Kewalos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, this is Rusty. We’ve got a real mixed bag coming up for Kewalos over the next couple of weeks, so I’ll talk you through the whole stretch. Straight up, the early days are pretty grim – we’re looking at a long gap with no proper surf on offer. The first week, from Wednesday 8th July right through to about Monday 13th July, it’s mostly poor conditions with cross-off winds and a messy, short-period ENE swell. Nothing worth paddling out for. The combined wave energy is moderate at best, hitting between 718 and 842 (moderate energy), but the swell direction is ENE, which is off the optimum SSE direction for this reef, and the period’s only 7 to 8 seconds – that’s windswell territory, weak and crumbly. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no dramas there, but the wind is just too strong and the quality is rubbish.

From Tuesday 14th July onward, things get a little better – we shift into a run of marginal surf, still not great but at least you can find a ride if you’re keen. The mornings and afternons stay cross-off with ENE winds around 19 mph, so it’s clean but the swell is still mostly short period. By Wednesday 15th July afternoon, there’s a tiny glimmer – a 0.7m SW groundswell with a 14-second period comes through (combined energy 546, moderate), but it’s small and the wind’s still cross-off. Not a standout, but a hint of better things.

The real standout in this whole outlook is actually the first week of the second week – Kewalos (Oahu) on Monday 20th July morning. That’s the best on offer. We’ve got a 0.8m S swell rolling in with a 14-second period (combined energy 572, moderate), and the wind is a moderate 16 mph from the NE, which is cross-off and clean. The swell direction is S, which matches the optimum SSE direction pretty well for this exposed reef, so the waves will have shape and push. It’s small, under 1.5m, so it’s manageable for most surfers who know the reef. The break is consistent and the crowds are likely (“often”), but given the small size, it might not be too hectic. This is the pick of the fortnight – clean, long-period groundswell, decent energy, and good direction. It’s a week away, so keep an eye on it.

After that, the swell drops off again into the 21st and 22nd July, with some tiny S swells and a bit of ENE chop. Wednesday 22nd July afternoon has a 0.9m E swell at 14 seconds (632 energy, moderate) with clean cross-off wind – that’s another marginal option if you’re desperate.

Overall, it’s a flat start, a slow build into marginal surf, and one decent little window around Monday 20th. Don’t expect much until then. Stay patient.

Rusty

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