Surf Forecasts:
Kua Bay surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 17s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period, WNW swell with 91 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 17s 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kua Bay in the next 16 days are 0.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kua Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, it's Rusty here. Let’s look ahead at what Kua Bay has on offer.
To be straight with you, the coming weeks are looking pretty flat and quiet. We’ve got a long stretch of real small surf or no surf at all until we get to September, so patience is the name of the game. The water’s sitting at 82°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least the wait will be a warm one.
For the first ten days or so, from August 20th all the way through to the end of the month, the waves are mostly tiny or non-existent. You’ll see some pulses of small swell around Friday the 21st with a weak 2ft from the west, but the combined energy is low (98) and conditions are just ordinary. Saturday the 22nd afternoon goes glassy with a light 2ft west swell, but it’s not got any push to it. There’s a gap of several days from the 23rd onward where you’d be hard-pressed to find a wave worth paddling for. The swell energy bottoms out to zero for a few days around the end of August.
The only real standout in the whole outlook comes on Thursday the 3rd of September. We finally see a bit of life in the water. The combined swell energy climbs to a moderate 127, and by afternoon it hits 165, driven by a 2ft west swell with a very long period of 15 seconds. That’s a solid groundswell, and it will wrap in nicely here. The morning of the 3rd sees clean conditions with a cross-offshore southwest breeze, so it should be lined up. That long period will mean longer waits between sets, but the waves that come through will have some proper shape, ideally for the reef and point setups. It’s not massive, but for this stretch, it’s the best you’ll get.
Friday the 4th of September keeps the energy up with a 2ft west swell and combined energy around 203-206, but the wind goes cross and cross-onshore, so it won’t be as clean as the day before. Still, for anyone desperate, there’ll be something to ride.
Overall, it’s a long, drawn-out flat spell. The first week is a write-off for surfing. Keep your eyes on the 3rd of September – that’s your window for a proper session, especially if you can get out early before the wind gets messy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 26°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 26°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 18 | SW 17 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | W 10 | SW 15 | W 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NNE 5 | W 11 | NNE 5 | NE 5 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 49 | 47 | 35 | 52 | 59 | 50 | 37 | 59 | 91 | 77 | 46 | 19 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 0 | 47 | 21 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-off | glassy |
High Tide | 10:49AM0.62m | 12:03PM0.64m | 11:29PM0.26m | 12:58PM0.68m | 00:53AM0.29m | 1:40PM0.72m | 1:39AM0.32m | 2:15PM0.76m | 2:16AM0.36m | 2:46PM0.78m | 2:51AM0.41m | 3:15PM0.79m | 3:25AM0.47m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:15AM0.18m | 8:38PM0.25m | 8:45PM0.21m | 5:58AM0.15m | 9:01PM0.18m | 6:54AM0.12m | 9:20PM0.16m | 7:39AM0.10m | 9:39PM0.14m | 8:20AM0.08m | 9:58PM0.11m | ||||||||||
 | |  | | | |  | | | | |  | |  | |  | |  | | | | |
 | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:44 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | WNW 11 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NE 5 |
| kJ | 33 | 42 | 31 | 31 | 52 | 40 | 54 | 54 | 91 | 51 | 85 | 18 | 46 | 58 | 31 | 31 | 24 | 21 | 13 | 21 | 28 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | W 10 | WNW 10 | W 11 | SW 15 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | NE 5 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 38 | 23 | 35 | 52 | 59 | 50 | 33 | 59 | 58 | 77 | 46 | 8 | 11 | 35 | 32 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 21 | 29 | 17 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 | WSW 9 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | SSW 16 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 49 | 47 | 69 | 69 | 39 | 64 | 37 | 63 | 9 | 34 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 25 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 18 | 26 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | NNE 5 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 52 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 47 | 21 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 32 | 30 | 19 | 32 | 0 | 14 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 97 | 23 | 14 | 100 | 4 | 14 | 100 | 26 | 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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