
Surf Forecasts:
Pohoiki surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 3 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 8s period, E swell with 628 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 3 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s period with ENE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Pohoiki this week:
The surf forecast for Pohoiki over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pohoiki in the next 16 days are 2.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 15s period and expected on Monday (Aug 10) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pohoiki over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty here, and we’ve got a rough stretch ahead for Pohoiki. The short version: there’s surf around most days, but it’s going to be messy and wind-affected more often than not. The standout windows are few, so pick your moments.
Monday the 3rd starts small – 1.3m of ENE swell with an 8-second period, and a cross breeze from the NNE. Energy is weak at 450, so it’s marginal. A few crumbly ones if you’re keen, but nothing special. Water’s at about 80° with a normal anomaly.
Tuesday the 4th is a bit bigger – 1.4m and 11 seconds – but cross-onshore wind from the NE trashes the quality. Energy’s up to 490, but it’s poor.
Wednesday the 5th drops to 1.1m and 9 seconds – weak, cross-shore slop. Energy down to 235. Not worth it.
Thursday the 6th through Sunday the 9th: the wind picks up and the swell stays junky. Thursday has 1.1m with a short period. Friday bumps to 1.5m but it’s choppy with rain showers. Saturday and Sunday see the swell up to 2.0m from the E, but still short-period and messy. Energy climbs to 507. All chop, no shape.
Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th: 1.7m to 1.8m of E swell, short period, cross-onshore winds. Moderate energy, poor quality.
Now, a twist from Wednesday the 12th to Friday the 14th. Swell swings to the S, height drops to around 1.0m to 1.2m, but the period gets long – 15 to 18 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, and the energy readings are strong (968, 920, 1006, 1112). But the wind stays cross-onshore from the NE, so the surface is lumpy. Also, long-period S swell at a break exposed to the E isn’t an ideal match. Promising but not clean.
Saturday the 15th swings back to NE, 1.4m and 8 seconds, with rain and cross-onshore winds. Poor.
Sunday the 16th bumps to 1.9m of ENE swell, short period, wind at 25 mph onshore. Energy’s up to 927 but it’s a washing machine.
The one bright spot: Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th. Monday morning sees 2.2m of ENE swell with a short period, and the wind goes cross at 30 mph in the afternoon – energy reading is a strong 1333. But it’s lumpy. Tuesday morning is the best bet: 2.1m ENE swell, 8 seconds, and a lighter cross breeze from the NNE at 20 mph. Energy is 1162. It’s still not glassy, but it’s the closest to decent we get. That 2.1m is big enough that it’s not for beginners – the reef will be working. If you’re experienced, that Tuesday morning window is the one. Just know it’s short-period, so it’ll be a bit walled and lumpy even then.
Bottom line: no epic swell in this run. The best of a rough bunch is Tuesday the 18th morning, and even that’s a grind. Don’t plan your week around this one.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 27°C on Mon morning, min 25°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 26°C on Thu afternoon, min 24°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | NE 8 | E 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
255 | 186 | 478 | 489 | 331 | 290 | 186 | 126 | 167 | 164 | 82 | 89 | 132 | 160 | 167 | 120 | 163 | 619 | 572 | 454 | 443 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 5:58PM0.78m | 7:23AM0.72m | 6:26PM0.69m | 8:41AM0.75m | 6:59PM0.60m | 10:15AM0.80m | 7:53PM0.51m | 11:40AM0.87m | 10:11PM0.45m | 12:44PM0.96m | 00:00AM0.46m | 1:34PM1.04m | 1:09AM0.50m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:58AM0.33m | 00:40AM0.15m | 12:59PM0.42m | 1:20AM0.15m | 2:37PM0.49m | 2:13AM0.16m | 5:28PM0.49m | 3:25AM0.15m | 7:18PM0.42m | 4:47AM0.13m | 8:00PM0.34m | 6:00AM0.08m | 8:34PM0.28m | ||||||||
5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | |
— | 6:53 | — | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:51 | — | — | 6:51 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | — | 1 | 21 | 12 | 10 | 10 |
Temp °C | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 27 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | ESE 6 | NE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 |
255 | 186 | 478 | 489 | 331 | 290 | 186 | 126 | 114 | 84 | 34 | 53 | 132 | 160 | 167 | 120 | 163 | 341 | 572 | 454 | 295 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | ENE 11 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | S 11 | ESE 6 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 10 | SSW 14 | NE 8 | SSW 18 | S 16 | NE 8 |
184 | 170 | 33 | 38 | 27 | 28 | 33 | 14 | 26 | 42 | 37 | 32 | 22 | 26 | 41 | 47 | 64 | 164 | 102 | 134 | 129 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 16 |
32 | 49 | 48 | 43 | 23 | 45 | 47 | 46 | 69 | 39 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 42 | 70 | 18 | 58 | 57 | 29 | 129 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 8 | — | — | — | — | ESE 8 | — | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | NE 8 | E 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | E 8 | — | — | E 8 |
— | 31 | — | — | — | — | 59 | — | 167 | 164 | 82 | 89 | 75 | 89 | 109 | 115 | 156 | 619 | — | — | 443 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 37 | 37 | 0 | 37 | 37 | 35 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 2 | 37 | 37 | 36 | 209 | 37 | 35 | 36 | 40 | 35 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Big Island | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Pohoiki Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Pohoiki provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Pohoiki can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Pohoiki surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Pohoiki) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Pohoiki may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Pohoiki is 39 km (24 miles) from Hilo. If you plan a vacation in Big Island, look for hotels and other accommodation in Hilo. Hilo has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











