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Surf Forecasts:

Makalawena surfForecast / HAW – Big Island / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 1 pm Thursday 19 Mar 2026 HST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Makalawena surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Makalawena sea temperature is
25.3° C
 (Which is slightly warmer than usual)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Makalawena this week:

The surf forecast for Makalawena over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Mar 21) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Makalawena in the next 16 days are 1.6m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Mar 25) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 5s period and expected on Monday (Mar 23) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (HST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Sat 21st Mar)2ft (0.6m) 11s
Best Surf 8AM (Wed 25th Mar)5ft (1.6m) 12s
Most Powerful 8AM (Wed 25th Mar)5ft (1.6m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Makalawena over the next 16 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
16 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 26°C on Fri morning, min 22°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Tue morning, min 22°C on Sun afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Thu
19
Friday
20
Saturday
21
Sunday
22
Monday
23
Tuesday
24
Wednesday
25
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
1
2
1
1
1
2
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.4
N
0.7
S
0.3
WNW
0.4
WNW
0.5
SW
0.5
WNW
0.5
WNW
0.5
SW
0.6
NNE
0.7
WNW
0.8
WNW
0.6
WNW
0.5
NW
0.4
NW
1.5
NNE
1.5
NNE
1
N
1.3
NNE
1.3
NNE
1.4
NNE
1.2
NNE
Period(s) (?)1113141319121217101414131312661212111110
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)38036591758182148751832261168438146175299437394452304
Wind
(km/h)
15
S
15
S
10
SSW
25
SSW
15
S
25
SSW
25
SSW
5
NW
20
S
20
S
10
S
10
WNW
20
N
5
ESE
10
N
15
NNE
10
NE
5
NNW
5
N
10
NNE
5
W
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off		cross-
off		crosscrosscross-
off		crosscrossglasscross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		oncross-
on		glasscrosscrosscross-
off		cross-
on		crosscrossglass
High Tide
/ height (m)
4:36PM
0.72
4:28AM
0.61
5:16PM
0.76
5:00AM
0.53
6:01PM
0.78
5:32AM
0.45
6:52PM
0.77
6:06AM
0.37
7:54PM
0.74
6:48AM
0.30
9:13PM
0.72
8:36AM
0.25
10:41PM
0.71
11:30AM
0.27
Low Tide
/ height (m)
10:44PM
0.14
10:37AM
0.02
11:36PM
0.17
11:04AM
0.03
12:35AM
0.21
11:34AM
0.04
1:49AM
0.25
12:09PM
0.07
3:39AM
0.27
12:52PM
0.11
6:00AM
0.24
2:02PM
0.16
7:01AM
0.20
Thu
19
Friday
20
Saturday
21
Sunday
22
Monday
23
Tuesday
24
Wednesday
25
Sunrise--6:28--6:26--6:26--6:24--6:24--6:24--6:22
Sunset6:34--6:35--6:35--6:35--6:35--6:36--6:36--
light rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
light rain
light rain
light rain
cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
clear
clear
thunderstorm
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
Rain (mm)
32----2424--1--2-----
Temp. °C242426262526262523232424242425252424242324
Feels °C (?)252428262625252623222425262426252425262626
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Makalawena surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.

View detailed surf forecast for Makalawena at:
surf-forecast.com

Information about the Makalawena Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Makalawena provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Makalawena can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Makalawena 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 (Makalawena) 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 Makalawena 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.

Makalawena is 100 km (62 miles) from Hilo. If you plan a vacation in Big Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Hilo. Hilo has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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