Surf Forecasts:
Kua Bay surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s period, SW swell with 109 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 18 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s 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 Friday (Sep 18) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 18s period. 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 0.4m 18s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) 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 1.1m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kua Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here, let’s talk Kua Bay. For the first week and a half, it’s pretty dead – hardly any surf to speak of. The water’s about 82°F, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so it feels a bit more like summer still.
Saturday the 12th starts with a tiny 1ft swell from the southwest, 14-second period, and barely any energy (combined energy 36). Wind is cross from the southwest at 9 mph, and it’s just not worth getting wet. Sunday the 13th afternoon goes glassy but with zero swell, so it’s a flat spell.
The whole week after that is a bust – swell heights under 2ft, mostly short-period junk (4-5 seconds). There’s a little 2ft pulse from the north-northeast on Wednesday the 16th morning, but with a 5-second period, that’s just wind slop.
We finally see something on Sunday the 27th of September. That morning, a 4ft north swell with 11-second period shows up, and combined energy hits 267 – that’s decent. Winds are light from the northwest, so it’s a bit onshore but manageable. The afternoon looks cleaner: 3ft from the north, 10-second period, energy 229, with light cross-offshore winds from the south-southwest at 6 mph. That’s the best window of the whole forecast. It’s not exactly the optimum direction for Kua Bay (which wants west-northwest), but it’s the closest we get to a real session. Just remember it’s a beach break, so with a 10-second period it should hold some shape.
The long flat stretch before that means you’re waiting nearly two weeks for a pulse. If you’re patient, that last weekend of September might deliver a few clean rides. Otherwise, it’s a quiet spell.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 28°C on Tue morning, min 25°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 26°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 14 | NNE 9 | W 11 | NNE 8 | W 10 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | SW 20 | SW 19 | WSW 8 | NNE 5 | SW 18 | NNE 5 | SW 16 | NE 7 | W 9 | SW 18 | SW 9 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 29 | 29 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 19 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:29PM0.63m | 5:12AM0.70m | 4:56PM0.55m | 5:50AM0.70m | 5:21PM0.47m | 6:31AM0.69m | 5:43PM0.41m | 7:20AM0.66m | 5:58PM0.35m | 8:22AM0.62m | 9:47AM0.61m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 10:41PM0.06m | 11:23AM0.19m | 11:04PM0.07m | 12:12PM0.23m | 11:26PM0.09m | 1:09PM0.27m | 11:50PM0.11m | 2:29PM0.31m | 00:17AM0.14m | 00:53AM0.18m | 2:02AM0.21m | |||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — |
 | 6:29 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:23 | — |
mm | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 6 | NNE 8 | SW 18 | NNE 6 | SW 17 | NNE 6 | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 |
| kJ | 67 | 68 | 68 | 52 | 48 | 46 | 26 | 24 | 54 | 31 | 50 | 79 | 39 | 75 | 40 | 137 | 96 | 47 | 79 | 54 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | NE 4 | NE 4 | W 11 | NNE 4 | SW 14 | SSW 22 | SSW 21 | SW 20 | NNE 8 | SW 19 | NNE 7 | SW 18 | NNE 8 | ENE 10 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 29 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 46 | 45 | 98 | 23 | 94 | 18 | 152 | 26 | 38 | 64 | 148 | 78 | 145 | 129 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 8 | SW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | NNE 10 | SW 19 | WSW 8 | SW 12 | NNE 8 | ENE 10 | SW 16 | SSW 18 | W 9 | NNE 7 | SW 9 | S 16 |
| kJ | 7 | 29 | 15 | 21 | 20 | 8 | 18 | 17 | 9 | 96 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 20 | 65 | 33 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 19 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NNE 4 | — | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | — | — | — | NNE 5 | — | NNE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 11 | — | 7 | 11 | 7 | — | — | — | 19 | — | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 39 | 98 | 98 | 14 | 14 | 92 | 98 | 14 | 32 | 4 | 20 | 32 | 4 | 14 | 96 | 30 | 4 | 30 | 28 | 30 |
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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