Pohoiki Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s happening at Pohoiki (Big Island) over the next couple of weeks. It’s a pretty quiet start and most of the run looks challenging, but there are a few flickers of hope if you’re patient.

So, the water temperature is sitting about average for this time of year, nothing out of the ordinary. The wave energy is mostly weak to moderate for the first week, with the combined energy of all swells directed here hovering between 144 and 829 (weak to moderate). The wind is a persistent problem early on, with a lot of cross-onshore to cross chop, making for messy conditions.

We kick off on Tuesday, August 4th, with a small 5ft ENE swell at 11 seconds, but it’s already cross-onshore, leaving it a bit bumpy. That sets the theme for the first week. Wednesday the 5th is even smaller, down to 4ft, and the wind stays cross to cross-on. Thursday through Saturday, August 6th to 8th, the swell drops further and the wind picks up, staying moderate and choppy. Honestly, it’s a tough stretch with poor surf conditions across the board.

Sunday the 9th sees a little more size – 7ft from the east, but it’s onshore and stormy with risk of thunderstorms, so not worth paddling out. That continues into Monday the 10th with 6ft, but still cross-onshore and messy. The combined energy is moderate (829), but the quality just isn’t there.

The real standout, and I mean the *only* one that gets my heart rate up, comes later. On Wednesday, August 12th, we get a long-period groundswell from the south at 18 seconds, pushing 3ft. The combined energy jumps to 929 (moderate) and then 1019 on the afternoon. Now, this is a long-period swell, which usually means better shaped waves, more energy, and longer gaps between sets. For a reef break like Pohoiki, that’s a good thing – it’s not a beach break, so it won’t just break straight. The downside? The wind is still cross-onshore, gentle in the morning but moderate by afternoon, so it’s a bit choppy. Still, this is the best on offer – a real groundswell with potential. Thursday the 13th has similar energy (over 1000) but the wind stays onshore and stormy, so not as clean.

The last few days from August 15th to 19th see a return to more easterly windswell, with size up to 8ft on the 16th, but the wind is fresh and cross-shore, so it’s lumpy. The energy is strong (over 1000), but it’s not a clean paddle. For experts only if you’re keen, but it’s more of a battle than a joy.

Honestly, if you’re not set on surfing, the steady cross-onshore winds and moderate energy could make this setup more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on some days.

Stay patient, and if that southern swell on the 12th lines up, it might be worth a look. Keep your eyes on the forecast. This is Rusty, signing off.

Read more