Ma'alaea Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, let’s talk about Ma’alaea. This is a reef break, and it’s an advanced wave – inconsistent, so you gotta be patient. The best swell direction is from the south, and that’s what we’re seeing most of the time. Water temperature is about 80°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year – no big anomaly there.

The first few days, from Saturday 18th through Sunday 19th, are pretty ordinary. Tiny waves around 1.5–2ft with a long period (14–18 seconds) but the energy is weak, only around 150–170 (moderate). Wind is glassy or light cross-off, so the surface is clean, but the lack of size means you’re not really getting much push. Not worth paddling out unless you’re desperate.

Then Monday 20th morning sees a jump – still only 2.5ft, but the swell period is 16 seconds and the combined energy hits 376 (moderate). The wind is a light cross-off, so it’s clean. The forecast says “expect good surf conditions” – that’s a step up. Tuesday 21st morning is even better: 3ft, 14 seconds, and energy 391 (moderate), with glassy conditions – zero wind. That’s a real window of clean, fun waves for the advanced crew. But remember, Ma’alaea is inconsistent, so don’t expect set after set.

Wednesday 22nd morning brings a big change: a 24-second period swell with 1.3ft height? That’s a long-period groundswell – very long, actually. The energy is 460 (moderate), but the height is tiny. Usually a long period like that gives better shape, but here the wave height is just too small to really ride. The afternoon gets a bit choppy with 12 mph winds.

Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th are similar – small SSE swells, energy in the 500–700 range (moderate to strong), but the wind picks up, making the surface less than perfect. The afternoon of Friday 24th sees energy of 777 (strong) but with moderate breeze, so it’s a bit lumpy.

Now, the standout – Saturday 25th morning. Clear skies, glassy wind (3 mph from the NNE), 2.3ft SSW swell with a 19-second period, and combined energy of 691 (strong). That’s the best on offer in the whole 16-day window. The waves will be clean, the long period will give you some nice lines off the reef, and the energy is solid for the size. This is the one to circle. The afternoon gets a bit windy again, but the morning session is magic.

Sunday

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