Ma'alaea Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. The long-range crystal ball is a mixed bag, but we’ve got a sweet window of clean, rideable waves to look forward to, especially next week. The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, nothing too wild.

The first few days of the forecast period are a bit of a write-off. Tuesday (1st September) and most of Wednesday are offering only marginal surf or poor conditions at Ma'alaea. You’ll see some small 3ft swell from the south, but the wind is a bit messy and the energy is weak (only 330-436). It’s not worth paddling out for.

Things start to look up from Thursday morning (3rd September). The swell drops a touch to 2ft, but the wind goes light and clean, making it surfable but very ordinary. The real story begins on Friday morning (4th September). We’ve got a 4ft south swell, 11-second period, and clean conditions with a gentle breeze. The energy is ticking up into the moderate range (350). This is the first real sign of life.

That brings us to the standout period. Saturday (5th September) morning is the pick of the bunch. We’re looking at a 3ft south-southwest swell with glassy conditions – dead calm wind. The wave energy is solid (424) and the 11-second period will give you some decent shape. That’s the session to circle. Sunday (6th September) keeps the good times rolling with a 4ft southwest swell and even more energy (440-619), still clean. The wind stays favourable.

But hold on – the real gem is Monday (7th September) and Tuesday (8th September). The swell drops slightly to 3ft, but the period stretches out to 16 seconds, giving you proper long-period groundswell. The energy is strong (648-685) and both mornings are nearly glassy. This is a classic Ma'alaea setup: a long, wrapping south-southwest swell on a reef break. It’s an advanced spot, and it’s inconsistent, so you need to be patient and know what you’re doing. The crowds are possible, so get there early. If you’re a competent surfer, this is the best we’ve got.

After that, the second week fades. Wednesday (9th September) morning is still clean, but the wind picks up by afternoon. From Thursday (10th September) onwards, the swell drops below 2ft and the energy is weak (104-171). The wind is all over the place, with some glassy mornings but tiny waves. It’s surfable but very ordinary. The last few days, from 13th to 16th September, are mostly poor, with light onshore wind and flat, weak swell. Honestly, not worth the drive.

So, bottom line: the window from Friday 4th September to Tuesday 8th September is your go. The standout is Tuesday morning, 8th September, with that 3ft, 15-second groundswell and glassy conditions. That’s the one.

Rusty.

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