
Surf Forecasts:
Kua Bay surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, NE swell with 46 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Kua Bay this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Kua Bay in the next 16 days are 0.9m 6s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy 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 08) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kua Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty.
Let’s be straight with you. Looking at Kua Bay (Big Island) over the next sixteen days, it’s a tough stretch. The swell is just tiny, and the conditions are mostly messy. We’re talking about a long haul of poor surf, so don’t get your hopes up for any real barrels. The first real glimmer of something surfable, and I mean barely surfable, doesn’t show up until Monday, the 17th of August.
The water is sitting at 82°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a nice perk if you just want a float.
Let’s go through this. The first week is a write-off. From Thursday the 6th right through to Sunday the 16th, it’s just a parade of flat days and knee-high dribble. The wind is mostly cross-on or light, and the combined energy is pathetic, staying under 100 (typically between 11 and 61). There’s a glassy moment on Saturday the 8th afternoon, with 3 ft from the NE, but the period is a short 6 seconds, so it’s just weak, wonky windswell. Not worth paddling out for.
The real standout, and I mean the only spot that even gets a pulse, is Monday the 17th of August in the afternoon. We see a long-period groundswell of 1 ft from the WNW at 14 seconds, with the combined energy finally pushing up to 84. The wind goes clean, a cross-off from the SSW at only 3 mph. This is the best of the bunch, but let’s be real, it’s still tiny. The long period (over 15 seconds would be very long, so 14 seconds is good) means the waves will have some shape and energy, but Kua Bay is an exposed beach, so that long period could make it break a bit straight. Still, it’s the only time the report says "surfable waves" instead of "poor." This is your best bet, but it’s a micro-session.
After that, the rest of the week into the 21st goes back to the same flat and blown-out story. The wind stays light, but the swell barely registers. Saturday the 15th has a glassy afternoon with 1 ft from the WNW, but the energy is a paltry 26.
So, to sum it up: if you’re a kitesurfer, the consistent cross-on winds might be interesting, but for a surfer? It’s a long, flat stretch. The one afternoon to keep an eye on is Monday the 17th. It’s not going to be memorable, but it’s the only game in town.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 12 | NNE 5 | SSW 14 | NNE 5 | W 12 | NE 5 | SSW 18 | NE 6 | NE 6 | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 15 | W 11 | S 18 | W 13 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
11 | 17 | 0 | 14 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 0 | 28 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 8 | 17 | 23 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:50AM0.68m | 8:46PM0.32m | 12:04PM0.74m | 11:08PM0.28m | 1:05PM0.81m | 00:47AM0.29m | 1:56PM0.86m | 1:52AM0.32m | 2:42PM0.90m | 2:44AM0.37m | 3:22PM0.91m | 3:31AM0.43m | 4:00PM0.88m | 4:16AM0.49m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:56PM0.32m | 3:45AM0.09m | 8:07PM0.25m | 5:01AM0.08m | 8:44PM0.19m | 6:14AM0.06m | 9:17PM0.14m | 7:17AM0.03m | 9:48PM0.11m | 8:12AM0.02m | 10:18PM0.09m | 9:03AM0.02m | 10:47PM0.07m | ||||||||
6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | |
— | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:53 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 31 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 32 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | NE 8 | NNE 4 | W 12 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 8 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NNE 5 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | SSW 14 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 5 | NNE 5 |
13 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 27 | 21 | 23 | 10 | 51 | 58 | 68 | 53 | 17 | 65 | 46 | 38 | 40 | 31 | 25 | 28 | 16 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | W 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 12 | NE 7 | NE 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | NE 7 | SSW 15 | W 10 | SSW 14 | W 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 |
10 | 12 | 20 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 25 | 23 | 16 | 47 | 19 | 40 | 8 | 35 | 32 | 32 | 51 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | SSW 14 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | W 11 | W 11 | SSW 15 | W 10 | W 15 | W 11 | S 18 | W 13 | SSW 13 |
11 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 18 | 17 | 32 | 17 | 17 | 26 | 15 | 14 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 8 | 17 | 23 | 56 | 30 | 32 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 5 | — | NNE 5 | — | — | — | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | — | — | — | — |
— | 17 | — | 14 | — | — | — | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 56 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 100 | 100 | 96 | 98 | 100 | 14 | 101 | 14 | 4 | 98 | 24 | 14 | 100 | 19 | 14 | 103 | 100 | 14 | 98 | 14 | 20 |
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.











