Surf Forecasts:
Kua Bay surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 6s period, NE swell with 176 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period with NE 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 12s. 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 1.7m 6s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 13s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Tue 11th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kua Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s talk about Kua Bay. The long-range picture is honest but not much to get excited about, I’m afraid. The entire 16-day window is a flat spell, with wave heights barely scraping past 3 feet and the swell energy is weak, never topping 100 (peaking at a modest 198 on August 17). Most days you’ll be looking at a lake-like 1 foot, with the odd pulse of windswell that just doesn’t have the juice. Expect a lot of cross-onshore or light cross-shore breezes, and the occasional glass-off window, but the surf quality is consistently poor.
The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so nothing to shock you when you paddle out.
The only real stand-out, if you can call it that, is the morning of Monday, August 17. A pulse of S-SW swell pushes the height up to 5 feet, with a short period of 6 seconds, and the combined energy reads 198 – moderate but still low. The wind is cross-off from the SW at 15 mph, keeping it clean. That said, 5 feet with that short period is going to be a bit soft and lumpy, not the kind of punchy groundswell you want. It’s not a total write-off, but you’d be scraping the barrel. For the rest of the window, you’re looking at knee-to-waist-high dribble, mostly with light cross-onshore conditions that won’t hold a wall.
Crowds at Kua Bay are sometimes an issue, but with conditions this poor, you’ll likely have the place to yourself. The optimum swell direction is WNW, which is what the odd pulse comes from, but the energy is just too weak.
This is a long, flat stretch. The forecast can change, but for now, leave the boards in the car and go for a swim.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 28°C on Mon morning, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 26°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri night, fresh winds from the N by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | ||||||||||||||
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 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | SSW 14 | W 10 | W 11 | W 11 | WNW 13 | SSW 16 | NE 6 | W 12 | NNE 6 | SSW 14 | W 12 | W 12 | WNW 11 | W 11 | WNW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 23 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 0 | 8 | 23 | 22 | 33 | 0 | 44 | 25 | 53 | 0 | 25 | 11 | 24 | 22 | 34 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:52AM0.32m | 2:42PM0.90m | 2:44AM0.37m | 3:22PM0.91m | 3:31AM0.43m | 4:00PM0.88m | 4:16AM0.49m | 4:34PM0.83m | 5:00AM0.54m | 5:06PM0.76m | 5:44AM0.58m | 5:36PM0.67m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:17PM0.14m | 7:17AM0.03m | 9:48PM0.11m | 8:12AM0.02m | 10:18PM0.09m | 9:03AM0.02m | 10:47PM0.07m | 9:51AM0.05m | 11:15PM0.07m | 10:38AM0.10m | 11:41PM0.07m | 11:27AM0.17m | 00:06AM0.08m | ||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — |
 | 6:55 | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — |
mm | 2 | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 27 |
Feels °C | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NE 6 | SSW 13 | NNE 5 | NE 6 | NE 5 | SSW 16 | NNE 6 | SSW 14 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | SSW 14 | WNW 11 | SSW 13 | E 12 |
| kJ | 28 | 31 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 37 | 35 | 15 | 46 | 23 | 48 | 55 | 70 | 51 | 61 | 36 | 24 | 34 | 104 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | W 11 | SSW 15 | W 10 | NE 6 | SSW 14 | W 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 12 | SSW 15 | W 12 | NE 8 | SSW 14 | W 12 | SSW 13 | W 11 | WNW 13 |
| kJ | 23 | 21 | 47 | 18 | 14 | 40 | 23 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 28 | 44 | 25 | 16 | 40 | 11 | 35 | 22 | 34 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | NE 8 | W 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 10 | W 14 | W 11 | WNW 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | W 12 | S 18 | SSW 14 | W 12 | W 15 | W 15 | E 11 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 14 | 10 | 21 | 23 | 41 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 33 | 51 | 28 | 25 | 6 | 69 | 25 | 4 | 4 | 23 | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 5 | — | — | — | NE 6 | — | NNE 6 | — | — | NE 8 | NE 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | — | — | — | 44 | — | 53 | — | — | 176 | 158 | 247 | 326 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 20 | 100 | 20 | 14 | 101 | 39 | 14 | 100 | 100 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 19 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 98 | 98 | 20 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Big Island | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Kua Bay surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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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