Little Makaha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer.

To be honest, this stretch is a bit of a tough one. The swell is tiny for the first several days, and even when it does pick up, the wind is a persistent cross-off from the ENE, which isn’t ideal for the optimum NW swell direction Little Makaha (reef) really wants. The water temperature is sitting at 79°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The whole first week is pretty much a write-off for any decent surf. From Wednesday, July 8th, right through to Saturday, July 12th, we’re looking at flat, weak energy with combined swell energy readings barely cracking 10 to 186 (weak to moderate). The swell is tiny, coming from the W or SW with long periods up to 18 seconds, but at 1 ft to 2 ft it’s just not enough to push in. You’d be better off taking a nap.

Things try to get going on the morning of Monday, July 13th when a short-period NE swell (8 seconds) bumps up to 5 ft and the energy jumps to 479 (moderate). The wind is still cross-off, but it’s a lighter moderate breeze. Still, the wave comment says poor surf conditions, and at that size and period, it’s going to be a bit junky and soft. It’s not a total loss for a beginner-friendly paddle, but nothing to get excited about.

The standout in this outlook, if you can call it that, is actually on Monday, July 20th and Tuesday, July 21st. On Monday morning, we get a 5 ft swell from the NE with a short period of 7 seconds and energy of 298 (moderate). It stays around that size through the afternoon (340 energy) and into Tuesday morning with 4 ft at 8 seconds (181 energy). The wind is a lighter 15 mph cross-off, which is about the cleanest we’ll see. It’s not the best direction for Little Makaha, but for a beginner reef break, it might be the most rideable waves in the period. Crowds are often an issue here, so expect company.

The rest of the window into late July is a mix of tiny dribbles and a few more pulses of short-period NE swell, but nothing that breaks the mould. The energy never really gets into the strong range, and the wind never turns truly offshore. This is a flat spell, plain and simple.

Rusty.

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