Old Kona Airport State Park Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's on the menu for the Kona side of the Big Island.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: this is a tough stretch. We're looking at a long, drawn-out run of small, mostly messy surf. For the first week, from Tuesday, July 21st, right through to the end of the month, the energy is just not there. The swell is small, the winds are mostly cross or cross-onshore, and the water is pretty flat. You’ll be spending more time sitting on your board than riding anything. The combined wave energy is weak, barely cracking 90 (91) on Tuesday morning, and it’s a similar story for days.

The one tiny window that might offer a little hope is around Thursday the 23rd through Saturday the 26th. The swell does bump up a touch, with a SSW groundswell pushing through. On Thursday afternoon, we see a combined energy of 723 with a 3 ft swell, and Friday the 24th hits 501 with a similar 3 ft. The period is a solid 17-20 seconds, which is a proper long-period groundswell. That’s the kind of energy that wraps around points and reefs, but it’s still small. The biggest issue is that the wind is almost always on it, making it bumpy. The Saturday morning of the 25th is the best bet in this whole first week, with a 4 ft SSW swell and 6 mph NW wind giving a cross-on breeze. It’s not perfect, but it’s the cleanest it’ll be.

Now, Old Kona Airport State Park (Big Island) is the only spot on the radar. It’s a beach and reef setup that’s fairly exposed to the swell. It’s very consistent, but that doesn't mean much when the swell is weak. The water temp is a balmy 80°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

After that little pulse, we slide right back into another quiet spell. From Sunday the 27th all the way through to the end of the forecast window on August 5th, the numbers are grim. The swell drops back to 1 ft to 2 ft, periods get shorter, and the combined energy is back in the 100-200 range. The wind is still a problem, mostly cross-onshore. There’s a little blip on August 1st and 2nd with a short-period NNE windswell, but at 4 ft and 4 ft it’s just a lumpy, short-period mess with a period of 6-7 seconds. That’s not worth paddling out for.

The Standout

If you’re desperate for a wave, your best bet is the afternoon of Saturday, July 25th. It’s not a classic, but it’s the best of a bad bunch. The 4 ft SSW swell with a 6 mph NW wind is the cleanest we’ll see. The cross-on breeze is manageable, and the long period (18 seconds) means the swell will have some push. It’s a beginner-to-intermediate level wave. Don't expect perfection, but it’s the only window that’s even close to rideable.

Bottom line: This is a tough outlook. The Kona side is going to be quiet. If you’ve got a kite, the stronger wind days on the 25th and 26th might be more interesting than paddling out. The long-range stuff on August 1st and 2nd is a total bust. Hang tight, and check back in a few days.

Rusty.

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