Makapu'u Surf Break

Lat Long: 21.31° N 157.66° W

Makapu'u Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 18 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Makapu'u sea temperature is
26.8° C
0.1° 

Makapu'u surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Makapu'u surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 7s period, ENE swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, ENE swell with 828 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 7s period with ENE swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Makapu'u this week:

The surf forecast for Makapu'u over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 7s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Makapu'u in the next 16 days are 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 11PM. 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 TypeTime (HST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Fri 21st Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 7s
Best Surf 8AM (Fri 21st Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 7s
Most Powerful11PM (Mon 24th Aug)8ft (2.5m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Makapu'u over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here again, but I’ll switch to feet and knots for ye.

Water temp at Makapu'u is holding at 81°, which is basically dead average for the season – no complaints there.

But I gotta be straight with you: the next sixteen days are a total bummer. We’re looking at a big fat zero when it comes to surfable waves.

From Tuesday the 18th all the way through to the 29th of August, it’s one long, rubbish run. The wind is the main villain – it’s onshore from the ENE to NE, blowing anywhere from 10 to 25 knots. It doesn’t let up. Even when the wave energy climbs up from a weak spot up to a moderate reading, that short 6 to 8-second period tells you it’s all just wind slop, not a proper swell. Every single time slot is marked “poor surf conditions,” and I can’t argue with that.

Come the 30th of August, we finally see some serious numbers pop up in the energy column – we’re talking over 2000 units, and the period stretches to 12 seconds from the south. That’s a real groundswell signal. Swell heights hit 10 feet. Sounds exciting, right? Wrong. The wind is still hammering onshore at 15-17 knots with risk of thunderstorms. That’s not surfing conditions, that’s a washing machine.

The one bright spot on the 31st had a 12-second south swell with massive energy, but again, that onshore wind will absolutely trash it. If the wind went offshore or even just glassy, we’d be looking at something special. But it won’t.

So, bottom line: there is nothing to get excited about. Makapu'u is the only spot in the data, and it shows zero rideable waves across the whole 16-day window. It’s a total blank stretch, which is unusual for this place. Generally, it bounces back, but this forecast looks stubborn. I’d leave the board in the shed and find something else to do for a while.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Thu afternoon, min 24°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Tue morning, light winds from the NNE by Thu night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Fri afternoon, min 25°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, strong winds from the ENE by Sun morning).

Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
ENE
7
1
E
8
1.3
ENE
8
0.9
E
8
0.9
E
8
0.9
E
8
0.6
SSW
18
0.6
SSW
17
0.6
ENE
7
0.9
ENE
7
1.2
ENE
7
0.8
SSW
16
1.4
ENE
6
1.8
ENE
6
2.1
E
7
2.4
E
7
2.2
E
7
2.3
ENE
7
2.2
E
7
2.2
ENE
7
2.5
ENE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
188
122
186
109
107
102
207
202
38
86
132
322
149
260
428
602
480
461
480
500
735
Wind (km/h)
25
ENE
25
NE
25
ENE
20
NE
25
ENE
20
NE
20
ENE
20
NNE
5
ESE
5
E
15
ENE
20
ENE
30
ENE
40
ENE
30
ENE
40
ENE
40
NE
40
NE
40
ENE
35
ENE
35
ENE
Wind State
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
High Tide
8:02AM0.45m
4:17PM0.43m
10:23AM0.47m
11:48AM0.51m
12:32PM0.55m
1:04PM0.58m
10:27PM0.27m
1:31PM0.61m
11:46PM0.30m
1:55PM0.63m
00:27AM0.33m
Low Tide
12:27PM0.33m
00:26AM0.08m
1:15AM0.09m
2:41AM0.09m
4:16AM0.08m
9:18PM0.23m
5:19AM0.05m
8:24PM0.22m
6:03AM0.02m
8:21PM0.21m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:09
6:09
6:09
6:09
6:11
6:11
6:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:58
6:57
6:57
6:55
6:54
6:53
6:52
 mm
Temp °C
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
26
26
26
27
26
26
26
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
Feels °C
23
22
23
25
24
25
26
28
29
30
29
27
26
24
23
22
22
22
22
22
23
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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