Makapu'u Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's look at what we've got. Straight up, I gotta be honest with you – it's a tough stretch ahead for Makapu'u. We're looking at over two weeks of pretty ordinary conditions, so don't get your hopes up too high just yet.

The big story for the next week and a half is a relentless, strong onshore wind hammering us straight from the ENE at 18 to 25 mph. That wind is just killing any chance of clean surf. The swell is hanging around 5 to 8 ft, coming from the same ENE direction, with a short period of 7 to 8 seconds. That combo means weak, choppy, bumpy lines. There is no standout session here; it's all "poor surf conditions" according to the book.

We finally see a glimmer of hope around Sunday the 19th into Monday the 20th. The wind does back off a touch to a "moderate breeze" from the ENE, down to 15 mph. The swell direction switches around to a longer-period groundswell from the S, with a period of 15 to 16 seconds. The height drops right down though, to about 3 ft. That long period and smaller size could produce some clean, lined-up waves if the wind stays kind, but this is a reef break, and a south swell with that long period can be a bit particular. It's not a ripper, just a chance for a few.

Then, look at this – on Monday the 21st and Tuesday the 22nd of July, things get genuinely interesting. The swell turns to a long-period E and ENE groundswell, with periods blowing out to 16, 17, and even 18 seconds. The swell height is 2 ft to 4 ft. This is a proper, long-period groundswell. It could pulse some really nice, lined-up waves, especially at a reef break like Makapu'u. But, and it's a big but, the wind is still blowing onshore from the ENE at 18 mph. That wind will chop it up. The raw energy is there, but the conditions will be rough. It's a bit of a tease.

So, for the entire 16-day window, there just isn't one true standout day where everything aligns perfectly. The closest we get is the potential for some bigger, longer-period energy around the 21st and 22nd, but it will be a battle against the wind. If you're a local who knows the reef and can handle some chop on a long-period swell, that's your best bet. For everyone else, this is a time to check the reports or pick another day. The water temp is sitting at a normal 79° for this time of year, so at least you won't freeze while you're waiting.

Rusty.

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