Surf Forecasts:
Kiholo Bay surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 12s period, WNW swell with 78 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 16s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Kiholo Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Kiholo Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kiholo Bay in the next 16 days are 0.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 7s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kiholo Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab your board and listen up. Rusty here.
First up, straight talk: this is not our finest moment. The forecast for Kiholo Bay over the next two weeks is a real mixed bag of tiny, weak, and messy. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor conditions with barely a ripple, so don't get your hopes up for anything epic. The water temp is sitting at 81°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year, no big surprises there.
The first real glimmer of anything surfable doesn't show until Wednesday the 26th. The morning of the 26th, we’ve got a clean, glassy start with a 2ft SW swell pushing through at 11 seconds. The energy is moderate (121) but the waves are just "surfable" and nothing to write home about. By the afternoon, that onshore wind kicks up and ruins it. Thursday the 27th offers another brief window in the afternoon with glassy conditions and a similar 2ft WSW swell (99 energy), but again, it’s just ordinary.
Friday the 28th might be your best bet across the whole outlook. The morning is glassy with a 2ft WSW swell (88 energy) and the afternoon stays glassy with the same size swell (91 energy). It’s small, but it’s clean. If you’re desperate for a paddle, that’s the time to go. After that, it’s back to tiny, weak, and mostly onshore junk through the end of the month and into September 1st.
For the standout here, it’s got to be the Friday the 28th session at Kiholo Bay. A 2ft swell from the WSW, clean and glassy both morning and afternoon. It’s nothing massive, but when the rest of the forecast is flat or blown out, that’s the one to aim for. Just know the crowds can show up at Kiholo Bay sometimes, so don’t expect to have it all to yourself.
A bit of a warning: for beginners, this whole period is pretty underwhelming. Nothing gets over 3ft, so it’s all small fry stuff. On Wednesday the 2nd of September, the afternoon swell jumps to 3ft from the SW with a solid energy reading of 173 (moderate), but the onshore wind will have it chopped. That might be more of a kite surfing kind of day than a clean paddle session.
So, to sum it up: there’s a long dry spell before we get anything, and even then, it’s just small, clean windows. Friday the 28th is your best shot. Don’t expect much else.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Tue afternoon, min 26°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Sat morning, min 26°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | W 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SW 15 | WNW 10 | NW 12 | SW 15 | NW 10 | WNW 10 | NNE 7 | NW 11 | NNE 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
25 | 25 | 33 | 48 | 28 | 41 | 49 | 47 | 21 | 36 | 34 | 34 | 37 | 36 | 38 | 46 | 26 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | glassy | glassy | on | cross | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 8:14AM0.60m | 6:29PM0.41m | 9:26AM0.60m | 10:50AM0.61m | 12:03PM0.64m | 11:21PM0.26m | 12:57PM0.68m | 00:46AM0.28m | 1:38PM0.72m | 1:33AM0.32m | 2:12PM0.75m | 2:09AM0.36m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 2:39PM0.36m | 1:22AM0.14m | 2:03AM0.16m | 3:10AM0.18m | 8:46PM0.25m | 8:47PM0.22m | 5:53AM0.15m | 9:01PM0.19m | 6:48AM0.12m | 9:18PM0.17m | |||||||||||
6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | |
— | 6:50 | — | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | NE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 4 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | WNW 10 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 5 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 6 |
9 | 21 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 23 | 24 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 52 | 43 | 54 | 75 | 35 | 51 | 73 | 13 | 38 | 102 | 47 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | WNW 11 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NW 12 | WNW 11 | NW 10 | N 6 | NE 5 | SSW 13 | ENE 7 |
9 | 25 | 33 | 48 | 28 | 25 | 49 | 47 | 69 | 36 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 36 | 38 | 46 | 26 | 17 | 7 | 35 | 21 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | W 13 | ENE 7 | NNE 7 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 11 | W 11 | W 11 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | WNW 10 | SSW 14 | NW 11 | SSW 12 |
25 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 25 | 41 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 69 | 65 | 64 | 37 | 63 | 36 | 34 | 21 | 9 | 19 | 5 | 30 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NNE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 97 | 94 | 14 | 94 | 0 | 12 | 23 | 14 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 14 | 21 | 0 | 23 | 111 | 22 | 43 | 31 | 14 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Big Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Kiholo Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Kiholo Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Kiholo Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Kiholo Bay surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Kiholo Bay) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Kiholo Bay may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Kiholo Bay is 89 km (55 miles) from Hilo. If you plan a vacation in Big Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Hilo. Hilo has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











