Kiholo Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s your pal Rusty here. Let’s have a real talk about what’s happening at Kiholo Bay. Straight up, this is a tough stretch. We’re looking at a long, dry run of tiny to no surf for nearly two full weeks.

The water’s sitting at a warm 82°, which is about a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – you won’t need a wetsuit, that’s for sure.

Right now, through the end of August and into the first week of September, it’s pretty bleak. The swell is flat or barely a ripple. We’re talking 0.7 ft waves with weak energy readings (3 to 11). The wind is mostly light or glassy, which keeps the water clean, but there’s just no push. You’ll be floating around on a lake. There are a few tiny bumps showing on the 31st from the southwest with a period of 15 seconds (a long period groundswell), but the energy is still very weak at 33. It’s just enough to get your hopes up and then dash them.

Things start to look a little more interesting around the second weekend of September. By Saturday the 11th, we finally see some proper swell energy building. The morning shows a 2 ft W swell with a period of 15 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 163 (moderate). The wind is light cross-onshore, which isn’t perfect but won’t ruin it. The afternoon gets even better with 2 ft from the west, a 14-second period, and a combined energy of 200 (moderate).

That Sunday, the 12th of September, offers a similar story. There’s a 2 ft W swell with a long 14-second period and energy at 179, with light onshore wind in the morning. This is the closest we get to a standout. For a spot that’s fairly exposed to the west-northwest, that’s the right direction. Just keep in mind, a long-period swell like this (over 15 seconds) can make a point break or reef work better than a beach break, and Kiholo Bay’s a mix, so it might be a bit straight at times. Also, keep an eye out for crowds here—they’re *sometimes* an issue.

Before that, the period from the 5th to the 10th of September is mostly flat or tiny junk, with some cross-offshore wind on the afternoon of the 6th that keeps it clean, but the swell is still just 1 ft and weak.

So here’s the bottom line: You’re going to have a lot of time for tanning and snorkeling. If you absolutely need to surf, the best bet is the 11th and 12th of September. The swell is still small, but it’s the most energy we’ll see in the whole 16-day window. It’ll be rideable for intermediates, but don’t expect pumping waves.

Stay patient, and keep checking the charts. Rusty, signing off.

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