Kewalos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Honestly, the first week or so is a bit of a grind. We’re staring down the barrel of a long stretch of poor surf through the end of August and into the very start of September. The trade winds are pumping from the ENE, mostly 18 to 25 mph, which is cross-offshore at Kewalos but it’s not making for any decent waves. The swell is small and short-period, around 5 ft to 6 ft at only 7 seconds, with combined wave energy sitting in the moderate range (500-650). The water temp is sitting at 81°, which is about normal for this time of year, so at least a dip is warm. It’s not until the 1st of September that we start seeing a flicker of life, but even then it’s marginal.

The real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, lands on the 7th of September. Mark the calendar. Monday morning we get a clean, glassy session at Kewalos. The wind swings around to a light 3 mph from the ENE, then goes absolutely dead calm by the afternoon with a WSW wind at 0 mph. The swell comes up to a solid 8 ft to 10 ft from the ENE, with a long period of 12 seconds. That’s proper groundswell. The combined energy is massive: 2630 and 2913. This is serious, powerful surf. The wave comment says it best: “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is not for the faint of heart. At over 8 ft, beginners need to stay well clear. This is strictly for the crew who know what they’re doing. The longer period will mean long lulls between sets, but the waves will have real shape and punch, especially on a reef like Kewalos. Crowds are often around here, but on a day like this, with that much power, the lineup might be a little thinner.

There’s a smaller, less certain window happening around the 3rd and 4th of September. We see a 7 ft to 8 ft ENE swell, but with a short, fat period of 8 seconds and fresh cross-offshore winds. It’s marginal, but it could be a warm-up for the main event. The combined energy is still high (over 1000), but the short period makes it more of a bumpy, less organized wave.

The 5th and 6th of September see a spike in period to 13-14 seconds with the same 8 ft ENE swell. The energy jumps into the very strong category (2150-2359). This is promising, but the wind is still fresher, so it won’t be as clean as the 7th. Still, a 14-second period groundswell at a reef break like Kewalos is special. It’s a long-range call, so keep an eye on it, but it looks like the swell train is building.

So, bottom line: suffer through the first week of weak, choppy, short-period slop. Keep your eyes on the 5th and 6th for a promising taste of bigger, longer-period swell, but the absolute pick of the entire 16-day window is the 7th of September. That’s the day for the experienced crew to get some. The rest of the time? It’s mostly a write-off.

Rusty.

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