Surf Forecasts:
Kua Bay surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s period, WNW swell with 69 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 16s. 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 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kua Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with the long-range look at what we've got cookin'. Let's be straight up: it's a flat spell for a good while. The first surf that's even worth mentioning doesn't show up until the 19th of August, so we're lookin' at a couple of days with basically nothin' to ride.
The first glimmer comes Wednesday afternoon, 19th August at Kua Bay. We're talkin' tiny, clean waves. The swell is just 1ft from the WNW, but the wind goes glassy, and that's a beautiful thing. The wave energy is still weak, so you're not gonna be hittin' any lips, but for a log or a longboard, the surface will be like a mirror. It's a mellow start. The water is a warm 81°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
Honestly, the rest of the first week and into the second is a tough go. Most days are a mix of tiny swells under 2ft and ordinary conditions. There's a little pulse of energy from a long-period SW groundswell on the 20th, with periods up to 18 seconds, but it's small and the wind is messy. That combo of long period and small size usually means it's hard to find a proper wedge.
The one standout in the whole run is the 31st of August into the 1st of September. Finally, the energy picks up. On Monday afternoon the 31st, we've got 2ft from the W with a solid 15-second period. The combined energy hits a moderate reading – the best we've seen by a long shot. And the wind? Clean, cross-off. That's the recipe for some lined-up, glassy walls at Kua Bay. It's still not huge, but the quality should be a world apart from the dribble we've been dealin' with. Crowds are possible here, but with the run of flatness before, I'd bet most folks have forgotten their boards.
After that, the 1st of September keeps that 2ft W swell with moderate energy, but the wind goes onshore and cross-on, so the 31st is your true target. The last week just trails off into tiny, unrideable dribble again.
So, save your energy for the very end of the month. It's a long wait, but that 31st afternoon looks like it could give us a few clean, fun ones. It’s not a bomb, but for Kua Bay, that's the session to circle.
Stay patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SW 17 | W 11 | W 10 | SW 16 | WNW 10 | SW 15 | WNW 10 | SW 15 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 33 | 48 | 48 | 41 | 49 | 47 | 20 | 19 | 39 | 35 | 37 | 34 | 36 | 55 | 45 | 18 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | on | cross | glassy | cross | cross | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy |
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 | 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 | |||||||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 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 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 32 | 33 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | WNW 11 | NNE 4 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 5 | WNW 10 | WNW 12 | NNE 6 | NE 6 |
| kJ | 45 | 17 | 15 | 25 | 8 | 48 | 48 | 22 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 43 | 44 | 38 | 23 | 33 | 55 | 53 | 38 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | NE 8 | WNW 11 | ENE 7 | WNW 13 | NE 7 | SW 16 | WNW 11 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 12 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 |
| kJ | 24 | 9 | 25 | 5 | 33 | 12 | 42 | 25 | 49 | 47 | 69 | 19 | 20 | 35 | 33 | 34 | 28 | 32 | 45 | 18 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | WNW 11 | NE 8 | W 13 | ENE 7 | NNE 7 | W 7 | SW 16 | WNW 11 | W 11 | W 11 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 16 | 25 | 9 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 41 | 24 | 21 | 20 | 69 | 39 | 64 | 37 | 63 | 36 | 34 | 21 | 20 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NNE 5 | — | — | NNE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 5 | NNE 6 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | 49 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 101 | 26 | 100 | 4 | 4 | 98 | 0 | 22 | 32 | 10 | 26 | 32 | 97 | 14 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 32 | 14 | 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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