
Surf Forecasts:
Kua Bay surf forecast from 8 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 16s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 15 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s period, W swell with 298 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 10 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 15s period with W 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 Friday (Jul 10) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 15s 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 0.8m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 11) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Tue 14th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 15th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kua Bay over the next 16 days.
Alright, let me tell you about Kua Bay. The forecast ahead is pretty grim, I won't sugarcoat it. We're looking at a long stretch of tiny, weak surf with barely enough energy to get you wet. You're going to see a whole lot of flat days mixed in with only the faintest pulses of bump.
First off, the water temp is sitting around 81°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. Nice for a swim, but it doesn't make the waves any better.
Right from Wednesday, July 8th, it's a no-go. We're looking at zero swell and light cross-onshore breezes. It pretty much stays that way through the end of the week. Thursday morning the 9th offers a tiny 0.65ft W swell with a long 15-second period, but the wind is onshore, so it's just messy. Thursday afternoon goes glassy but the swell is still pitiful. Friday the 10th is the same story; a bit of a 0.98ft W groundswell but it's not enough to even stand up on.
We finally see some energy show up on Saturday the 11th. The combined energy climbs to a weak-to-moderate 112, with a 1ft W swell and a period of 14 seconds. Saturday morning has a bit of cross-on wind, but Saturday afternoon goes glassy. Still, calling it surfable is a stretch. Sunday the 12th is a little better, with a 1ft SW swell, period up to 16 seconds, and the combined energy ticks up to 121. Sunday afternoon goes glassy with 1ft, and the comment says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." That's the best we get for a while. That same pattern of tiny 1ft SW swell and glassy afternoons repeats Monday the 13th.
Tuesday the 14th sees a slight uptick. The morning has a 2ft W swell with a very long 17-second period, pushing combined energy to 153. The wind is cross-on, so it's not clean. Tuesday afternoon cleans up with a cross-off breeze, and the swell bumps to 2ft with a 16-second period and energy of 193 – that's the first real "clean" window.
We hit the peak of this entire 16-day window on Wednesday July 15th and Thursday July 16th. The swell holds at 3ft from the W with a 15-16 second period, and combined energy jumps to around 300. That's moderate energy. But here's the catch: the wind is consistently cross-onshore, keeping things bumpy. The forecast notes it as "marginal surf forecast." It's the biggest swell of the run, but it's not clean.
Friday July 17th is the real standout. The morning is a no-go with onshore wind, but by Friday afternoon, the wind swings to a cross-off from the SSW at 9 mph. The swell is 2ft from the W with a 15-second period and combined energy of 212. The comment says "expect good surf conditions." This is your best bet. A solid, clean, long-period groundswell with offshore wind. It'll be lined up.
After that, it's all downhill. Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th drop back to 2ft and 1ft with messy cross-shore winds. The last few days from July 20th through the 23rd go completely flat again, with zero combined energy. A long, frustrating blank run to end the outlook.
So, the one and only true standout is Friday July 17th afternoon at Kua Bay. That WNW swell direction is right in the zone for this spot. With the clean cross-off wind, you'll get some fun, hollow little corners. It won't be big, but it'll be the best quality of the whole period. Don't expect crowds to be a problem for a wave that small, but it's your only real chance for a proper surf.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Wed morning, min 25°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat morning, min 25°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 7 | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 | W 16 | W 13 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | W 18 | W 17 | W 16 | W 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 31 | 37 | 32 | 61 | 64 | 55 | 91 | 89 | 86 | 77 | 73 | 160 | 153 | 193 | 260 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | on |
High Tide | 11:22AM0.64m | 9:39PM0.40m | 12:22PM0.73m | 11:07PM0.34m | 1:17PM0.81m | 00:33AM0.31m | 2:08PM0.88m | 1:44AM0.30m | 2:56PM0.93m | 2:43AM0.32m | 3:41PM0.96m | 3:37AM0.34m | 4:24PM0.95m | 4:28AM0.37m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:03PM0.35m | 4:30AM0.07m | 7:43PM0.29m | 5:25AM0.05m | 8:45PM0.22m | 6:22AM0.02m | 9:33PM0.17m | 7:18AM-0.00m | 10:14PM0.13m | 8:12AM-0.02m | 10:53PM0.10m | 9:03AM-0.02m | 11:30PM0.09m | ||||||||
5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | |
— | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:06 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | SSW 13 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | SW 16 | NNE 7 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 |
77 | 90 | 79 | 77 | 16 | 78 | 69 | 75 | 37 | 105 | 123 | 75 | 91 | 104 | 86 | 77 | 73 | 53 | 75 | 77 | 62 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 14 | SSW 12 | W 13 | W 14 | NE 7 | W 14 | W 14 | SW 17 | W 13 | SW 16 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 18 | W 17 | W 16 | W 16 |
38 | 37 | 35 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 31 | 37 | 12 | 61 | 64 | 77 | 30 | 89 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 160 | 153 | 193 | 260 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | W 18 | W 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | W 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 13 | S 10 | W 13 | W 21 | W 16 | W 19 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
— | 5 | 5 | 17 | 6 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 32 | 51 | 79 | 55 | 2 | 28 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 51 | 47 | 46 | 44 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 7 | — | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 93 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 104 | — | 142 | 107 | 84 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 100 | 4 | 100 | 4 | 4 | 100 | 19 | 4 | 30 | 4 | 20 | 32 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 10 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Big Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










