Kewalos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Alright, the short story is, we’re in for a long, slow start. The first seven or eight days are looking pretty lackluster, with a mix of short-period, wind-affected swell and marginal conditions. The real interest doesn’t start to build until we get into early September, and even then, the standout window is a fair way out. Patience is the name of the game.

We’re looking at Kewalos, a reef break for the advanced crew. The water is sitting at a warm 81°, which is about average for this time of year, so no wetsuit needed. Right now, through the end of August and into the very start of September, it’s a tough watch. The swell is coming from the east and east-northeast, with heights bouncing between 5 ft and 7 ft, but the period is short – 6 to 8 seconds. That’s all windswell, and with a fresh breeze blowing 19 to 22 mph from the east-northeast, it’s creating cross-offshore winds that keep the surface clean, but the waves are just weak and messy. The combined energy is moderate, sitting in the 500 to 700 range, but the quality just isn’t there. Most days are rated as poor or marginal. If you’re a local, you know this setup is more interesting for kite surfing than a proper paddle session.

A slight shift happens on Wednesday, 2nd September. The wind drops to a gentle breeze of 9 mph from the east-northeast, and the swell swings around to the south with a long period of 16 seconds. Wave heights are small, around 3 ft, but that long-period groundswell brings better shape and energy. The combined energy here is moderate (584), and the conditions are clean. It’s a glimmer of hope, but still small.

Now, the real standout window I’m keeping an eye on is from Saturday, 5th September, through to Monday, 7th September. On Saturday afternoon, the swell from the east-northeast picks up to 6 ft, with a period stretching to 11 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 1078, which is solid moderate. The wind is a moderate breeze from the east-northeast, keeping it clean. Sunday 6th September looks even better – morning sees 6 ft from the east-northeast with a period of 12 seconds, and the energy jumps to a strong 1621. The wind is still a moderate breeze from the east-northeast. This is the best on offer. It’s a long-period groundswell, so the sets will be well-spaced and powerful, with good shape. This break is a reef, so it should handle that long period well. Expect strong, clean surf. The crowds at Kewalos can be often, so be ready for company.

Monday 7th September is still solid, with a 5 ft easterly swell, 11-second period, and a gentle breeze from the east-southeast. The energy is strong at 1006, but the wind is a bit more cross-shore, so it won’t be quite as clean as the weekend.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a write-off for good surf. The best bet is the weekend of the 5th and 6th of September, with Sunday 6th looking like the standout. It’s a week and a half away, so keep an eye on the forecasts, but the potential is there for some proper waves.

Rusty.

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