf. By Sunday the 19th, we’re dropping into 1ft and less, with energy numbers in the 50s and lower. There’s another long quiet spell from the 19th all the way through to the 24th – just tiny, poor conditions. It’s only on Friday the 24th afternoon that we see a little 1ft bump from the southwest with energy just cracking 100 again, but it’s nothin’ to write home about.

So, the standout window is Tuesday the 14th through Thursday the 16th. For a reef break with that long-period west swell and those light winds, you want to be there. Crowds can show up sometimes, but with waves this clean and lined up, it’ll be worth it.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Fri afternoon, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 27°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
W
13
0.3
W
14
0.3
W
13
0.4
W
14
0.4
SW
18
0.4
SW
17
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
15
0.4
SW
14
0.5
W
18
0.6
W
19
0.6
W
16
0.7
W
17
0.8
W
16
0.8
W
15
0.8
W
15
0.8
W
15
0.8
W
15
0.7
W
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
31
37
29
61
79
77
66
64
62
57
54
162
251
198
270
310
302
291
275
272
206
Wind (km/h)
15
NE
20
NE
15
ENE
15
NE
25
NE
15
ENE
15
NNE
20
ENE
20
ENE
15
NE
20
NE
10
ENE
15
NE
5
NNE
10
ENE
5
NNE
5
NE
10
ENE
10
NNE
5
ENE
10
ENE
Wind State
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
glassy
cross-off
glassy
off
cross-off
off
glassy
cross-off
High Tide
1:30PM0.77m
00:46AM0.21m
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
Low Tide
9:02PM0.12m
6:31AM-0.08m
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
clear
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rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
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<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:50
5:50
5:50
5:50
5:52
5:52
5:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:06
7:06
7:06
7:06
7:06
7:06
7:05
 mm
1
Temp °C
27
28
26
27
27
26
27
27
25
26
27
25
27
27
25
27
27
25
27
27
25
Feels °C
28
29
27
28
27
26
28
28
25
26
27
25
28
29
28
29
30
27
28
30
27
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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