Kewalos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into this one.

Right off the bat, this stretch is looking pretty average. The next few days are dominated by a strong cross-off wind from the ENE, blowing at over 18 mph at times. That’s going to mess with the surface a lot, even though the look of the wave is described as "clean". The swell energy is weak to moderate, with combined energy in the low hundreds for most of this first week. Honestly, the setup at Kewalos is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing for the first week or so. We’ve got head-high to just-over-head-high waves (5 ft to 7 ft) but the period is short, around 7 to 8 seconds, meaning weak, crumbly waves and not much push. The water temp is 79°, which is bang on average for this time of year.

From the 14th of July into the 15th, the swell drops right off to under 3 ft, and the period gets longer (13-14 seconds) coming from the SW, which is not the optimum direction for this break (they want SSE). The wind eases a bit, but the surf just isn’t there.

Honestly, the first 10 days are a write-off. We’re looking at a long gap of poor to marginal conditions right through until the 20th of July. There’s a tiny blip of marginal surf around the 20th, with some S swell at 3 ft and a decent period of 15-16 seconds, but combined energy is moderate (around 582-631). The wind is still a fresh cross-off, so not great.

Now, we get interesting. The real standout doesn't show up until the 26th of July – Sunday morning. That’s where things finally come together. We’re looking at a long-period S swell (19 seconds) with a solid 5 ft of wave height. The combined energy is over 1500 (1505 to be specific), which is strong. This is a proper groundswell, meaning powerful lines, good shape, and long waits between sets. The wind is a moderate cross-off from the ENE at 12 mph, which will keep the surface reasonably tidy. The 26th afternoon stays good too, with a 4 ft swell from the S at 18 seconds, energy still over 1100. That Sunday is the pick of the entire forecast, no question. It’s still not a perfect score, but by far the best on offer. Keep in mind, long-period groundswell like this can break a bit straight on a beach break, so it might be better at the reef sections of Kewalos. It’s a spot that is consistent, but with the crowds listed as "often", expect company out there.

Beyond that, the 24th of July has some S/SSW swell but the energy is lower (648-894) and the wind is stronger, so it’s not worth getting excited about.

So, to sum it up: a long dry spell until the last weekend of July, and then a proper Sunday session on the 26th if you can wait. Patience, my friends.

- Rusty

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