Surf Forecasts:
Kawaihae Breakwater surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 22 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 0.5ft (0.2m), 26s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 22 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 0.5ft (0.2m), 26s period, SSW swell with 65 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 0.5ft (0.2m), 26s period with SSW 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 Wednesday (Jul 22) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.2m and 26s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kawaihae Breakwater in the next 16 days are 0.2m 26s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 8s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 0.5ft (0.2m) 26s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 0.5ft (0.2m) 26s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 0.5ft (0.2m) 26s |
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’s cooking for the next couple of weeks.
We’re starting off with a real flat spell, I’m talking days of nothing. From Tuesday the 21st of July right through to the end of the month, it’s pretty much a write-off. The combined swell energy is barely registering – mostly single-digit or low double-digit numbers (21 to 64), and the wave heights are a tiny 0.6ft to 1ft. Even with the wind being light and offshore or glassy, there’s just nothing to push. The water is sitting at 80°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The first real glimmer of hope shows up on Friday the 31st of July. Kawaihae Breakwater (Big Island) starts to see a little life. The swell ticks up to 2ft to 2ft coming from the west, with a period of 13 seconds. That’s a nice long-period groundswell, which is a good sign for a reef break like this. The combined energy finally climbs into the triple digits (119) on Friday afternoon, and the wind goes glassy. It’s not huge, but after a ten-day drought, it’s a sight for sore eyes. The best of the bunch looks like Saturday the 1st of August. The morning and afternoon both have clean 2ft west swell, with a period of 12 seconds. The offshore wind from the NE is light, so the lineup will be tidy. The energy is solid (137 in the morning, 132 in the afternoon). This is the standout window. It’s small, so it’s perfect for a longboard or a funboard, and the crowds can be a factor here sometimes, so get in early.
The Sunday the 2nd of August still has some 2ft west swell, but it’s a touch weaker. After that, it fades back into the 1ft to 1ft range with very low energy, and the glassy conditions can’t make up for the lack of push. The second week looks pretty flat again, with nothing to get excited about. So, if you’re waiting for a session, the first weekend of August is your window.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Tue morning, min 24°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Fri morning, min 23°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 26 | SSW 24 | SSW 18 | SSW 22 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 20 | NNE 8 | SSW 11 | NNE 8 | SSW 10 | NNE 8 | SW 9 | NNE 8 | E 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 12 | 26 | 65 | 55 | 30 | 0 | 25 | 25 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 37 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 10:49AM0.54m | 8:47PM0.32m | 11:51AM0.59m | 9:44PM0.25m | 12:45PM0.63m | 11:28PM0.20m | 1:32PM0.66m | 00:54AM0.19m | 2:14PM0.70m | 1:52AM0.20m | 2:52PM0.72m | 2:37AM0.22m | 3:27PM0.74m | 3:16AM0.24m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:30PM0.29m | 3:48AM0.04m | 7:48PM0.24m | 4:32AM0.04m | 8:54PM0.19m | 5:23AM0.04m | 9:26PM0.14m | 6:18AM0.02m | 9:52PM0.11m | 7:09AM0.01m | 10:16PM0.09m | 7:56AM-0.01m | 10:41PM0.08m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — |
 | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:02 | — | — | 7:02 | — | — | 7:02 | — | — | 7:01 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 |
Feels °C | 30 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 5 | NE 6 | NNE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | SSW 16 | NNE 8 | ENE 15 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 |
| kJ | 31 | 37 | 47 | 16 | 44 | 17 | 47 | 62 | 52 | 61 | 65 | 101 | 98 | 126 | 100 | 126 | 50 | 98 | 71 | 91 | 71 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | NE 7 | SSW 23 | SSW 22 | SSW 20 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 20 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | E 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | ENE 14 | E 14 |
| kJ | 9 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 106 | 91 | 78 | 75 | 66 | 61 | 59 | 76 | 51 | 102 | 60 | 86 | 19 | 48 | 42 | 70 | 94 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 26 | SSW 24 | SSW 18 | ENE 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | S 13 | ENE 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 20 | S 11 | SSW 11 | E 16 | SSW 10 | E 15 | SW 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 12 | 26 | 65 | 55 | 30 | 13 | 25 | 25 | 30 | 13 | 5 | 25 | 37 | 2 | 12 | 20 | 10 | 42 | 12 | 41 | 41 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 8 | — | NNE 8 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 126 | — | 93 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 87 | 87 | 0 | 88 | 54 | 84 | 88 | 98 | 85 | 88 | 35 | 46 | 88 | 91 | 35 | 88 | 88 | 35 | 86 | 86 | 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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