Kua Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 19.81° N 156.01° W

Kua Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 19 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Kua Bay sea temperature is
27.4° C
0.8° 

Kua Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Kua Bay surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 17s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 6s period, NE swell with 236 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 glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Kua Bay in the next 16 days are 1.9m 6s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 5PM. 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 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (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 5PM (Sun 23rd Aug)6ft (1.9m) 6s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kua Bay over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get into it.

To be straight up with you, this forecast is a tough one. We’re looking at a pretty flat spell ahead with only one day that even nudges into being worth mentioning, and that's way off. The surf is going to be scarce for the better part of the next two weeks.

Starting now, we have a long stretch of tiny, weak conditions. The swell is basically non-existent, with energy readings in the single digits and teens – for instance, we see a reading of just 28 on the afternoon of the 19th, and a lot of zeros. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing wild to report there. You’ll see some glassy mornings, like Wednesday the 19th afternoon and Monday the 24th morning, but with waves that are only 0.7 ft to 1 ft, it’s flat. It’s not even worth paddling out for.

This run of poor surf goes on through the end of August. On the 30th, we get a tiny bump from a long-period WNW groundswell (14 to 15 seconds), which is a sign of some energy out there, but it only pushes the wave height to 1 ft. The energy is still weak at 52-67, and the conditions are just "clean" but not surfable. This is a frustrating stretch.

Finally, the best of a bad bunch arrives on Monday the 31st. The morning shows a WNW swell at 1 ft with a 13-second period, and the combined energy reaches 93 – still just moderate, but it’s the most we’ve seen. Critically, the wind goes glassy. That’s a major positive. The wave comment even says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." For where we are, that’s the highlight. But at 1 ft, it’s tiny, and the period is long enough that it might be a bit straight at a beach break. Still, for a complete beginner looking for a splash, it’s a clean window. Any more experienced surfer is going to be left wanting.

After that, it fades right back into tiny, weak surf and poor conditions through the first few days of September, with a mod-crosh wind messing things up on the 2nd.

So, there it is. A long, dry spell with one small, glassy moment way out on Monday the 31st. Not much to get excited about, but that’s how it goes sometimes.

Rusty, signing off.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Wed morning, min 25°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun morning, min 26°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, fresh winds from the NE by Sun morning).

Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
WNW
12
0.3
WNW
12
0.3
SW
16
0.3
SW
18
0.3
SW
17
0.4
W
11
0.5
W
10
0.5
W
10
0.5
W
11
0.5
W
10
0.5
WNW
10
0.5
WNW
10
1.5
NE
5
1.9
NE
6
0.3
SW
14
0.2
WNW
12
0.2
WNW
11
0.8
NE
8
0.8
NE
7
0.7
NE
6
0.6
NNE
5
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
48
28
41
49
47
35
54
52
57
53
62
62
129
236
32
13
13
0
0
0
0
Wind (km/h)
5
WNW
5
WNW
5
SW
10
WNW
5
NW
10
SSW
10
WNW
10
SW
5
N
5
NW
5
W
15
NE
25
NE
25
ENE
5
S
5
N
10
NW
5
N
10
WSW
15
SW
5
W
Wind State
cross-on
glassy
cross
cross-on
on
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
on
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
High Tide
9:26AM0.61m
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
Low Tide
2:09AM0.16m
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
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:05
6:05
6:05
6:05
6:05
6:05
6:05
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:49
6:49
6:47
6:46
6:45
6:45
6:45
 mm
4
4
1
Temp °C
28
28
27
27
27
26
28
28
26
28
28
28
29
29
29
26
28
27
28
28
27
Feels °C
31
31
32
30
30
30
31
30
30
31
31
28
29
30
32
28
32
30
31
31
30
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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