Kihei Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cookin’ for the next stretch on the south side of Maui.

We’ve got a real slow-burner of a run ahead. The whole period is anchored by one spot – Kihei Cove – a beginner-friendly reef setup that’s far from the biggest, but it’s hanging on with a classic trade-wind flow. The water temp is sitting right around average for the time of year, nothing to write home about, just comfortable.

The real story starts Wednesday, August 26th. It’s modest, but it’s clean. A 2ft south-southwest swell with a nice 14-second period is already wrapping in, and we’ve got a gentle offshore breeze from the north-northeast. The wave energy is moderate, just over 366 (units), but the wind is off and the sky is clear. It’s not gonna shake the world, but it’s glassy and rideable for the longboard or the foiler. That swell builds just a touch into Thursday morning, August 27th, hitting 3ft from the south-southwest with a 16-second period, and the energy climbs to 957 (units). The wind is light offshore from the northeast. That’s the best combination of the whole run before the weekend – clean, consistent, and friendly.

Friday, August 28th, the swell backs off a little, but we’re still in the 2ft range with that same offshore flow. It’s fine, but not a standout. By Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th, the swell drops hard to around 2ft. The wind holds off on Sunday morning though, going completely glassy. The waves are tiny, but if you’re into the micro-session, it’s a quiet, clean window.

Now, for the real standout. You’ve gotta wait for Tuesday, September 1st. The wind goes dead glassy from the west, and the swell bumps back up to 3ft from the south-southwest, with a long 18-second period. That’s the kind of pulse that brings some real shape to the reef. The energy is moderate (452 units), and it looks like a sneaky good session for the early birds. This is the one to circle if you’re looking for the best wave of the forecast.

The following days are a mixed bag. Wednesday September 2nd keeps the glassy morning vibe, with a 3ft swell and 16-second period. The wind stays offshore until the afternoon, when it stays clean but gets a little breezier. Then things get a bit more ordinary toward the end of the first week, with a lot of 2ft to 2ft days.

Then we run into a wall. Around September 8th, a stormy pattern kicks in. The swell jumps up to 6ft from the south-southwest, but the wind swings onshore and it gets choppy and messy. The energy spikes to 1274 (units) – that’s strong wave energy – but the quality is poor. This is strictly for the experts if they’re desperate, and honestly, it looks more like a kite session than a paddle session for most folks. That lasts through the 9th and into the 10th, finishing with a short-period 8-second leftover.

So, bottom line: don’t hold your breath for the second week. The standout is definitely Tuesday, September 1st, with that glassy morning and clean 3ft groundswell. If you’re a beginner, the whole first week is safe and fun, especially the 27th and 28th. After that, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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