Publics Surf Break

Lat Long: 21.27° N 157.83° W

Publics Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 15 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Publics sea temperature is
27.3° C
0.6° 

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


Publics surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 17s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 10s period, E swell with 4,308 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 17s period with SSW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Publics this week:

The surf forecast for Publics over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Publics in the next 16 days are 4.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 7s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (HST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5PM (Thu 20th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 17s
Best Surf 5PM (Thu 20th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 17s
Most Powerful 8PM (Sat 15th Aug)15ft (4.5m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Alright mate, let’s be real about the next couple of weeks. The surf is gonna test your patience, for sure. The start is a total freakin’ mess. Saturday the 15th, the trades are honking at 50 km/h, creating a cross-off nightmare. We’ve got 12ft of surging swell with a ton of energy (2302) but it’s all blown to bits. Not a soul should be out there. Forget it.

The next few days are a grind. The swell drops but so does the wind, though it stays cross-off and keeps things lumpy. Sunday the 16th has some rideable waves but it's nothing special and looks like a storm could hit. The energy is only moderate, so the waves lack punch. It’s just flat, weak, and unappealing. We’re in a bit of a dry spell.

Then things start to mellow out from the 20th onwards. The wind eases right off, and we get some light breezes. The swell is small, only 2ft to 2ft, but it’s coming from the SSW/SW with a long period. It’s all about the quality now, not the size. At Publics, a long period swell can get a bit closed out, but the clean conditions are a huge bonus. Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd are your days for a grovel on the longboard. The energy is weak, all in the low 300s, but the surf will be clean and glassy.

We pick up a bit of breeze again for the following week, and it’s pretty small again until we get to late next week. Now, this is where I get a bit excited. Around the 27th, a new east swell shows up with a long 18-second period. It’s not huge, about 5ft, but the energy is strong (2085). The wind is still a breeze from the ENE, so it won’t be perfect, but it’s got some serious power behind it. This looks like the best surf of the whole window, but that cross-off keeps it from being a classic.

This swell hangs around the 5ft mark for a few days, losing some period, before we get a bigger push on the 30th. Mark the 30th of August. The swell is forecast to jump to 8ft from the ENE with a 13-second period. The energy is pumping (2364). The wind is a bit lighter, but still cross-off. This is the biggest, most powerful swell of the outlook. It's got some serious weight, so it's only for the experienced crew. But it’s a proper surf. Remember, this is two weeks out, so it’s promising, but not locked in. Things can change.

The water is a toasty 81°, which is about normal for this time of year. So, boardies and a rash vest, that’s it. The first week is a big test of will, but the back half looks like it’ll reward the patient. Keep an eye on the forecasts, and when that wind drops, you better be ready to go.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 42mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Warm (max 27°C on Sat afternoon, min 24°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the ENE on Sat night, light winds from the ENE by Sun night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Tue afternoon, min 24°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Tue morning, light winds from the NNE by Thu night).

Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
3
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
ENE
9
4.5
E
10
3.5
E
10
2.4
ENE
9
2.2
ENE
8
1.9
ENE
8
1.6
ENE
8
0.8
S
14
1.3
ENE
7
1.3
ENE
7
1.3
ENE
7
1.1
ENE
8
1.1
ENE
8
0.8
E
8
0.5
SW
16
0.6
SSW
18
0.6
SSW
17
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
17
0.7
SW
16
0.8
SSW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2047
3676
2457
839
660
438
276
260
172
167
145
163
176
100
129
207
200
274
291
261
322
Wind (km/h)
55
NE
60
ENE
45
ENE
25
E
25
ENE
20
NE
30
ENE
30
ENE
25
ENE
30
ENE
25
ENE
25
ENE
20
ENE
20
ENE
20
NE
20
ENE
15
NE
10
NNE
10
ENE
10
ENE
10
NE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
5:54PM0.53m
6:57AM0.47m
6:24PM0.45m
7:54AM0.49m
6:52PM0.37m
8:59AM0.51m
7:16PM0.30m
10:13AM0.53m
11:25AM0.56m
10:11PM0.21m
12:25PM0.59m
00:08AM0.21m
Low Tide
11:43AM0.14m
00:30AM0.05m
12:43PM0.20m
00:58AM0.06m
1:59PM0.25m
1:27AM0.08m
3:56PM0.27m
2:01AM0.10m
2:47AM0.12m
8:27PM0.20m
8:41PM0.17m
thunderstorm
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
mod rain
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:09
6:09
6:09
6:09
6:11
6:11
6:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:00
7:00
7:00
6:59
6:58
6:57
6:57
 mm
1
11
20
7
3
Temp °C
26
27
26
26
26
26
25
25
25
25
26
25
26
26
25
26
26
26
26
27
26
Feels °C
21
22
20
27
28
28
24
24
24
24
24
24
26
26
26
27
27
28
29
30
29
  • 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 Publics Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Publics provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Publics can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Publics 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 (Publics) 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 Publics 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.

Publics is 6 km (4 miles) from Honolulu. If you plan a vacation in Oahu, look for hotels and other accommodation in Honolulu. Honolulu has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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