Makapu'u Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking at Makapu'u.

Honestly, the outlook for the next 16 days is a bit of a heartbreaker for surfers. The swell is running, but the wind is just relentless, coming straight onshore from the ENE damn near every single day. That’s going to keep the surface messy and the waves sectiony. The water temperature is sitting at 80°, which is about normal for this time of year, but it won’t feel that warm when you’re getting blasted by that wind.

The best swell we see is a moderate wave energy pulse (648) on Tuesday, August 4th, with a 5ft swell from the ENE and a 11-second period, but it’s paired with an onshore breeze. That same pattern holds through the first week. On the morning of Thursday, August 7th, the swell drops right off to 1ft, and while the period jumps to 14 seconds with a shift to the SSW, it’s still onshore wind. That’s a small, long-period groundswell that would normally be great for a reef like Makapu'u, but without the right wind, it’s just a tease.

Things get a bit more interesting around Saturday, August 9th, with the swell building back up to 6ft, but the wind stays strong onshore. By the morning of Thursday, August 14th, we get a solid 3ft swell from the south, with a very long 18-second period and moderate wave energy (907). This is a proper groundswell, but it’s still wind-affected. For a reef break like this, that long period means the sets will be clean and powerful if the wind ever drops, but it’s not looking good.

The biggest swell of the run shows up on Saturday, August 16th, with 8ft from the ENE and a period of 8 seconds, combined with strong wave energy (805). That’s a lot of water, but short period and onshore wind means it’s going to be a close-out mess. This is only for experienced surfers, and even then, it’s more of a challenge than a pleasure.

The standout period, if you can call it that, is the morning of Thursday, August 14th. The 3ft south swell with that 18-second period has the potential for some really long, lined-up waves if the wind plays nice for a moment. The moderate energy (907) means there’s push behind it, but the onshore wind is a major caveat. For a reef break that likes a clean offshore wind from the WSW, this is the closest we get to a window.

Overall, the consistent onshore wind is the villain here. It’s going to be a frustrating stretch. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because if the wind ever shifts, Makapu'u could turn on.

Rusty.

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