Surf Forecasts:
Kua Bay surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 8 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s period, WSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 14s period, WSW swell with 1,653 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 11s 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 Sunday (Sep 06) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 11s period. 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 2.1m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) 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 1.1m 8s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Kua Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab your stick and let’s see what Kua Bay is serving up over the next couple of weeks. Rusty here.
To be honest, it starts out flat as a pancake, and it stays that way for a while. There’s a long stretch with barely a bump on the water. From September 1st through the 5th, you’ve got nothing to surf. The water temp is about 82°, which is a degree warmer than usual for this time of year – a bit toasty if you’re just hanging out.
The first real blip appears on the morning of Sunday the 6th. A small southwest swell trickles in at 2ft with an 11-second interval. The combined energy is moderate (114). The morning wind is cross-onshore and messy, but the afternoon cleans up with a cross-off breeze. It’s surfable, but just barely.
Things get a bit more interesting on Tuesday the 8th. The morning brings 4ft from the WSW with a solid 14-second period, and the energy jumps to 522 – that’s strong. The wind is light cross-shore, so it’s workable. The afternoon picks up to 6ft from the same direction, still with a 14-second period, and the energy surges to 1068. That’s some serious power. But the wind swings cross-onshore, and conditions are called marginal. At 6ft, it’s for intermediate and up – beginners stay out of the way. The period is long, so that swell has real grunt. The optimum direction for Kua Bay is WNW, and this is coming from the WSW, so it’s a bit off. Still, it’s the best we see all forecast.
Wednesday the 9th has leftover 4ft in the morning with cross-onshore wind, and then the afternoon drops to 2ft and cleans up. Surfable, but it’s fading.
From the 10th onward, it’s a slow slide into tiny, weak surf with energy readings mostly under 100. The only real standout is that Tuesday the 8th. The afternoon session with 6ft of long-period WSW swell, despite the wind, is the biggest and most powerful day in the whole 16-day window.
So, flat start, one decent but not perfect day in the middle, and then a long, quiet finish. Kua Bay can get crowds sometimes, so that Tuesday might have a few heads in the water. It’s not a classic, but it’s all we’ve got.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Wed morning, min 26°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sat morning, min 25°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | ||||||||||||||
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 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | S 13 | NE 6 | NNE 7 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 241 | 198 | 444 | 635 | 1014 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross | on | glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 7:43AM0.68m | 6:27PM0.39m | 8:58AM0.68m | 6:59PM0.32m | 10:26AM0.70m | 9:25PM0.26m | 11:46AM0.74m | 11:54PM0.28m | 12:47PM0.78m | 1:07AM0.33m | 1:36PM0.81m | 1:57AM0.40m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:21AM0.07m | 2:28PM0.32m | 00:59AM0.09m | 5:04PM0.31m | 1:54AM0.12m | 7:14PM0.25m | 3:19AM0.14m | 7:46PM0.20m | 4:58AM0.14m | 8:14PM0.15m | 6:18AM0.11m | 8:41PM0.12m | |||||||
— | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
6:38 | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:36 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:34 | — | — | 6:34 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 31 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 7 | S 14 | SSW 13 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NNE 7 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 |
112 | 128 | 121 | 82 | 75 | 16 | 57 | 52 | 73 | 57 | 140 | 199 | 185 | 198 | 241 | 198 | 444 | 635 | 1014 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 14 | W 9 | E 14 | S 13 | S 11 | SSW 11 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | E 13 | N 8 | NNE 7 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 |
51 | 50 | 45 | 42 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 84 | 63 | 69 | 47 | 34 | 86 | 43 | 41 | 169 | 255 | 273 | 224 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | E 12 | W 9 | E 14 | E 14 | ENE 14 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | N 6 | E 12 | ENE 12 | NNE 6 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 12 |
10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 36 | 56 | 58 | 16 | 80 | 123 | 36 | 57 | 90 | 83 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | NE 7 | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 85 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 39 | 4 | 103 | 4 | 4 | 103 | 4 | 4 | 100 | 30 | 20 | 30 | 28 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 30 |
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.











