Ma'alaea Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at this stretch of coast. The good news is we’ve got some small, clean windows to work with, but honestly, this is not a period for high fives. The standout is that first morning, and even then, it’s a delicate one.

The first real chance to get wet comes on Sunday, the 26th of July. Ma’alaea (Maui) is the only spot on the cards. That morning, it’s clear with a cross-off breeze from the NNE at 12 mph, which is a solid plus for keeping the surface clean. The swell is a modest 3 ft, coming from the SSW, with a very long period of 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, giving the waves some shape and push, but the combined energy is moderate (524). The water temp is sitting at 80°, which is pretty standard for this time of year, no big anomaly there. This is a tricky, advanced reef break, and with it being inconsistent, you’ll be earning your waves. It’s not a beginner’s game. That morning is the best of the whole forecast, but it’s still a marginal call.

The afternoon of the 26th and the following Monday, the 27th, drop off quickly. The swell drops to 2 ft and the energy halves (235 to 248). Conditions are clean but ordinary. By Tuesday the 28th, the swell is down to 2 ft and the period drops to 14 seconds, with weak energy (132) – the surf is basically gone.

We hit a real dry spell here. From Wednesday the 29th through to about the end of the first week of August, the swell stays tiny – 2 ft to 1 ft – with energy values sinking into the double digits. The wind is often light and glassy on some mornings, like the 30th of July, the 31st, and the 4th of August, which would be beautiful for a paddle, but the lack of swell means you’ll be sitting on a lake. There’s a little bump on the 30th of July morning with 2 ft, SSW, 14-second swell and a clean cross-off, but the energy (312) is still moderate, and it’s a far cry from good.

The next flicker of hope is a solid week away. On Saturday, the 8th of August, the morning looks glassy, with a 2 ft, 17-second swell from the SSW. The energy is moderate (256). It’s nothing to write home about, but it’s the cleanest and most promising of the second week. The next day, Sunday the 9th of August, the morning is flat calm – zero wind – and glassy, with the same 2 ft, 15-second SSW swell. It’s just not enough to get excited over. The trend after that returns to the same weak, ordinary small stuff.

Look, if you’re a seasoned local who knows the reef, that Sunday morning, the 26th of July, is your only real shot. After that, it’s a long, quiet stretch. The forecast can change, and it’s usually not this poor for this long, but right now, it’s a time to check the gear and wait. For anyone else, especially on a small board, the water will be glassy but empty. Kite surfers might have a better time when the trade winds pick up, but for us paddlers, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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