Makapu'u Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here for the imperial version. Let’s break it down.

First thing’s first – the outlook for Oahu’s south-east shores is a tough one. The finder tells me there are no good surf options on the table for the entire 16-day window. Right now, and for the foreseeable future, it’s all “poor surf conditions.” We’re looking at a long, blank run, which, in this area, isn’t that unusual.

The only spot on the radar is Makapu'u, a reef break that’s fairly consistent but needs the right combo. It’s exposed to the open ocean, but the problem is the wind. We’ve got strong, onshore trade winds from the ENE blowing at 18 to 25 mph for most of the first week, which is just going to shred any chance of a clean wave. The swell is mostly from the ENE, too, which isn’t its optimum direction (it wants it from the ESE). The water temp is about average for this time of year.

The combined swell energy is moderate to strong – we see values like 1120 and 1164 – but it’s all wind chop. The swell heights bump around 8 ft (ENE, 7-second period) a lot, which is a short-period, wind-driven mess. That’s too big for beginners and a tough paddle for everyone else in those conditions.

There’s a slight tease on the morning of Thursday, July 30th. The wind drops to a light breeze from the SE (6 mph) and the swell drops to 4 ft from the ENE (9 seconds). The energy drops way down to 475. It’s described as “marginal,” and the wind is cross-shore, not offshore. It’s not really worth getting excited about.

As we push into the first week of August, the trades stay locked in. You’ll see some longer-period swells (14 to 16 seconds) from the east, but the wind is still on it, making it a bumpy, choppy affair. The combined energy stays in the 900 to 1152 range, which is moderate, but the quality is just not there for a paddle session. If you’re into kiting, the setup of strong wind and lumpy water might be more your thing, but for straight-up surfing, it’s a no-go.

So, bottom line: there’s nothing to recommend here. I’d keep the board in the car and maybe look for a different coast. The forecasts can always change, but for now, it’s a long wait.

Rusty

Read more