Little Makaha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: this 16-day window for Little Makaha is a tough one. The whole stretch is looking at a persistent, fresh cross-offshore wind from the ENE that just won’t quit, and the swell is mostly tiny or non-existent. So, we’ve got a massive gap in anything worthwhile.

The first real surf that shows up is a blip on Monday, the 31st of August. A short-period, 4ft to 4ft pulse from the NE pushes in, but it’s got a weak period of just 7 seconds, so it’ll be a bit lumpy and messy. The wind is still a solid cross-off, so it won’t be clean. Combined wave energy hits 193 (moderate), but with the short period and the constant wind, it’s still a “poor” call. It’s not the one.

Then, the calendar flips to September, and we finally get a real standout. On Sunday, the 6th of September, the forecast puts a proper groundswell right in the window. The morning shows a 8ft NE swell with a 12-second period, and the energy is a massive 1485 (very strong). This is the kind of size that’s for experienced surfers only – over 8ft, so it’s expert territory. The afternoon still holds at 7ft, with a 12-second period and energy of 1192. This is a long-period groundswell, which means better shaped waves and more energy, but it’s prone to breaking a bit straight on a beach setup. The water temp is 81°, which is about 0.5° warmer than average, so it’s pretty normal for this time of year.

The caveat here is the crowd. Little Makaha is a consistent reef break that’s often crowded, and with a proper swell like this, you’d better expect company. The wind stays cross-off, so it won’t be glassy, but it’s the best we’ve got in this whole outlook. That Sunday morning (6th of September) is the only serious option, but it’s a promise that’s a long way off, so keep your fingers crossed. For most of this run, the surf is just non-existent, so don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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