Surf Forecasts:
Makapu'u surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 11s period, E swell with 7,590 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Makapu'u this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Makapu'u in the next 16 days are 6.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 16s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 20ft (6.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Makapu'u over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s cut through it. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a decent paddle. We’ve got a lot of onshore easterly wind messing everything up, and Makapu’u is right in the firing line. With that wind and the short-period, lumpy swell, we’re staring at a lot of blown-out, choppy days. The energy in the water is all over the place, too, with a weak combined energy reading of only 669 on the first day.
The first few days are a total washout. Friday the 14th has 8ft of onshore ENE swell, but it’s 8-second windswell and with a 25 mph wind on it, it’s just a disaster. Saturday the 15th pushes up to 12ft and 13ft, but that’s from a stormy ENE wind at 31 mph, which is near gale force. That’s too big and too raw for anyone. This whole first week is going to be a battle. The water temp is sitting at 81°, which is about average for this time of year, so at least the air will be warm even if the surf is terrible.
We’re going to have a long, frustrating gap with no real options all the way through to the following Thursday, the 27th. That’s more than a week of watching the wind howl. When it finally does start to look a little more interesting, the conditions are still marginal. Thursday the 27th morning shows a 4ft E swell, but it’s a 17-second period. That’s very long period groundswell, which for a beach break like this can mean waves that just close out. The wind is light and cross-onshore at 6 mph, so it might be clean, but the energy is still a bit jumbled. The combined energy is 1712, which is moderate.
The best of a poor bunch looks like it could be the morning of Friday the 28th. It’s the same story: 5ft of E swell with a 16-second period, but the wind has dropped to a gentle 9 mph onshore. It’s going to be glassy, but the long period is a real caveat here. It’s promising, but I wouldn’t book a flight for it. All these E swells are right on the edge of the optimum direction for Makapu’u, which is ESE, but they’re not quite there.
Don’t get too excited about anything else in that second week. The swell stays small, and the wind keeps flipping back onshore. The setup we’re seeing, with decent swell and strong wind, might be more interesting for the kite surfers than for us paddle surfers.
It’s a rough stretch. Hang tight, wait for the wind to back off, and check back in on that 27th. It’s not going to be epic, but it might be surfable.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 27°C on Sun afternoon, min 25°C on Fri afternoon). Winds decreasing (gales from the ENE on Sat night, light winds from the ESE by Sun afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Mon afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | E 10 | E 11 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 14 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | S 13 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 7 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 620 | 1221 | 2065 | 2755 | 7590 | 1353 | 737 | 452 | 338 | 261 | 183 | 199 | 121 | 169 | 132 | 107 | 193 | 207 | 202 | 226 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:12PM0.63m | 4:22AM0.43m | 4:30PM0.58m | 5:20AM0.44m | 4:40PM0.52m | 6:27AM0.44m | 4:40PM0.47m | 8:02AM0.45m | 4:17PM0.43m | 10:23AM0.47m | 11:48AM0.51m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 10:33PM0.12m | 10:00AM0.11m | 10:59PM0.09m | 10:41AM0.19m | 11:25PM0.08m | 11:25AM0.27m | 11:52PM0.07m | 12:27PM0.33m | 00:26AM0.08m | 1:15AM0.09m | 2:41AM0.09m | |||||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:57 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | 9 | 12 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
Feels °C | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 23 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 14 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | E 8 | E 8 | SW 16 | E 8 | E 7 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 411 | 243 | 225 | 168 | 189 | 1353 | 737 | 452 | 338 | 257 | 170 | 119 | 119 | 116 | 132 | 107 | 129 | 93 | 88 | 226 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | S 16 | S 18 | S 12 | SSE 7 | S 14 | S 6 | S 5 | E 9 | SW 17 | SSW 18 | SW 18 | S 12 | NE 7 | S 12 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 91 | 6 | 7 | 80 | 99 | 104 | 222 | 246 | 21 | 8 | 15 | 74 | 121 | 79 | 68 | 63 | 45 | 59 | 57 | 274 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | W 11 | NNW 8 | W 13 | S 16 | S 13 | S 6 | SW 18 | SW 19 | SSW 19 | W 13 | NE 8 | W 12 | SW 16 | S 12 | SSE 9 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | S 15 |
| kJ | 30 | 29 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 185 | 168 | 49 | 50 | 58 | 37 | 14 | 10 | 25 | 129 | 45 | 8 | 207 | 202 | 38 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | E 10 | E 11 | SSE 7 | — | — | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | NE 7 | — | ENE 7 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 620 | 1221 | 2065 | 2755 | 7590 | 217 | — | — | 310 | 261 | 183 | 199 | 118 | 169 | 45 | — | 193 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 111 | 217 | 113 | 217 | 217 | 110 | 42 | 8 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 18 | 49 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 8 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Oahu | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Makapu'u Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Makapu'u provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Makapu'u can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Makapu'u 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 (Makapu'u) 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 Makapu'u 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.
Makapu'u is 13 km (8 miles) from the city of Kailua. If you plan a vacation in Oahu, look for hotels and other accommodation in Kailua. Kailua has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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