
Surf Forecasts:
Kua Bay surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 14 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 6s period, NNE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 14 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 6s period, NNE swell with 215 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 6s period with NNE 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 13) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Kua Bay in the next 16 days are 1.8m 6s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 14) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 5.0m 9s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kua Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Rusty here. Alright, let’s be straight with you – the next couple of weeks for Kua Bay are looking pretty grim for surfers. We’ve got a long stretch of flat, weak, and messy conditions ahead, so don’t get your hopes up for any proper waves until the very end of the run.
The water is sitting at a warm 81°, which is about a degree and a half warmer than normal for this time of year – feels like a bath, but with no waves, it’s just a swim.
The first real sign of life doesn’t show until Friday the 14th of August. That afternoon, we see a spike of swell from the NNE at 6 ft, with a short period of 6 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 238 (moderate), and the wind is clean and cross-offshore. It’s the only window in the whole forecast where the files don’t say “poor surf conditions.” Even then, it’s a short-period windswell, so it’ll be a bit bumpy and won’t hold its shape too well. It’s a small window for a go, but it’s the best we’ve got.
For the rest of the time, you’re looking at tiny waves – mostly under 2 ft – with cross-onshore winds and barely any energy. There are days with glassy conditions, like Wednesday afternoon the 12th of August, and again on the 20th and 21st, but the swell is just too small to do anything with. The 21st of August does have a long-period 16-second swell from the SW, with combined energy of 118 (moderate), but the swell height is only 1 ft, so it’s more of a groundswell bump than a rideable wave.
There’s a gap of almost a week with no real surf from the 9th of August to the 14th. After that one decent afternoon on the 14th, it goes flat again. This is a tough stretch, and honestly, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on most days. Forecasts can change, but right now, this is a blank run.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Sat afternoon, min 26°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 25°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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 | NE 5 | NE 6 | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 13 | S 18 | WNW 13 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | W 12 | NNE 6 | W 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
17 | 29 | 0 | 28 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 8 | 8 | 29 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 40 | 57 | 64 | 10 | 215 | 11 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 1:05PM0.81m | 00:47AM0.29m | 1:56PM0.86m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:44PM0.19m | 6:14AM0.06m | 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 | ||||||||
6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | |
— | 6:57 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
Feels °C | 30 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 32 | 31 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | NE 10 | NE 6 | NNE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | SSW 15 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
5 | 15 | 39 | 16 | 46 | 32 | 46 | 47 | 30 | 39 | 40 | 27 | 25 | 37 | 41 | 48 | 44 | 70 | 41 | 40 | 35 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | NE 7 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | W 12 | SSW 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 |
16 | 31 | 30 | 18 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 41 | 40 | 35 | 32 | 32 | 51 | 25 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SSW 13 | NE 9 | W 13 | SSW 12 | NE 9 | SSW 12 | N 9 | SSW 15 | W 10 | W 10 | W 13 | S 18 | WNW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | W 12 | S 18 | S 18 | SW 17 | W 15 |
32 | 17 | 13 | 28 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 6 | 23 | 8 | 8 | 29 | 56 | 33 | 32 | 28 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | NE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 8 | NNE 6 | NE 8 |
17 | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | 61 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 40 | 57 | 64 | 133 | 215 | 1672 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 100 | 100 | 4 | 98 | 101 | 14 | 98 | 112 | 14 | 101 | 26 | 93 | 98 | 100 | 4 | 100 | 39 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 14 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Big Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Latest Updates
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.











