
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 cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s period, SW swell with 108 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 cross-offshore 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 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 5PM.
| 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 | 11PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kua Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what we've got for the next couple of weeks. It's a grim run for the most part, to be honest. We're looking at a long stretch of nearly nothing, so don't hold your breath. The water temperature is sitting around 82°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you'll be comfortable in boardshorts even if you're just floating around.
Right from the get-go, Sunday the 13th is a washout with no real swell and a messy cross-on breeze. That sets the tone. We've got day after day of tiny, weak waves or just flat calm, with only a few moments of glassy conditions but no push to go with them. It's not until the last few days of the window that things start to look interesting, but that's a long wait.
Around the 23rd of September, Wednesday, there's a tiny blip of a long-period groundswell from the NNW, but it's only 0.7ft to 1.0ft with a period of 12 to 13 seconds. That's a long-period swell, which at a beach break can be tricky—it might just straighten out and close out. The wind is light and glassy on Wednesday afternoon, which is a big plus, but with so little size, it's only a whisper of a wave. The combined energy is a weak 33 (moderate energy) on Wednesday morning and 15 on Wednesday afternoon, so nothing to get excited about.
Then the real standout of the whole forecast comes in on Sunday the 27th of September. A nice little pulse of WNW swell rolls in, with a period of 18 seconds in the morning. That's a very long period groundswell, which means better shape and more power, but at a beach break it might break a bit too straight. The combined energy hits 123, which is moderate, and the swell is only 1.0ft but with that period, it'll have more punch. The wind is a light cross-shore, so it'll be okay, not perfect. The following Monday the 28th has a similar setup, with a 15-second period and a light cross-off breeze in the afternoon that should clean things up nicely, earning a score of 1 out of 10 for "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." That's the best we get.
The bottom line: if you're desperate, the 27th and 28th are your only real chances, but don't expect anything spectacular. For the rest of the 16 days, it's pretty much a flat, wind-affected dud. For the first week and a half, the setup is more suited for a kite session than a paddle, with the onshore winds and tiny chop. Hang in there.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 27°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNE 9 | W 11 | NNE 4 | W 10 | NNE 5 | SSW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | SW 16 | NE 8 | W 9 | SW 18 | WSW 9 | SW 9 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 28 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 11:11AM0.62m | 11:51PM0.27m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 7:43PM0.22m | 4:05AM0.22m | |||||||||
6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | |
— | 6:28 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 5 | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
Feels °C | 30 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | NE 5 | NNE 5 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | NNE 6 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 |
68 | 68 | 48 | 61 | 26 | 7 | 15 | 28 | 15 | 79 | 152 | 75 | 67 | 200 | 101 | 49 | 82 | 73 | 66 | 70 | 32 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | NNE 4 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 22 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
15 | 6 | 20 | 7 | 46 | 24 | 16 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 10 | 10 | 37 | 64 | 148 | 78 | 145 | 127 | 64 | 64 | 61 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 21 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 12 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | SW 16 | SSW 18 | W 9 | NNE 7 | WSW 9 | SW 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | ENE 8 |
22 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 18 | 45 | 98 | 96 | 94 | 5 | 16 | 7 | 65 | 33 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 22 | 49 | 13 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NNE 4 | — | NNE 5 | — | — | — | — | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 11 | — | 14 | — | — | — | — | 19 | 28 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 98 | 98 | 14 | 98 | 98 | 19 | 30 | 30 | 14 | 32 | 14 | 14 | 97 | 30 | 20 | 30 | 18 | 4 | 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.










