Nanakuli Blackrocks Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s see what Mother Nature’s got cooked up for the next couple of weeks. It’s a story of two halves: a gradual build through this week into something a little cleaner and more promising next week, but with a notable sleepy spell in there. The only break we’ve got eyes on for this entire run is Nanakuli Blackrocks, so that's where our focus is. It’s a spot that rarely breaks, which is a big caveat right out of the gate, so this isn’t a slam dunk. But when it does, and with the right conditions, it can get interesting.

We’re starting off on Tuesday the 25th of August with small, clean surf. Expect waves around 2ft to 2ft coming from the SSW, with a long 16-second interval. That’s a groundswell, but the size is tiny, so it’s marginal at best through the first few days. The wind stays offshore from the ENE—fresh to moderate—so the surface will look clean, but there just isn't much push. Combined energy is low, sitting in the 200-300 range. Wednesday the 26th sees that swell bumping up slightly to 3ft from the S, with the period stretching to 18 seconds. The combined energy climbs into the 400s (548 in the afternoon), which is a step up, but still, for a spot that rarely breaks, you’d want more.

Now, Thursday the 27th of August is where things start to look promising. The morning offers up 4ft of swell from the S, 17-second period, and the combined energy hits 789—that's moderate wave energy. Winds are a moderate offshore breeze from the ENE, keeping it clean. This is the pick of the first week. It's not huge, but for a little wave, that long period south swell will wrap in nicely, and the offshore flow will make for a tidy face. But remember, crowds are possible here sometimes, and it’s inconsistent, so you might have to wait for the sets.

Friday and Saturday drop back a little, with swell hovering around 3ft to 3ft, shorter period dropping to 13-14 seconds, and energy tailing off into the 200s. Still offshore winds, but the quality drops noticeably. By Sunday the 30th, we’re back to clean but small (2ft, 16-second period).

Then comes a real lull. From around the 31st of August into the beginning of September, the size stays stubbornly in the 2ft to 3ft range, but the energy is still only moderate. However, a shift in wind on the 2nd and 3rd of September brings lighter winds—cross-off from the SE and ESE, with almost no breeze at times. Those will be glassy, clean sessions, if you’re willing to surf tiny waves.

Here’s where the standouts sit. For me, the best on offer is Thursday the 27th of August (morning). That 4ft of S swell with 17 seconds of period, clean offshore wind, and the energy in the 700s is the most push you’ll see all window. After that, keep an eye on Sunday the 6th of September and Monday the 7th of September. The swell holds at 3ft from the SSW, but the energy jumps nicely into the 500s, and the winds go very light or glassy—clean as a whistle. That SSW direction sits better with the break’s optimum (WSW) than a pure S swell, so the waves could have a little more shape.

Through the second week, things are small but persistent. There’s a real gap from the 5th to the 9th of September where we see small but consistent 2ft to 3ft swells, all with clean wind. The standout in that stretch is the afternoon of the 6th and the morning of the 7th, where the light wind and clean conditions combined with moderate energy (over 500) make it a genuine bet. For a spot that rarely breaks, you need to pick your window. Water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing wild to report.

So, to sum it up: this is not a big-wave period. It’s a small-wave, clean-wind run that rewards patience. Thursday the 27th August morning is your best early bet, and the first couple of days of the second week (September 6th and 7th) are the long-range hopefuls. The spot is inconsistent and crowds are possible, but if you’ve got a log and an early alarm, there’s fun to be had.

Rusty.

Read more