Makapu'u Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the outlook is pretty grim. We’re lookin’ at a long stretch of poor conditions, so don’t expect much for a while. The first real glimmer of hope doesn’t show up until Tuesday, September 8th.

For the first four days, from Friday the 4th through Monday the 7th, it’s basically a write-off. The wind is howling onshore at 25 to 25 mph, and the water’s all chopped up. The swell is actually pumping – we’re talkin’ moderate to strong wave energy (around 1544 to 3624) with head-high to well-overhead waves (5 ft to 8 ft) – but it’s all onshore crap. The water temp is a pretty normal 81°, so at least you won’t freeze while you’re gettin’ skunked.

Then things start to get interesting. Tuesday, September 8th, is our standout. Makapu'u finally cleans up. The wind swings around to a light S’ly cross-offshore breeze, 9 to 12 mph. The swell drops a touch to 5 ft to 6 ft from the ENE with a period of 10 to 11 seconds. The wave energy is still moderate (around 1133). It’s still a fair size for a reef break, and it’s an advanced spot, so keep your wits about you. But the conditions are clean, and that’s the best we’re gonna get. Expect a few others out there, it gets crowded sometimes.

After that little window, it’s back to the grind. Wednesday the 9th through Monday the 14th, the trade winds slam back onshore, 16 to 25 mph. The swell stays chunky, 8 ft to 8 ft from the ENE, but with that wind, it’s just a messy, blown-out wall. The energy is moderate to strong (up to 1599). Not worth paddlin’ out.

The middle of the second week, from Tuesday the 15th through Thursday the 17th, we see a bit of a change. The wind drops to a moderate 12 to 16 mph from the NE, still onshore though. The swell is still solid at 8 ft to 8 ft from the ENE, period around 8 to 9 seconds. The wave energy is moderate (around 1044 to 1599). The forecast calls it “marginal,” but it’s still a messy, onshore wave. Not great.

Finally, the last few days, Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th, the swell drops right off. We’re lookin’ at 3 ft from the SSW with a very long 16-second period. That’s a groundswell, which at a reef point like Makapu'u could be good, but the wind is still onshore from the NE at 12 to 16 mph. The energy is low (around 799 to 991). It’s a tease, but not a goer.

So, to sum it up: if you’re an experienced surfer who can handle a reef and a bit of size, Tuesday, September 8th is your day. It’s the only window with clean conditions. The rest of the 16 days is a long, dusty stretch of onshore wind. Hang in there, the forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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