Kewalos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the outlook for our local stretch.

Honestly, if you’re itching for a proper session, you’re gonna have to be patient. The next couple of days are a bit of a write-off with small, weak swell and tricky conditions. The real highlight doesn’t show up until Wednesday afternoon, September 9th, and it’s a beaut.

The star of the show is Kewalos (reef). We’ve got a clean 3 ft swell rolling in from the SSW with a solid 13-second period. That’s a proper groundswell, and the wind is light, cross-offshore. That combo is going to serve up some clean, lined-up waves on the reef. The water is sitting at a warm 81°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no surprises there. The combined energy is moderate (563), so it won’t be a wall of whitewater, but there’s enough juice to get a few good ones. The light wind and clean conditions make this the standout. Keep in mind this is an advanced spot, so it’s not for the groms.

Wednesday morning, September 9th, is the warm-up act. The swell is the same size (3 ft) and direction (SSW), but with a slightly longer period of 14 seconds. The wind is light and cross-shore, so it’s workable, but the morning has a bit of ripple on it. It’s a solid option, but the afternoon is the cleaner of the two.

Thursday, September 10th, the wind picks up hard out of the ENE at 15 mph. The swell jumps to 5 ft, but it’s short-period, choppy stuff with a period of only 7 seconds. The energy is moderate (466), but the wind is going to make it a bumpy, messy affair. Not the day for a clean ride.

Friday, September 11th, the swell drops back to 4 ft from the ENE, with a period of 11 seconds. The wind is still a stiff cross-offshore breeze. The energy is moderate (575). It’s clean, but the size is a bit small and the wind is a factor. It’s a “maybe” session for the keen.

Saturday, September 12th, the swell bottoms out. Small, 2 ft from the SW with a long period of 15 seconds, but the energy is weak (370). The wind is a cross-offshore breeze. It’s clean, but there’s not much push.

Sunday, September 13th, through Tuesday, September 15th, the swell is tiny and the energy is weak. The wind is up, but the waves are barely there. A real flat spell. You’re looking at 1 ft to 2 ft swells with very little energy (135-593). The long period (20-23 seconds) on the 14th and 15th will make these waves slow and fat, better for a point break than a reef. Not much to write home about.

Wednesday, September 16th, the swell picks up again. 3 ft from the SSW with a period of 18 seconds. The energy is moderate (913). The wind is a stiff cross-offshore breeze, so it’ll be clean but the long period might make the waves a bit sectiony on the reef.

Thursday, September 17th, through Friday, September 18th, the swell builds to 5 ft to 6 ft from the E and ENE. The period is short (8-9 seconds), so it’s going to be a windswell. The energy is strong (702-1014). The wind is onshore or cross-offshore at 15-22 mph. This is a big, bumpy, messy setup. For a reef break, this is more likely to be a blown-out, white-knuckle paddle than a fun session. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Saturday, September 19th, through Tuesday, September 22nd, the swell drops again. 3 ft to 5 ft from various directions. The energy is moderate (249-760). The wind is a fresh to strong breeze, making it clean but not worth the effort for the size.

Wednesday, September 23rd, the last day in the window. The swell is 5 ft from the ENE with a period of 6 seconds, but there’s a risk of thunderstorms. The wind is light and cross-shore. The energy is moderate (397). It’s a risky gamble with the weather.

So, the bottom line: Wednesday afternoon, September 9th, at Kewalos. That’s the one. Clean, light wind, and a decent SSW groundswell. Everything else in the next week is a struggle.

Rusty.

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