Surf Forecasts:
Kua Bay surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period, WNW swell with 57 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period with WNW 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s. 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 0.4m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11PM. 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 9s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kua Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s get into it.
We’re looking at a long, quiet stretch here at Kua Bay. The water’s sitting pretty warm, about 82°F, which is a solid couple of degrees above the usual for this time of year – that’s a nice little bonus if you’re paddling out.
To be straight with you, the next two weeks are grim for waves. We’ve got a massive gap with no real surf on offer. From Saturday the 15th of August all the way through until the very end of the month, every single report calls for poor surf conditions. There’s nothing to recommend until the tail end of the period. You’re looking at at least a couple of weeks of flatness.
The only sliver of hope is on Sunday afternoon the 30th of August. Even then, it’s nothing to write home about. We’ll see a small 3 ft swell rolling in from the west-southwest, with a period of 11 seconds. The combined swell energy gets into the moderate range at 176, so there’s a bit of push behind it, but it’s still small. The wind goes cross-offshore from the south-southwest at 6 mph, so it’ll be clean. But honestly, the report still calls it “very ordinary conditions” – it’s surfable, but barely worth paddling out for.
If you are absolutely desperate for a surf, that Sunday afternoon is your window, but don’t expect much. The break is exposed to a WNW swell, and this small WSW groundswell might wrap in okay, but with such small size, it’s pretty limited. Crowds can show up here sometimes, so if you do go, you might not be alone on those tiny waves.
For anyone reading this... it’s a tough outlook. We’re in a proper lull. Don’t hold your breath.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 26°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 27°C on Wed morning, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NNE 8 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | NNE 5 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | W 11 | WSW 8 | SW 16 | W 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 0 | 32 | 49 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 33 | 48 | 28 | 41 | 49 | 47 | 9 | 7 | 39 | 9 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | glassy | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 6:30AM0.60m | 6:02PM0.58m | 7:19AM0.61m | 6:25PM0.49m | 8:16AM0.61m | 6:42PM0.41m | 9:26AM0.61m | 10:49AM0.62m | 12:03PM0.64m | 11:29PM0.26m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 00:06AM0.08m | 12:18PM0.24m | 00:32AM0.09m | 1:18PM0.30m | 00:58AM0.11m | 2:41PM0.35m | 1:28AM0.14m | 2:09AM0.16m | 3:15AM0.18m | 8:38PM0.25m | |||||||||
 |  | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | |  | |  | |
 | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — |
 | 6:52 | — | 6:51 | — | — | 6:51 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:47 | — |
mm | 22 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
Feels °C | 31 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | WNW 11 | NNE 5 | NE 7 | NNE 4 | WNW 12 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 |
| kJ | 133 | 98 | 77 | 65 | 45 | 49 | 25 | 17 | 14 | 8 | 48 | 23 | 23 | 16 | 17 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 31 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | ENE 8 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 13 | SSW 16 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 50 | 16 | 18 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 6 | 25 | 25 | 33 | 25 | 28 | 25 | 49 | 47 | 69 | 69 | 39 | 64 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 8 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | SW 5 | WSW 5 | S 14 | S 13 | ENE 8 | W 13 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 11 | WSW 8 | W 10 | W 10 |
| kJ | 24 | 32 | 49 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 25 | 41 | 24 | 23 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 5 | — | NNE 5 | — | NNE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | — | 9 | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 51 | 30 | 26 | 100 | 4 | 39 | 100 | 100 | 39 | 30 | 98 | 4 | 32 | 17 | 23 | 30 | 97 | 14 |
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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