
Surf Forecasts:
Kua Bay surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, NE swell with 49 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 5PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kua Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, your local surf reporter. Let’s have a look at the next couple of weeks. To be honest, it’s a pretty quiet stretch ahead. The first week or so is mostly flat with very weak, small waves, and the real action doesn’t start to show up until the second week. There’s a gap of about 9 days without any real surf to speak of, so patience is the name of the game.
The first hint of anything worth paddling out for comes on Thursday, 13 August in the afternoon at Kua Bay. The swell is still tiny, only 2 ft from the west, but it’s got some serious energy behind it for a change – the combined energy sits at 339 (moderate wave energy). The period is a long 16 seconds, so it’s proper groundswell, and the wind is glassy, dead calm. That’s going to make for some clean, smooth faces. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 81°F (anomaly +2°F), so it’s a bit toastier than usual for this time of year. For a break that’s fairly consistent and exposed, this is the first window where you might actually get a few clean lines. Expect crowds at times.
Saturday, 15 August afternoon looks like the true standout. The swell pushes up to 3 ft from the west-northwest, with the combined energy hitting 395 (moderate wave energy) – the strongest reading of the whole forecast. The period is 15 seconds, so still a long, powerful groundswell, and it’s glassy again. This is the best on offer: clean, glassy, and with a little more push. The southwest wind on Sunday morning (16 August) is cross-shore, but the swell drops back to 3 ft, so it’s still worth a look, just not as clean.
The following week, from Monday 17 August onward, the swell holds around 2 ft from the west with periods around 14 seconds, but the wind gets a bit more active, with moderate cross-shore breezes on Tuesday 18 August that’ll chop things up. The energy stays moderate (200-218 range), but the quality drops off – it’s more marginal, more for the keen ones than a true standout.
So, bottom line: the first week is a write-off. The second week brings a couple of glassy, clean afternoons, with Saturday 15 August afternoon being the pick of the bunch. Get out there and enjoy it while it lasts.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Warm (max 28°C on Fri morning, min 25°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | W 12 | W 12 | ENE 11 | W 11 | W 13 | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | SSW 14 | W 12 | W 12 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 7 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
10 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 12 | 28 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 0 | 27 | 25 | 39 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy |
High Tide | 6:33PM0.57m | 8:16AM0.59m | 7:03PM0.49m | 9:30AM0.63m | 7:38PM0.40m | 10:50AM0.68m | 8:46PM0.32m | 12:04PM0.74m | 11:08PM0.28m | 1:05PM0.81m | 00:47AM0.29m | 1:56PM0.86m | 1:52AM0.32m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:48PM0.28m | 1:18AM0.09m | 2:06PM0.34m | 1:54AM0.09m | 4:10PM0.36m | 2:41AM0.10m | 6:56PM0.32m | 3:45AM0.09m | 8:07PM0.25m | 5:01AM0.08m | 8:44PM0.19m | 6:14AM0.06m | 9:17PM0.14m | ||||||||
6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | |
— | 6:59 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:55 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 6 | NNE 6 | N 6 | ENE 11 | NNE 6 | ENE 10 | NE 9 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 5 | NE 4 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 10 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 |
20 | 20 | 19 | 47 | 12 | 39 | 22 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 24 | 10 | 9 | 47 | 31 | 36 | 14 | 65 | 99 | 93 | 63 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 11 | NNE 5 | ENE 11 | NNE 6 | NNE 5 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | W 12 | ENE 8 | NE 9 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 |
30 | 17 | 48 | 10 | 46 | 10 | 9 | 20 | 18 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 12 | 31 | 30 | 27 | 25 | 39 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 12 | W 12 | NE 6 | W 11 | W 13 | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | SSW 14 | W 12 | SSW 13 | NE 11 | SSW 18 | SSW 13 | NE 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 |
10 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 28 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 20 | 11 | 18 | 18 | 32 | 17 | 14 | 26 | 15 | 14 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 49 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 98 | 100 | 19 | 51 | 39 | 14 | 100 | 100 | 96 | 100 | 100 | 14 | 98 | 39 | 14 | 100 | 14 | 26 | 16 | 18 | 14 |
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.











