Surf Forecasts:
Ma'alaea surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 17s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 17s period, S swell with 716 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Ma'alaea this week:
The surf forecast for Ma'alaea over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Ma'alaea in the next 16 days are 1.1m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Ma'alaea over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break it down in feet and miles.
The surf starts off pretty flat and ordinary. The first few days are tiny, with waves around 1 to 2 feet from the SSW, with a long period. The wind is glassy or light cross-off, so it’s clean, but there’s no power. The combined energy is weak, between 122 and 240. This quiet spell goes on until the morning of Tuesday the 25th.
Then, on Tuesday the 25th, we get a spike. The morning shows a sudden jump to 6 feet from the east, but the period is a short 6 seconds. The combined energy is 414 – that’s moderate, but that short period means it’ll be bumpy and won’t hold a good line at the reef. The wind is light cross-off, so it’s clean, but it’s not the quality we want for Ma’alaea.
The real standout is Thursday the 27th in the morning. We’ve got 4 feet from the south with a 17-second period – that’s a proper groundswell. The combined energy is 716, which is strong. The wind is light cross-off from the NNE. This is your best chance for a clean, powerful wave at Ma’alaea. The direction is a good match for this spot. Remember, Ma’alaea is an inconsistent reef break, so you’ll need to wait for the sets, but when it comes, it’s worth it. Crowds are possible.
Into the weekend and the following week, we see more small, clean but weak swells, with a few mornings like Saturday the 30th offering glassy 2 to 2 foot waves. Nothing major. The very end of the forecast, Saturday the 5th of September, shows a 4 foot east swell with a 6-second period and clean cross-off wind – a distant chance, but that short period makes it tricky.
Bottom line: Thursday the 27th morning is the one to aim for. The rest is mostly small and clean, but not worth the drive.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 30°C on Sat afternoon, min 26°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 24°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | E 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 | E 6 | S 18 | S 19 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 173 | 203 | 171 | 166 | 112 | 109 | 89 | 140 | 107 | 101 | 92 | 198 | 142 | 120 | 163 | 227 | 177 | 716 | 322 | 477 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:47PM0.30m | 12:49PM0.72m | 00:48AM0.31m | 1:33PM0.75m | 1:37AM0.34m | 2:13PM0.77m | 2:20AM0.37m | 2:49PM0.78m | 2:59AM0.40m | 3:22PM0.77m | 3:37AM0.44m | 3:54PM0.74m | 4:15AM0.48m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:40PM0.22m | 4:52AM0.09m | 8:14PM0.19m | 5:52AM0.08m | 8:41PM0.16m | 6:44AM0.07m | 9:06PM0.14m | 7:31AM0.05m | 9:30PM0.12m | 8:15AM0.05m | 9:53PM0.10m | 8:58AM0.06m | 10:17PM0.08m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | |  | | |
 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | 6:51 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 |
Feels °C | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 32 | 33 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 29 | 29 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 18 | S 19 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 |
| kJ | 173 | 203 | 171 | 166 | 112 | 109 | 89 | 140 | 107 | 101 | 92 | 85 | 142 | 120 | 163 | 227 | 177 | 716 | 322 | 477 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | ESE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 12 | ESE 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | N 10 | SSW 12 | N 9 |
| kJ | 35 | 54 | 47 | 46 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 49 | 17 | 90 | 85 | 82 | 55 | 107 | 62 | 98 | 17 | 46 | 16 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSE 13 | SW 15 | SSE 13 | SE 7 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSW 18 | ESE 6 | SSW 12 | SSW 16 | W 10 | NNE 5 | SW 21 |
| kJ | 21 | 31 | 19 | 20 | 34 | 58 | 33 | 33 | 14 | 47 | 46 | 46 | 26 | 107 | 3 | 44 | 87 | 2 | 5 | 18 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | N 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | N 4 | E 5 | E 7 | E 4 | E 5 |
| kJ | 46 | 108 | 144 | 253 | 255 | 261 | 137 | 301 | 153 | 6 | 273 | 198 | 173 | 74 | 139 | 3 | 62 | 127 | 55 | 82 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Maui | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Ma'alaea Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Ma'alaea provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Ma'alaea can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Ma'alaea surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Ma'alaea) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Ma'alaea may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Are you planning a vacation in Maui? If you are looking for accommodation near Ma'alaea, camping, hotels and condos and appartments in Maui, consider staying in Kihei which is 5 km (3 miles) away. Other places in and around Maui where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Wailuku which is 10 km (6 miles) away, Kahului, Lanai - Lanai and Kaunakakai - Molokai.
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