Kewalos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get into it.

The next couple of weeks are looking pretty tough, to be honest. We've got a long stretch of onshore wind and disorganized swell ahead. For a spot like Kewalos, which is a consistent reef break that needs a clean south swell, we're looking at a block of days where it just won't be doing much. There is a big pulse of energy showing on the 15th, but that comes with a massive swell that's just too much for the break. Let’s walk through it.

For the first run of days, from Saturday the 8th through Thursday the 13th, we're stuck with a cross-offshore wind that's pumping at 15 to 25 mph. The surf is there, but it's mostly short-period ENE windswell, only 6 to 8 seconds, and in the 5ft to 5ft range. It's clean in the sense that there's no chop, but the energy is just weak. The combined energy is moderate, in the 400 to 600 (moderate wave energy) range most of the time, though it starts to pick up a little on the 12th and 13th as a longer period S swell shows up. That S swell gives us 3ft waves at a better 15-18 second period, and the energy rises to over 1000 (moderate wave energy), but it's still not quite enough to get the reef working. The water is 81° with a normal anomaly of 0.7° at the start, so nothing weird there.

The real kicker is the wind. That ENE cross-off remains relentless. Even with a good swell direction, the constant pressure will keep things bumpy and hard to read.

Now, for the standout: Saturday, the 15th of August. The swell direction is E, and the height jumps to a massive 33ft with a period of 14 seconds. The combined energy is a staggering 40341 (very strong wave energy). But look, this is way too big for Kewalos. The notes say it's "too big for this break," and they're right. This is a time to be on the cliff watching, not in the water. This is for experts only, and even they would be pushing their luck.

After that peak, things start to settle. Sunday the 16th sees the swell drop to 12ft from the SSE with a 10-second period. That's a bit more manageable, but the wind is up again at 12 mph, and the energy is still strong at 3572 (strong wave energy). It's a marginal call. The rest of the second week, from the 17th through the 23rd, is pretty forgettable. We're back to smaller, weak ENE windswell with poor quality, and the wind is still cross-offshore. The energy drops off significantly, mostly staying under 700 (weak to moderate wave energy). It’s a real grind. The few days with a S swell in the 2ft to 3ft range from the 17th to the 18th just don’t have the juice.

So, the bottom line is, there's really only one true standout, and that's the 15th, but it's a pass for most of us. The setup looks far more interesting for the kite surfers than for paddle surfers on that day. Otherwise, we're looking at a lot of waiting.

Keep an eye on the charts, this is a spot that can turn on quickly with a proper south groundswell.

Rusty.

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