
Surf Forecasts:
Kiholo Bay surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 14s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 3,324 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 7 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s 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 Monday (Sep 07) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 14s period. 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 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 14s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 2PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kiholo Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – the surf chart for our stretch of coast is looking pretty bleak for a good long while. We're talking about a solid run of flat, small, and messy conditions that'll test your patience.
We're looking at a real dry spell. From now through the 6th of September, there's basically nothing. Waves under a foot, light winds, but just no energy in the water at all. You'd be better off finding a nice book or doing literally anything else. This is a good week to get the gear fixed up.
Now, the first sign of life doesn't even show up until the 7th of September, and even then, it's a tease. On Monday morning, we finally see a pulse of swell, coming up to around 6ft from the southwest with a solid 13-second period. But the wind is straight onshore, and the call is "marginal" – it's going to be lumpy and a bit all over the place. The energy is strong though, we’re looking at a reading of 1102 in the water, so there’s some push to it. That afternoon it bumps up to 8ft from the SW with a 14-second period and the energy reading jumps to 2686, which is serious power. But the wind is still cross-onshore, keeping it from being clean. There's real size and juice here, but it won't be pretty. This is for the experienced crew only; the 8ft stuff is well past beginner territory.
The 8th is a step back. The swell hangs around 6ft in the morning but the period drops to 11 seconds and we get a moderate cross-shore breeze with a reading of 815, so it’s weaker and choppier. It’s a one-star sort of day. By the afternoon, it's fading fast to 4ft and turning to mush.
After that, it's like someone pulls the plug. The surf drops right off and we get a long stretch of nothing worthwhile from the 9th through the 18th of September. There are some funky long-period swells showing up in the data – you see periods of 16, 18, even 25 seconds – but the wave heights are pitiful, down around 0.3ft to 1ft. There's just no size behind them. A couple of mornings will be glassy, but with no swell to speak of, it’s not going to matter.
The one spot in mind is Kiholo Bay (Big Island). It’s a beach and point set-up that works best with a WNW swell, which is the complete opposite of what we're getting. That SW swell is going to be shadowed and mushy here.
The water temp is running pretty much average for this time of year, so no surprises there. And with the lack of any real swell, you won't have to worry about crowds. It's just going to be empty and flat.
So, here's the deal: if you're a glass-half-full type, the morning of the 7th is your only real shot, but expectations should be on the floor for a paddle, maybe not even a wave. Beyond that, you're waiting it out. It's a long, flat spell, but that's how it goes sometimes. Forecasts change, so keep an eye on it, but right now, don't hold your breath.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Tue morning, min 26°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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) | W 10 | NE 6 | W 9 | NNE 6 | SSW 12 | N 8 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 14 | N 10 | SW 13 | SW 14 | WSW 12 | W 11 | WNW 10 | W 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1102 | 2686 | 2059 | 815 | 248 | 38 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | on | glassy | cross | cross-on | on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 8:57AM0.68m | 6:22PM0.32m | 10:26AM0.70m | 9:07PM0.26m | 11:45AM0.74m | 11:48PM0.27m | 12:45PM0.78m | 1:01AM0.33m | 1:33PM0.81m | 1:51AM0.40m | 2:14PM0.82m | 2:34AM0.47m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:53AM0.09m | 5:34PM0.32m | 1:47AM0.12m | 7:35PM0.26m | 3:13AM0.14m | 7:49PM0.20m | 4:53AM0.13m | 8:13PM0.16m | 6:12AM0.11m | 8:38PM0.12m | 7:15AM0.09m | 9:03PM0.10m | |||||||
— | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
6:37 | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:36 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:34 | — | — | 6:32 | — | — | 6:31 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | NE 6 | NE 7 | S 13 | NE 6 | SSW 12 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | SSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 14 | WSW 12 | W 11 | WNW 10 | W 7 |
42 | 39 | 85 | 31 | 34 | 50 | 29 | 56 | 52 | 230 | 431 | 586 | 947 | 1102 | 2686 | 2059 | 815 | 248 | 38 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | NE 8 | S 14 | ENE 8 | SSW 12 | E 14 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 12 | ENE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 |
8 | 14 | 15 | 6 | 50 | 16 | 72 | 81 | 121 | 33 | 51 | 48 | 212 | 193 | 282 | 147 | 71 | 64 | 45 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | S 14 | W 9 | E 14 | E 14 | N 8 | ENE 14 | ENE 14 | ENE 14 | E 13 | E 13 | ENE 6 | N 10 | N 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | WSW 7 | NE 8 |
7 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 1 | 38 | 38 | 61 | 87 | 84 | 22 | 30 | 21 | 84 | 80 | 86 | 37 | 32 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | — | — | NNE 6 | — | NNE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 9 | — | — |
82 | — | — | 44 | — | 63 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 152 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 14 | 14 | 14 | 26 | 111 | 14 | 27 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 10 | 8 | 44 | 44 | 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.










