Surf Forecasts:
Kua Bay surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 12s period, WNW swell with 109 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 16s 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 11s. 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 0.6m 12s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 8AM. 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 22) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 1ft (0.3m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kua Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Straight up, I gotta be honest with you – this is a tough one for the stretch we're looking at. Kua Bay is a beautiful spot, but for the next 16 days, it's just not happening. There's a long, frustrating gap of nothing but flat, poor conditions from now until the end of the month. The first few days are tiny, with weak, short-period windswell and onshore junk.
The water is a touch warmer than normal at 82°, which is nice for a swim, but not for surfing.
You'll see a few small pulses of energy, like a 1ft SW groundswell with a 17-second period arriving on Thursday the 20th, but the combined energy is a weak 70, and it's fading into nothing. The wind is all wrong. Even when we get a glassy moment on the 22nd, the swell is still only 2ft and the energy is a measly 57. That pattern just repeats itself – a tiny blip of energy here and there, but nothing that ever turns into a decent wave.
The only real stand-out is a tiny window around Thursday the 4th of September. The swell picks up to 2ft from the W with a 14-second period, and the combined energy finally hits a moderate 100. It's still not big, but the period is there. The downside is the wind is still cross-onshore, so it won't be clean. For a spot that's already inconsistent and rarely breaks well, this is a real bummer.
Honestly, for the next two weeks, you're better off leaving the boards at home. The forecasts can change, but right now, there's nothing to get excited about. This is a blank run that's pretty normal for the area when the conditions line up like this.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 26°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Tue morning, min 26°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 17 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | W 10 | SW 15 | W 11 | NE 6 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | W 11 | NE 6 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
47 | 35 | 52 | 59 | 50 | 37 | 57 | 52 | 78 | 46 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy |
High Tide | 12:03PM0.64m | 11:29PM0.26m | 12:58PM0.68m | 00:53AM0.29m | 1:40PM0.72m | 1:39AM0.32m | 2:15PM0.76m | 2:16AM0.36m | 2:46PM0.78m | 2:51AM0.41m | 3:15PM0.79m | 3:25AM0.47m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:15AM0.18m | 8:38PM0.25m | 8:45PM0.21m | 5:58AM0.15m | 9:01PM0.18m | 6:54AM0.12m | 9:20PM0.16m | 7:39AM0.10m | 9:39PM0.14m | 8:20AM0.08m | 9:58PM0.11m | |||||||||
— | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | |
6:49 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:44 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 |
Feels °C | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | WNW 11 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NNE 5 |
42 | 31 | 31 | 54 | 44 | 46 | 64 | 50 | 45 | 75 | 32 | 38 | 49 | 39 | 31 | 46 | 32 | 38 | 39 | 13 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | W 10 | WNW 10 | W 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 13 |
23 | 35 | 52 | 59 | 50 | 33 | 57 | 32 | 78 | 46 | 9 | 18 | 35 | 32 | 30 | 14 | 21 | 21 | 27 | 17 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | W 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 |
47 | 69 | 69 | 39 | 64 | 37 | 63 | 58 | 34 | 21 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 25 | 24 | 14 | 9 | 18 | 26 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 52 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 32 | 14 | 30 | 21 | 20 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 100 | 14 | 14 | 23 | 100 | 100 |
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.











