Surf Forecasts:
Kua Bay surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 12s period, WNW swell with 81 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 0.6m and 5s. 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 0.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 2PM.
| 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 | 8PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kua Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with the look ahead for Kua Bay. Let's be straight with each other—it’s a tough stretch.
We’ve got a long, quiet run ahead. Looking at the whole 16-day window, we don’t get anything worth paddling out for until the very end. There are about two full weeks of flat or near-flat conditions with tiny weak swell. Most days the wave energy is barely registering, and the heights are stuck at a pathetic 1 ft. It’s a proper dry spell; you'd have more fun skipping stones.
The first real flicker of life comes way out on Monday the 31st of August. By the afternoon, we finally see a little lift—a 2 ft swell from the west with a 14-second period. The wind goes light cross-offshore, making it glassy clean. It’s still described as "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," so we aren't talking about a proper session, just the first chance to get wet without it being a total waste. This is the only time in the whole outlook you might want to look at the water.
Then Tuesday the 1st of September shows a quick drop back to 2 ft, but the wind goes cross-on and messy again, so that window closes fast. There is one rogue spike on Thursday the 27th of August where the swell jumps to 5 ft, but it’s from the northeast with a short 6-second period and the wind is light cross-shore. It’s just sloppy, choppy junk, not surfable in any meaningful way.
So, the honest truth? Kua Bay is having a rough go. For this whole 16-day run, there isn’t a single standout. Not one. The only date that even qualifies as "not terrible" is the afternoon of August 31st. If you’re a beginner, the tiny size isn't dangerous, but there’s no shape. If you’re an expert, you’re better off waiting for a proper pulse. With almost no consistency in the forecast, this kind of blank spell is just what happens here sometimes.
Hang in there. Forecasts change.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 28°C on Mon morning, min 25°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 15 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | WNW 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 33 | 48 | 48 | 41 | 49 | 47 | 9 | 8 | 19 | 18 | 37 | 19 | 20 | 63 | 75 | 50 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross |
High Tide | 6:25PM0.49m | 8:16AM0.61m | 6:42PM0.41m | 9:26AM0.61m | 10:49AM0.62m | 12:03PM0.64m | 11:29PM0.26m | 12:58PM0.68m | 00:53AM0.29m | 1:40PM0.72m | 1:39AM0.32m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 1:18PM0.30m | 00:58AM0.11m | 2:41PM0.35m | 1:28AM0.14m | 2:09AM0.16m | 3:15AM0.18m | 8:38PM0.25m | 8:45PM0.21m | 5:58AM0.15m | 9:01PM0.18m | |||||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — |
 | — | 6:51 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 32 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | NE 6 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NE 4 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 5 | WNW 10 | WNW 12 | NNE 6 |
| kJ | 25 | 46 | 22 | 18 | 18 | 13 | 10 | 22 | 22 | 17 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 35 | 40 | 45 | 61 | 30 | 19 | 57 | 56 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | NE 7 | WNW 11 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 | NE 6 | SW 15 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 |
| kJ | 19 | 24 | 25 | 8 | 25 | 33 | 48 | 48 | 25 | 49 | 47 | 69 | 69 | 65 | 64 | 37 | 63 | 15 | 34 | 18 | 50 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | S 14 | ENE 8 | WNW 11 | W 13 | ENE 7 | NNE 7 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 13 | SW 14 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 25 | 16 | 6 | 25 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 42 | 41 | 24 | 23 | 9 | 8 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 33 | 20 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 63 | 75 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 100 | 100 | 4 | 98 | 18 | 4 | 98 | 0 | 22 | 30 | 10 | 30 | 32 | 23 | 30 | 97 | 30 | 14 | 32 | 0 | 4 |
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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