Rock Point/Pohakuloa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking at Rock Point/Pohakuloa over the next couple of weeks. It’s a reef and point break, which is a good thing, and it likes swell from the NE. But we’ve got a bit of a wait on our hands.

The first few days are a right-off. From Monday, July 20th all the way through to Friday, July 31st, the surf is labelled as poor. The wind is coming from the east or east-northeast, and it’s cross-shore the whole time, never turning offshore. That’s a problem for a spot that needs a clean line. The combined swell energy is low to moderate – we’re seeing values like 234 all the way up to 657, but it’s all wrapped up in messy, lumpy conditions. The swell is short-period, around 6 to 8 seconds, which means weak, choppy waves. The water temp is about average for the time of year.

Now, there’s a shift starting on Saturday, July 25th. The afternoon shows a jump in the swell period to 17 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell. The swell height drops to 3 ft from the east, but the combined energy skyrockets to 1071. That’s a lot of energy in the water. The wind is still cross-shore, though, so it’s a “marginal” call. The wave comment says the tide might be questionable, too. It’s worth a look for the experienced crew, but it’s not a standout.

Sunday, July 26th, through Monday, July 27th, we see the swell period holding at 14-16 seconds, with swell heights of 6 ft to 6 ft from the east. The combined energy is massive: 1889, 1759, 1406, 1287. That’s strong wave energy. The wind is still cross-shore from the ENE at 15 mph, but it’s a moderate breeze, so it’s not as bad. The wave comment stays “marginal” with a score of 1 or 2 out of 10. This is a long-period swell, which is great for a point break like this, but the cross-shore wind will stop it from being epic. It’s still the best on offer in the first week.

The real standout, and the one you want to circle on your calendar, is Wednesday, July 29th. The morning has a swell of 7 ft from the ENE, with a period of 11 seconds. The combined energy hits 1157 – strong. The wind is light, only 6 mph from the ENE, which is cross-shore, but it’s a light breeze with only small crossing ripples. This is the closest we get to clean conditions. The score is a 3 out of 10, but that’s the highest in the whole 16-day run. For a spot that’s “inconsistent,” this is a rare window of decent surf. The 7 ft swell is pushing the limit for beginners, but it’s fine for intermediates. The crowd situation is “often” busy here, so expect some company.

After that, Thursday, July 30th, and Friday, July 31st, the swell drops back to 3 ft to 5 ft and the period shortens up. The wind picks up again, and it’s back to poor conditions. The first week of August sees very small swell, 2 ft to 3 ft, with long periods of 12-14 seconds, but the energy drops to 175-400. The wind is still cross-shore, and it’s all poor. We’re looking at a gap of about 4 days with no real recommendation from August 1st to the 4th.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a wash. The best window is the morning of Wednesday, July 29th, with a 7 ft ENE groundswell and light cross-shore winds. It’s not perfect, but it’s the only time the stars align a little. For the rest, conditions are too messy or too small. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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