Pohoiki Surf Break

Lat Long: 19.48° N 154.82° W

Pohoiki Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 14 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Pohoiki sea temperature is
27.1° C
0.8° 

Pohoiki surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Pohoiki surf forecast from 14 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period, ENE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 11s period, ESE swell with 8,057 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 9s. 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 6.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 13s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (HST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Thu 20th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 8s
Best Surf 5AM (Thu 20th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 8s
Most Powerful 5PM (Sat 15th Aug)20ft (6.0m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pohoiki over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, surfers, let’s talk about Pohoiki. It’s a tricky stretch for the next couple of weeks, to be honest. The water is sitting at 81°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The outlook kicks off on Friday the 14th, but it’s not the kind of thing you want to paddle out into. We’ve got a solid 10ft of east swell rolling in with a moderate 11-second period, and the combined energy is a strong 1908, but the wind is howling side-shore from the NNE at 19 mph, making it a lumpy, cross-chop mess. That afternoon, it actually gets worse with a 13ft east swell and 22 mph winds, pumping out 8764 in energy – that’s a lot of power, but it’s all blown out. Not surfable.

Saturday the 15th is a write-off. We’re looking at 18ft to 20ft of east-southeast swell with near gale-force winds. This is kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing. The energy numbers are massive (7199 and 8329), but for us, it’s just dangerous and messy.

Sunday the 16th calms down a bit, with 8ft of short-period, 8-second east swell, but the wind is still cross-onshore. The energy is moderate at 1257, but conditions are choppy and poor. By Monday the 17th, the swell drops right off to under 3ft, and we’re into a flat, choppy spell that lasts through the middle of the week. From Tuesday the 18th to Thursday the 21st, the wave heights are tiny – mostly 2ft to 4ft, with weak energy (between 121 and 373) and mostly cross-shore or onshore breezes. Just a flat run for the most part.

Now, there’s a little glimmer around Saturday the 22nd of August. We get a 5ft east-southeast swell with a 10-second period and a moderate 1101 in energy. The wind is light and onshore, so it’s messy, but it’s the best we’ve seen in a week. Sunday the 23rd comes back with a 7ft east swell, but the wind picks up again, and it’s choppy and blown out.

The real standout, and I mean the one to keep an eye on, is the tail end of the forecast. Starting Thursday the 27th of August, we get a solid push of long-period groundswell from the east. The swell is 5ft to 5ft, but the period jumps to 16-18 seconds, which is very long. The energy is strong, hitting 2019. The wind is lighter, from the east-northeast, but it’s still cross-onshore – light cross-onshore with small wind ripples, so not glassy, but manageable. This long-period swell is best for Pohoiki’s reef setup, as it’ll bend in nicely. The quality is still just marginal, but this is the best on offer for the whole run. Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th hold similar energy and size, but the wind is a bit stronger.

So, bottom line: the first ten days are mostly a bust. The standout is the long-period east swell from the 27th to the 29th. It’s not perfect, but it’s the only real window where the waves have some grunt and the wind isn’t howling. Keep it in mind, but don’t expect magic.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 207mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 26°C on Fri morning, min 23°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (near gales from the ESE on Sat night, light winds from the E by Sun night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Warm (max 26°C on Tue afternoon, min 25°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
E
11
4
E
12
4.5
E
12
5.5
E
11
6
ESE
11
3.5
ESE
8
2.4
E
8
2.1
E
8
1
S
15
1.6
ENE
8
1.5
ENE
8
1.4
ENE
8
0.7
S
13
1.2
ENE
8
1.1
E
8
1.3
ENE
8
1.2
ENE
8
1.2
ENE
7
1
E
8
0.9
ENE
8
0.9
NE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1908
4579
6034
6940
8057
1655
742
555
422
324
246
221
160
202
161
201
155
157
118
99
86
Wind (km/h)
35
NNE
35
NNE
35
NE
50
NE
60
ENE
35
SE
25
SE
15
SE
15
E
20
ENE
20
NE
15
NE
15
NE
15
NE
10
NE
15
NE
15
NE
10
NNE
15
NE
15
NE
5
NE
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
High Tide
4:35PM0.98m
5:00AM0.76m
5:02PM0.88m
5:44AM0.77m
5:26PM0.78m
6:31AM0.76m
5:46PM0.69m
7:26AM0.74m
6:00PM0.60m
8:41AM0.72m
5:46PM0.53m
10:24AM0.73m
Low Tide
10:06AM0.11m
11:02PM0.13m
10:48AM0.20m
11:29PM0.13m
11:31AM0.29m
11:56PM0.15m
12:19PM0.38m
00:23AM0.17m
1:19PM0.47m
00:55AM0.20m
3:24PM0.52m
1:39AM0.24m
2:55AM0.26m
rain showers
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
heavy rain
heavy rain
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
rain showers
clear
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:58
5:58
6:00
6:00
6:00
6:00
6:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:47
6:46
6:45
6:45
6:45
6:44
6:43
 mm
4
5
17
23
64
71
8
5
10
4
1
Temp °C
26
26
25
26
25
25
26
26
25
25
25
25
25
26
25
26
26
26
26
26
26
Feels °C
25
25
23
22
20
18
27
27
27
25
25
26
25
27
27
27
28
28
28
28
30
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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