
Surf Forecasts:
Makapu'u surf forecast from 30 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 1 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, E swell with 1,283 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 3.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 01) at 5AM. 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 15s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sat 1st Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Makapu'u over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into what’s happening with the surf around the island.
So, we’ve got a pretty long run of poor surf conditions on the cards for Makapu’u. It’s one of those stretches where the trades are just blowing too hard and straight onshore, making a mess of things. The water’s sitting at 80°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so nothing weird there.
The first few days, from Thursday the 30th of July right through the weekend and into the first week of August, are a write-off. The wind is blowing from the ENE at 16 to 28 mph, and it’s all onshore. The swell is hanging around 5 ft to 10 ft, but with that wind, it’s just a choppy, blown-out mess. The wave energy is moderate to strong – you can see readings like 457, 590, up to 1517 – but it’s all for nothing with that wind. The period is short, mostly 8 seconds, so it’s just wind swell anyway. Not worth paddling out for.
The situation doesn’t really improve as we go into the second week. The wind stays strong and onshore from the ENE and NE, and the swell drops a bit, but it’s still poor. There’s a couple of days around the 4th and 5th of August where the period jumps to 11 and 9 seconds, but the wind is still messing it up. By the 9th of August, we get a little bit of long-period swell from the S and SSW, with periods of 16 to 19 seconds, but it’s tiny – 2 ft to 3 ft – and the wind is still strong and onshore. The wave energy is moderate (409 to 935), but it’s just not enough size to get excited about, and the wind is a killer.
Honestly, for the whole 16-day window, there isn’t a single standout day. The best you could hope for is maybe the 10th of August when the wind drops to 9 mph from the E and goes cross-onshore, but it’s still a 3 ft SSW swell with risk of thunderstorms. Not a recommendation.
So, plain and simple: the forecast is a blank run. With the trades this strong and blowing straight onshore, it’s not looking good for surfing. If you’re into kite surfing, the strong, consistent trades and the bigger swell days (like the 1st and 2nd of August with 10 ft swell) might be up your alley, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a no-go.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Thu afternoon, min 24°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ENE on Thu afternoon, strong winds from the ENE by Fri night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun morning, min 24°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the ENE on Sun morning, light winds from the ENE by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 12 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
276 | 210 | 320 | 408 | 471 | 1176 | 1055 | 1098 | 1251 | 864 | 824 | 662 | 457 | 379 | 794 | 637 | 608 | 410 | 293 | 127 | 185 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 4:07PM0.66m | 2:57AM0.35m | 4:27PM0.64m | 3:46AM0.36m | 4:44PM0.61m | 4:42AM0.37m | 4:58PM0.57m | 5:48AM0.38m | 5:09PM0.52m | 7:16AM0.41m | 5:14PM0.48m | 9:27AM0.45m | 4:57PM0.44m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:32AM-0.04m | 10:31PM0.18m | 9:04AM-0.01m | 10:57PM0.16m | 9:37AM0.05m | 11:22PM0.13m | 10:12AM0.11m | 11:50PM0.10m | 10:52AM0.19m | 00:22AM0.07m | 11:44AM0.27m | 1:03AM0.04m | 1:35PM0.35m | 1:59AM0.02m | |||||||
6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | |
— | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:08 | — | — | 7:08 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 28 | 28 | 26 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | S 13 | E 15 | E 16 | SW 15 | E 14 | E 14 | SSW 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | ENE 12 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SSW 14 |
276 | 210 | 166 | 216 | 301 | 223 | 264 | 257 | 131 | 242 | 192 | 125 | 110 | 153 | 794 | 637 | 608 | 410 | 293 | 127 | 81 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 16 | S 12 | SW 15 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | N 6 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | ENE 6 | S 12 |
181 | 173 | 177 | 153 | 239 | 47 | 129 | 123 | 22 | 133 | 68 | 40 | 53 | 29 | 16 | 46 | 43 | 47 | 47 | 43 | 46 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SSW 18 | E 16 | SW 16 | S 12 | N 8 | S 12 | S 11 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSE 12 | SW 16 | SSE 13 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 10 |
154 | 207 | 127 | 206 | 106 | 5 | 42 | 39 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 58 | 42 | 41 | 48 | 29 | 68 | 58 | 61 | 88 | 19 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 8 |
— | — | 320 | 408 | 471 | 1176 | 1055 | 1098 | 1251 | 864 | 824 | 662 | 457 | 379 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 185 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 18 | 42 | 18 | 55 | 60 | 110 | 113 | 113 | 58 | 60 | 61 | 55 | 51 | 55 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 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.











