Little Makaha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve got to be straight with you – for this stretch, it’s pretty grim. We’re looking at a long, drawn-out run of tiny, weak surf. The first real chance of anything worth paddling out for doesn’t even show up until Tuesday the 14th, and even then it’s a very mixed bag.

The pattern kicks off with days of barely a ripple. From Thursday the 9th right through to Monday the 13th, it’s all small, weak swell from the west and southwest. The biggest pulse in that early run is on Monday the 13th, with a combined wave energy of (184), but with swell heights scraping only 2ft and that brisk ENE cross-off wind at 19 mph, it’s a frustrating combo. The water’s sitting at 79°, a touch warmer than average for this time of year.

Then Tuesday the 14th comes along and it’s the only moment that might get your heart beating, but it's a tricky one. Little Makaha (Hawaii) suddenly sees a jump to 5ft to 5ft of short-period swell pounding in from the NE. The period is a dismal 7-8 seconds, which means crumbly, weak lines. It’s a reef break, so it can handle it, but that short period will make it sectiony and harder to get a smooth ride. The wind is cross-off from the ENE (12-16 mph) – not glassy, but clean enough to keep the faces from getting too choppy. The energy is moderate (442-550), which is the strongest it gets in this entire forecast. For the experienced, that morning’s 5ft might offer a few fun little runners, but the afternoon's 5ft will be a real struggle with no power behind it. Beginners would be wise to sit this one out.

After that tease, it’s back to the same old story. Wednesday the 15th through to Sunday the 19th sees the swell drop off a cliff, with heights bouncing between 1ft and 2ft and combined energies dipping into the double and low triple digits. That ENE wind keeps blowing at a solid 19 mph, so while the surf is “clean” according to the data, it’s just paddling practice. By the 20th and 21st, we actually hit a couple of days with zero recorded swell – not even a bump. That’s a flat spell right there.

The tail end, around Friday the 24th, shows another little kick of short-period NE swell at 4-5ft, again with that 7-second period. The energy climbs to 230 in the afternoon, but the period is still terrible and the wind stays cross-off. It’s a bit more promising than the rest of the junk, but I wouldn’t be banking on it.

So the standout? You’ve only got one window that’s even worth talking about, and that’s Tuesday the 14th at Little Makaha. The swell direction (NE) isn't the optimum NW, but it's all we’ve got. With a cross-off wind, it’s not going to be a total wash-out, but it’s far from classic. There’s no glassy day in sight. Crowds are possible there, so you won’t be alone if you go. For everyone else, it might be time to take up rock-hopping or just sit on the beach. Forecasts can change, but this one’s a tough read.

Rusty.

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