Ma'alaea Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking for Ma'alaea over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. The surf on offer is pretty small and unremarkable for the first few days, but things settle into a nice rhythm by mid-week. The water temp is sitting around 81°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no worries there.

For Monday the 14th, it’s a non-starter. A tiny 1 ft SW swell with a 22-second period is rolling in, but with only 193 combined wave energy, it’s just weak dribble. Cross-off wind keeps it clean-ish, but it’s not worth paddling out for. Tuesday the 15th is where we see the first real highlight. Tuesday morning is a gem: a 2 ft SW groundswell (20-second period) with glassy conditions. The combined energy jumps to 358, so there’s some life in the water. That’s the best early window—clean, small, but fun for a longboard or a fish. Expect a few others out, but not a circus.

Wednesday the 16th holds similar small 2 ft SW swell, but morning wins with light cross-off wind. By Wednesday afternoon the wind picks up to 16 mph cross-off, which is a bit punchy for such small waves, so get it early.

Thursday the 17th through Friday the 18th morning continues the trend: 2 ft to 3 ft SW/SSW swell, combined energy pushing into the 400s, which is moderate. Thursday morning is glassy again—clean, clean, clean. Friday afternoon gets a light cross-on wind, so not as perfect, but still rideable.

Saturday the 19th morning is another standout: glassy conditions, 3 ft SSW swell, combined energy at 381. That’ll be the pick of the first weekend. After that, the swell drops back to 2 ft to 2 ft through the rest of the week, but the winds stay favourable—mostly cross-off or light—so the quality remains decent for the size. Expect clean little waves through Sunday the 20th.

Then we hit a lull. Monday the 21st sees the combined energy drop to 227, and the period shortens. Conditions get ordinary through to Wednesday the 23rd, with combined energy dipping as low as 108. Surfable but flat and uninspiring. This gap of poor-to-mediocre surf lasts a few days.

Things start to perk up again around Saturday the 26th. Saturday afternoon looks nice: 2 ft SSW swell, combined energy at 330, glassy wind. That’s a solid option. Sunday the 27th morning is also glassy with 2 ft SSW swell and 308 combined energy. The real curveball comes Sunday afternoon: a 5 ft easterly swell appears with a short 6-second period. That’s a windswell, not groundswell, and the combined energy is 398—moderate. With glassy conditions, it’ll be worth a look for something different. But it’s a small window.

Monday the 28th afternoon brings another short-period E swell at 6 ft, combined energy 419, and glassy wind. Again, windswell, so expect bumpy, close-outy waves at Ma'alaea—better suited to a fish or a foil. The long-period SSW groundswell returns Tuesday the 29th, with 2 ft waves and glassy morning wind, combined energy 281. A nice, clean day to wrap things up.

Overall, the best of the window is Tuesday the 15th morning, Saturday the 19th morning, and Saturday the 26th afternoon through Sunday the 27th morning. Keep an eye on Sunday the 27th afternoon and Monday the 28th afternoon for that weird east windswell under glass—unusual, but could be a fun novelty.

Rusty.

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