Surf Forecasts:
Kua Bay surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 17s period, SW swell with 44 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 0.3m 17s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore 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 28) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kua Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – right now, Kua Bay is not doing us any favours. The whole 16-day window is a flat spell, with nothing but tiny, weak waves and poor surf conditions from start to finish. There’s a long stretch of days with no real surf to speak of, so you’re looking at a blank run that’s pretty normal for the area when the swell goes quiet.
The first few days – from Wednesday morning the 26th of August through to the end of the month – are a bust. Tiny swell heights, mostly under 2 feet, with short periods and weak combined energy. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual. The only thing worth noting is some glassy conditions early on Wednesday morning with a light WSW wind, but the swell is a measly 0.7 feet from the west with a combined energy of just 9 – that’s not enough to get you wet.
As we move into September, it doesn’t get any better. The first week of September is dominated by flat conditions, with zero combined energy on many days, and the occasional tiny bump from the NNE or north, but those are short-period and weak. The best of the worst is on Thursday afternoon the 3rd of September, when we get a weak 3 feet from the NNE at 6 seconds, with a combined energy of 46 – still poor surf, and the wind is cross-onshore. Not worth paddling out.
The second week brings a slight uptick, but it’s still nothing to get excited about. From the 5th of September onwards, we start seeing a more consistent 1 feet swell from the WNW, with periods around 12 to 14 seconds. That’s a longer-period groundswell, which gives better shape, but the height is tiny. The combined energy sits around 48 to 55, which is still weak. The wind is mostly cross-offshore or clean, especially on the 5th and 6th, but with such small waves, it’s more of a wind-sports day than a surf session. The best chance is on the 8th and 9th of September, with clean conditions and that 1 feet WNW swell, but honestly, it’s still poor surf. For experts only, and even then, you’re barely moving.
At the end of the day, Kua Bay is a flat, quiet stretch. If you’re desperate for a paddle, maybe the 6th or 7th of September gives you a clean, glassy morning with that tiny WNW swell, but it’s not surf. Don’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 25°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Sat morning, min 25°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | N 8 | NE 5 | SSW 14 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 18 | NNE 6 | SW 17 | NE 7 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | W 12 | W 12 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 22 | 0 | 15 | 21 | 5 | 22 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 44 | 0 | 36 | 36 | 33 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | cross | on | cross-off | cross | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:15PM0.79m | 3:25AM0.47m | 3:42PM0.78m | 4:00AM0.52m | 4:09PM0.75m | 4:36AM0.58m | 4:36PM0.69m | 5:14AM0.62m | 5:03PM0.63m | 5:56AM0.66m | 5:30PM0.55m | 6:44AM0.67m | 5:58PM0.47m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:20AM0.08m | 9:58PM0.11m | 9:00AM0.08m | 10:18PM0.10m | 9:40AM0.10m | 10:39PM0.08m | 10:22AM0.13m | 11:01PM0.07m | 11:07AM0.17m | 11:24PM0.06m | 11:58AM0.22m | 11:50PM0.07m | 1:00PM0.27m | 00:21AM0.07m | |||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | — | 6:44 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:42 | — | — | 6:40 | — | — | 6:40 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:38 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 26 |
Feels °C | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | NNE 5 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | NE 5 | SSW 15 | NNE 5 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | NE 5 | NNE 8 |
| kJ | 21 | 34 | 17 | 24 | 29 | 42 | 13 | 47 | 27 | 33 | 63 | 29 | 44 | 34 | 41 | 66 | 81 | 78 | 47 | 23 | 80 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | SSW 17 | S 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | N 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | NE 7 | SSW 16 | NNE 7 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | NE 8 | NNE 7 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 9 | 27 | 21 | 15 | 44 | 4 | 39 | 18 | 34 | 16 | 15 | 8 | 25 | 43 | 36 | 33 | 20 | 20 | 44 | 43 | 51 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 14 | ENE 7 | W 10 | N 8 | W 9 | NNE 7 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | S 12 | SW 15 | W 11 | W 11 | W 12 | W 12 | SSW 18 | NE 8 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 12 | 18 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 28 | 44 | 11 | 36 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 31 | 34 | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | — | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | — | NE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 22 | — | 15 | 21 | — | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 100 | 4 | 14 | 14 | 100 | 20 | 100 | 100 | 19 | 100 | 100 | 4 | 100 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 39 | 19 | 98 | 101 | 19 |
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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