Ma'alaea Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the cards for Ma'alaea. It’s an advanced reef setup that’s inconsistent, so we’re not talking about a wave that’s gonna be pumping every day. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing wild there.

The outlook is a bit of a slow burn, but there are a couple of windows that could be worth paddling out for. The main thing to know is that the first real action doesn’t show up until Sunday, July 12th. There’s a gap of a few days from now with just small, messy energy, so don’t bother before then.

Let’s talk about the standout. Sunday morning, July 12th is where it’s at. We’ve got a 2 ft swell coming from the SW, with a long period of 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, and for a reef like Ma'alaea, that long period can wrap in nicely. The combined energy is moderate (310), and the wind is a light breeze from the NE, keeping things clean. This is the best on offer in the whole window. The swell is small, so it’s not going to be a monster, but for an inconsistent spot, a clean, long-period pulse like this is a real treat. Just know that crowds are possible here.

The next morning worth a look is Tuesday, July 14th. Again, small 2 ft from the SSW, with a period of 14 seconds. The wind is super light from the NNE, almost glassy. The energy is moderate (287), and it’s a clean, smooth morning. It’s not as punchy as the Sunday session, but it’s a solid option for a quiet paddle.

Wednesday morning, July 15th is also notable. We’re looking at another 2 ft from the SSW, 13-second period, and the wind is glassy from the NNE. The energy is moderate (292), and it’s a classic, clean, small-wave reef day. Good for a technical session if you’re an advanced surfer who likes to work the inside.

Further out, Tuesday morning, July 21st shows a bit more promise. The swell is still small at 3 ft, but it’s from the S with a 15-second period, and the wind is glassy from the north. The combined energy is moderate (361). That’s a solid, clean pulse for the second week, but it’s a long way off, so treat it as promising but not locked in. The Thursday afternoon of July 23rd also has a glassy moment, but the swell is tiny and period is short, so it’s more of a novelty.

Overall, the best move is to aim for that Sunday morning, July 12th session. It’s the cleanest, longest-period swell in the first week, and for a break that doesn’t fire often, that’s a day to circle on the calendar. The rest of the time is small and marginal, with the wind often cross-off or onshore, which kills the quality for a reef that needs it to be clean.

Rusty.

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