Surf Forecasts:
Pohoiki surf forecast from 15 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, S swell with 570 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s 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 Wednesday (Jul 15) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pohoiki in the next 16 days are 1.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 18s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 15th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pohoiki over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here again. Let’s break it down in feet and miles per hour, because that’s how some of us think.
Honestly, Pohoiki’s looking pretty rough for the next 16 days. We’ve got a near-constant cross or cross-onshore breeze that’s just wrecking whatever swell shows up. It’s a long stretch of choppy, messy water.
Starting Wednesday, July 15th, we’ve got a weak 4ft NE windswell rolling in with a short 7-second period. A 9 mph cross-onshore from the ENE is chopping it up. The combined energy is low (140), and the waves are gonna be poor.
And this just keeps going. Through Thursday the 16th, Friday the 17th, and into Saturday the 18th, that onshore wind doesn’t let up. By Saturday morning, the swell builds to 6ft from the east with an 8-second period, pushing the energy to a moderate 620, but it’s still blown out and choppy. Not worth paddling out for.
Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th bring a tease of better swell. We get a long-period groundswell from the south with periods hitting 18 seconds and strong energy readings over 660. Sunday afternoon shows a 3ft south swell with a very long 18-second period and a 677 energy reading. Sounds great, right? Wrong. The 12 mph NE wind is still blowing cross-onshore, turning those long lines into a bumpy, blown-out mess.
We limp along with marginal to poor conditions through the rest of the month. Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th see more S and E groundswell, but the wind stays stubborn. By Monday, July 27th, energy levels hit 1042 – strong wave energy for a 4ft E swell at 14 seconds – but the wind is either cross-on or cross, leaving a chop on every wave. At this point, it looks more like a kite-surfing day than a good paddle session.
The water’s a comfortable 80°F, which is about average, so at least you won’t freeze waiting for a clean set that isn’t coming.
Bottom line: there’s no standout day in this 16-day forecast for Pohoiki. Every session has that wind issue knocking the quality down. It’s one of those frustrating runs where the swell and wind just never get along. But hang tight – the forecast can always change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Thu night. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 24°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 26°C on Sat morning, min 24°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | S 18 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 115 | 96 | 58 | 83 | 74 | 91 | 139 | 147 | 359 | 443 | 499 | 438 | 298 | 393 | 264 | 496 | 520 | 506 | 390 | 302 | 176 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 4:36PM1.12m | 4:32AM0.60m | 5:13PM1.06m | 5:23AM0.62m | 5:47PM0.97m | 6:17AM0.64m | 6:18PM0.87m | 7:17AM0.66m | 6:46PM0.76m | 8:27AM0.67m | 7:13PM0.66m | 9:50AM0.70m | 7:38PM0.57m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:31AM-0.01m | 11:20PM0.19m | 10:16AM0.06m | 11:56PM0.18m | 11:02AM0.15m | 00:30AM0.18m | 11:49AM0.25m | 1:04AM0.18m | 12:42PM0.37m | 1:39AM0.19m | 1:51PM0.46m | 2:18AM0.20m | 3:45PM0.52m | 3:05AM0.21m | |||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — |
 | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 2 | — | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 25 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | NNE 8 | E 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | ENE 7 | E 7 |
| kJ | 115 | 96 | 58 | 47 | 74 | 53 | 139 | 147 | 359 | 443 | 499 | 438 | 298 | 253 | 191 | 138 | 520 | 506 | 390 | 147 | 116 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | S 8 | N 8 | SE 8 | NNE 7 | NE 6 | N 8 | NNE 7 | SSW 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 18 | S 18 | S 16 | S 16 | ESE 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 | S 14 | S 13 |
| kJ | 44 | 22 | 46 | 41 | 57 | 49 | 41 | 49 | 167 | 150 | 144 | 82 | 169 | 393 | 264 | 496 | 117 | 109 | 89 | 302 | 176 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SSW 16 | SE 8 | SSW 17 | S 16 | SSW 16 | N 7 | N 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | S 13 | NNE 6 | N 8 | NNE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | E 12 | E 12 |
| kJ | 25 | 19 | 32 | 50 | 31 | 237 | 131 | 198 | 28 | 27 | 17 | 22 | 82 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 56 | 51 | 57 | 98 | 101 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | E 6 | — | E 6 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | — | — | — | — | NNE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | E 7 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 83 | — | 91 | 41 | 30 | — | — | — | — | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | 126 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 36 | 36 | 0 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 37 | 37 | 36 | 121 | 120 | 120 | 211 | 116 | 39 | 110 | 121 | 35 | 209 | 116 | 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.
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