Makapu'u Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’. I gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days at Makapu'u are a real mixed bag, and not in a good way. The pattern is dominated by strong, onshore trades that are gonna mess up just about everything. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor conditions, so don’t get your hopes up too early.

The window opens on Saturday, 1st August, but it’s a tough one. Makapu'u (reef) is seeing a solid 12 ft of east swell, but it’s coming in with a short, choppy 8-second period. The wind is howling onshore from the ENE at 28 mph. The combined wave energy is strong, way up around (1657), but it’s all just wind-blown mess. The water temp is bang on average for the time of year at 80°, but that’s small comfort when you’re getting blasted. This is strictly for the experts or the kamikazes – beginners should stay well clear of anything over 5 ft, and this is way over 8 ft.

Sunday the 2nd and Monday the 3rd are more of the same grim story. Swell drops a bit, but those easterly winds are still relentless at 22-25 mph. The surf stays poor. Even when the swell period stretches out to 11 seconds on Tuesday the 4th, the wind is still on it, and the energy is moderate (731). It’s just not clean.

The whole first week is a write-off. We get a brief break in the swell size around the 6th and 7th, but it’s still windy and the quality is zero. There’s a hint of a longer-period south swell trying to sneak in around the 10th of August, with periods up to 16 seconds, but the swell height is tiny (2 ft to 3 ft) and the wind is still onshore. It’s a tease.

The best looking window, and I mean the only one that might get a pulse going, is around Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th. A solid south groundswell shows up with a very long period of 17 seconds and a moderate 4 ft to 4 ft height. The combined energy jumps to strong levels (1089-1179). That’s the kind of period that can wrap around a reef and give you some proper lines. But here’s the kicker – the wind is still blowing onshore from the ENE at 19-25 mph. It’s a real shame. If that wind could just swing offshore or go light, this would be a standout. As it is, it’s a promising but uncertain prospect for the more experienced crew who know how to handle a bumpy face.

The final weekend, the 15th and 16th, sees the east swell pump back up to 8 ft - 10 ft, but again, those strong onshore trades are back with a vengeance at 25-28 mph. It’s big, but it’s just a brutal, wind-swept mess. Honestly, for the whole 16 days, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The consistent onshore flow and decent swell size will give kiters something to play with, but for us on a surfboard, it’s a tough pill to swallow.

Keep an eye on that south swell on the 12th, but don’t book the time off work just yet.

Rusty.

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