Surf Forecasts:
Kua Bay surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s period, SW swell with 109 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 16 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Kua Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Kua Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kua Bay in the next 16 days are 0.4m 18s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kua Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Imperial Units
Alright folks, Rusty here, and I gotta level with you. This forecast for Kua Bay is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, flat spell that stretches for over two weeks before we even see anything to get excited about. The first real date on the calendar with a pulse is Friday the 18th of September, but even that's a letdown. The problem is simple: no swell and wrong wind.
Kua Bay needs that WNW energy to pump. We get a tiny tease on Friday the 11th of September. The water is 82°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year. A little 1-foot swell from the SW (9 seconds) shows up with a clean cross-off breeze. The combined energy of all swells here is only 13, so it’s weak. You could get a fun little knee-high bump on a longboard, but it’s not worth a special trip.
Then comes the drought. The 12th and 13th of September are junk, with tiny 0.7ft to 2ft slop and poor period. The 14th and 15th are just as bad. From the 16th of September all the way through the 26th, it’s a wasteland. We see some longer-period swells (17-18 seconds) from the SW on the 18th and 23rd, but they’re all tagged with *poor surf conditions* and combined energy values from 8 up to 108 (which is only just moderate). On the 24th and 26th of September, we get onshore wind from the WNW, which will turn any hope into a blown-out mess.
The 26th of September, Saturday, has a 1ft W swell (14 seconds) with a glassy afternoon, but the energy is still weak (93), and it’s just not enough to break properly. Honestly, on some of those days with messy lumps and a bit of wind, this spot looks more interesting for kite surfing than for us paddle guys.
So, the honest truth? Grab a longboard for that tiny bump on the 11th if you're desperate, but otherwise, give it a miss. It doesn't stay this poor forever, and forecasts can change, but for now, this is a blank run.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Warm (max 27°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 26°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 11 | SW 9 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | NE 4 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | NNE 4 | SSW 21 | WSW 9 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 8 | SW 17 | W 8 | SW 16 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 29 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:00PM0.70m | 4:35AM0.67m | 4:29PM0.63m | 5:12AM0.70m | 4:56PM0.55m | 5:50AM0.70m | 5:21PM0.47m | 6:31AM0.69m | 5:43PM0.41m | 7:20AM0.66m | 5:58PM0.35m | 8:22AM0.62m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 9:51AM0.11m | 10:19PM0.05m | 10:36AM0.14m | 10:41PM0.06m | 11:23AM0.19m | 11:04PM0.07m | 12:12PM0.23m | 11:26PM0.09m | 1:09PM0.27m | 11:50PM0.11m | 2:29PM0.31m | 00:17AM0.14m | 00:53AM0.18m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — |
 | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:23 | — |
mm | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | 2 |
Temp °C | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 30 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | SW 14 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NNE 5 |
| kJ | 10 | 51 | 50 | 36 | 67 | 68 | 68 | 50 | 64 | 7 | 26 | 36 | 54 | 26 | 17 | 27 | 59 | 44 | 101 | 91 | 25 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | NE 4 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 10 | SSW 22 | SSW 21 | SW 20 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 |
| kJ | 26 | 57 | 57 | 60 | 29 | 7 | 15 | 21 | 20 | 8 | 46 | 45 | 98 | 23 | 22 | 79 | 152 | 75 | 65 | 64 | 148 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 11 | SW 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | WSW 8 | SW 14 | SSW 15 | W 11 | W 11 | SW 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | WSW 9 | SW 19 | SW 19 | NNE 8 | SW 8 | NE 8 | W 8 | SSW 18 | NE 8 |
| kJ | 24 | 13 | 20 | 9 | 7 | 29 | 22 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 18 | 17 | 8 | 96 | 94 | 11 | 3 | 16 | 1 | 34 | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | NNE 4 | — | NNE 8 | NNE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 10 | — | 61 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 98 | 22 | 4 | 98 | 100 | 98 | 98 | 98 | 14 | 98 | 4 | 14 | 30 | 16 | 14 | 30 | 24 | 14 | 100 | 19 | 20 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Big Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Kua Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Kua Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Kua Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Kua 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 (Kua 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 Kua 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.
Kua Bay is 97 km (60 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.
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