Rock Point/Pohakuloa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cookin’ for Rock Point/Pohakuloa over the next couple of weeks.

First off, I gotta be straight with you: the start of this run is a tough one. From Sunday the 19th all the way through Saturday the 25th, we’re looking at a solid 6-day stretch of poor surf conditions. The wind is locked in from the east and east-northeast, blowing cross-shore at 15 to 22 mph, which is just trashing the surface. The swell’s coming from the east and east-northeast, running 5 ft to 8 ft, but the period is short, between 6 and 8 seconds – that’s weak, choppy, wind-affected junk. The combined energy is moderate to moderate-strong (321 to 806), but with the wind and short period, it’s not worth paddling out for. Unless you’re into a kite session, this setup is way more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The water temp is sitting at 80°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Now, things start to shift a little come Sunday the 26th. The swell direction swings to the east, and the period jumps way up to 16 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell, which usually means better shape and more energy. The combined energy hits 1362 on the morning and 1622 on the afternoon, so we’re talking strong to very strong wave energy. But here’s the caveat: this is a reef and point setup, which is actually good for long-period swells, and the wind is still cross-shore from the east-northeast at 15 mph. The conditions are still marginal, with a score of 1 out of 10, so it’s not a standout yet. The swell height is 5 ft to 5 ft, so it’s manageable for intermediates, but the cross-chop is still there.

Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th keep the long-period groundswell alive, with periods of 14 and 13 seconds, and combined energy from 1217 to 1508. The wind finally lets up a bit on Tuesday afternoon, going cross-offshore from the northeast at 9 mph, and the wave comment says “clean.” That’s the moment we’ve been waiting for. The swell is 6 ft from the east, and with a 12-second period, this is the best on offer in the entire forecast. The break is inconsistent, but when it fires on a reef and point with that long-period east swell and clean conditions, it’s a real treat. Crowds are often here, so expect company.

Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th see the swell drop to 4 ft and 3 ft, with periods dropping to 10-9 seconds. The wind stays cross-offshore or light, so the conditions are clean, but the energy is weak (194 to 451). It’s surfable but ordinary.

From Friday the 31st onwards, the swell goes tiny, with heights around 2 ft to 4 ft, but the period gets long again (14-16 seconds). The problem is the wind: it’s back to a strong cross-shore from the east and east-northeast at 15 to 19 mph, making it lumpy and messy. The combined energy is moderate (257 to 662), but with the wind and small size, it’s not worth chasing.

So, the standout window is Tuesday the 28th, with that 6 ft groundswell from the east, a 12-second period, and clean cross-offshore winds. Monday the 27th is also decent, but the wind is a bit stronger. After that, it fades out. The long-range stuff from the 31st into August looks promising in energy but gets ruined by the wind. Keep an eye on it, but don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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