Keaulanas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's have a look at what’s cookin’ for the Keaulanas stretch.

Right off the bat, this isn't a week for heroics. We’re looking at a pretty mellow start. The first session that’s worth paddling out for is Thursday morning, the 20th of August. It’s gonna be glassy, with a tiny 2ft SSW groundswell rolling in with a super long 18-second period. The water temp is sitting at a pleasant 81°, which is pretty standard for this time of year, so no surprises there. The combined energy is moderate at 288, so you’ll feel the pulse, but don't expect anything with much punch.

That Thursday morning vibe is the real highlight of the early run. It's glassy, and the sets will be clean and lined up, though small. That kind of long period groundswell (over 15 seconds) means those waves will have some serious shape but will be fat and mellow, making it a nice session for a longboard. The afternoon picks up a little cross-off breeze, but it stays clean.

Friday the 21st is more of the same lovely stuff. Another glassy morning, with the swell holding at 2ft from the SW and the energy bumping up to a solid moderate 373. It's consistent, clean, and the water's flat. This is the kind of day you call in sick for.

Now, things take a turn over the weekend. From Saturday the 22nd, the wind starts howling out of the ENE at 15-19 mph. The swell stays small but the energy is there (424 on Saturday morning), but that cross-off wind is just gonna make things bumpy and tricky. It's marginal at best. Sunday the 23rd brings a fresh offshore wind (22 mph), which will groom the 2ft swell, but it's a battle. Unless you're a glutton for punishment or have a kite, it's not the best paddle surfing. The energy drops through the week, and we see a few days of poor to marginal conditions.

Hang in there though, because the real standout is shaping up for Thursday the 27th of August. The swell bumps up to 4ft from the S with a 17-second period, and the combined energy hits a strong 811. That is proper, clean, glassy power. This is the pick of the whole 16-day window. The wind is dead calm in the morning and glassy again in the afternoon. It's going to be a beautiful day at Keaulanas with some real push behind the sets. The water will still be warm and calm.

After that, we get a few more days of cleaner, smaller surf into the start of September, but nothing that matches that Thursday. The 1st of September has some gentle offshore winds, and the 2nd is glassy again, but the energy is lower. The end of the window on the 3rd of September sees the swell pick up to 4ft, but the wind turns cross-onshore, making it choppy and marginal. Not the best way to finish.

So, to boil it down: the absolute best bet is Thursday the 27th of August. It's the biggest, cleanest, and most powerful swell in the whole run. Grab your board, paddle out early, and enjoy the glass. The smaller, glassy mornings on the 20th and 21st are also beautiful little windows. The rest is a bit of a mixed bag with wind.

Stay stoked, and keep your eyes on that 27th.

Rusty.

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