Surf Forecasts:
Pohoiki surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 14 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 9s period, ENE swell with 721 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period with NE 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 (Sep 14) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m 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 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 16s period and expected on Friday (Sep 18) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pohoiki over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s be straight with you. The next couple of weeks at Pohoiki are looking pretty grim for paddling out. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – we’ve got a long stretch of onshore and cross-onshore winds messing up what little swell is showing. For the first few days, through the 16th, there’s just not enough energy to get excited about. We’re looking at weak surf, around 2ft to 4ft, with short, wind-chopped lines. It’s gonna be a battle just to get a half-decent one. The water temp is sitting at 81°, which is about average for this time of year, so at least you won’t need a thick suit.
Then, from the 17th, the swell starts to pick up a bit – we see chest to head high stuff on the 17th and 18th, but the wind is just constantly ruining it. It’s cross-onshore, bumpy, and lumpy. The energy is there – we’re talking about moderate to strong energy readings in the 400 to 1300 range – but it’s messy. This isn't the Pohoiki we want. It’s mostly short-period swell, 8 to 9 seconds, so it’s not gonna have any real push or shape. The good news? There are no real standouts in this entire window. Nothing that makes me want to tell you to drop everything and go.
The combined energy really ramps up on the 22nd and 23rd, hitting strong levels (over 1500), but that comes with 8ft of onshore slop and fresh cross-onshore winds. That’s not surf for most of us – that’s a washing machine. For the experts, maybe, but even then, the wind is just gonna make it a mess. After that, it slowly fades but the wind stays on it. All the way through to the 29th, it’s cross-onshore or onshore, with short-period swell, and it’s just… poor. There are a few days where it’s marginal at best – like the 29th – but the conditions are still not favorable. We’re looking at a complete blank run here if you’re after quality waves.
The whole 16-day window is a write-off for any decent surf at Pohoiki (Big Island). I’d be looking at other activities, because this stretch is as close to flat and messy as it gets. It’s a bummer, but that’s the call. The water might be warm, but the waves just aren't there. This is one of those times where it’s better to sit it out and wait for the weather pattern to shift.
Alright, that’s the long and short of it. Keep the board waxed, but maybe take a few weeks off. It’s not looking good.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 28°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Warm (max 27°C on Fri morning, min 25°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NE 8 | NNE 8 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 149 | 78 | 87 | 84 | 296 | 284 | 279 | 461 | 713 | 676 | 488 | 261 | 489 | 505 | 461 | 470 | 414 | 404 | 385 | 510 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:39PM0.68m | 5:49AM0.85m | 4:57PM0.60m | 6:35AM0.80m | 5:07PM0.54m | 7:38AM0.75m | 4:25PM0.49m | 9:18AM0.72m | 11:00AM0.74m | 10:45PM0.39m | 12:00PM0.79m | 00:07AM0.45m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:55PM0.12m | 12:02PM0.38m | 11:19PM0.15m | 1:01PM0.45m | 11:46PM0.20m | 3:30PM0.48m | 00:23AM0.24m | 1:37AM0.29m | 7:42PM0.37m | 3:54AM0.30m | 7:27PM0.33m | |||||||||
 |  | |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | | |  |  | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | 6:22 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:16 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 12 | 9 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 |
Feels °C | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | NNE 8 | E 6 | E 6 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | SSW 16 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 149 | 78 | 38 | 52 | 296 | 284 | 279 | 461 | 573 | 676 | 488 | 237 | 489 | 505 | 461 | 269 | 414 | 404 | 385 | 510 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | E 12 | NNE 8 | E 11 | NNE 8 | SE 8 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 18 | SSE 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 20 | 73 | 54 | 84 | 19 | 17 | 79 | 108 | 210 | 195 | 276 | 249 | 237 | 246 | 160 | 7 | 346 | 288 | 288 | 265 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | SE 8 | E 11 | NNE 8 | SE 8 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | NNE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 16 | SSE 8 | S 12 | N 11 | N 11 |
| kJ | 32 | 20 | 87 | 23 | 17 | 78 | 61 | 24 | 20 | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 25 | 84 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | ENE 9 | — | — | ENE 8 | — | — | — | ENE 8 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 43 | 89 | 110 | 713 | — | — | 261 | — | — | — | 470 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 110 | 0 | 35 | 121 | 44 | 110 | 110 | 44 | 36 | 36 | 35 | 37 | 120 | 35 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 211 | 116 | 44 |
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.
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