Rock Point/Pohakuloa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, look, I’m gonna level with you. I’ve scanned the long-range for the Rock Point/Pohakuloa zone, and for the next stretch, it’s a whole lotta nothing. We’ve got a solid block of poor conditions running from this Friday, August 14th, all the way through to the end of the month. We’re talking over two weeks of messy, cross-shore wind, lumpy junk, and very little in the way of clean surf.

The first real surfable window doesn't even show up until Friday, August 28th, and even then, it’s a marginal call. That’s a long, dry spell.

Here’s the deal for the first week:

The entire run from the 14th to the 20th is shot. Winds are fresh and cross-shore, mostly from the ENE, with speeds hitting 22-31 mph. The swell is there, but it’s a mess. Friday the 14th starts with a 8ft ENE swell, but with that cross-shore breeze, it’s just lumpy cross-chop. Not worth the paddle.

Saturday the 15th sees a jump in energy – we’re looking at a strong surge, but it’s accompanied by a near gale, rain showers, and a 13ft E swell. That’s not surf, that’s a washing machine. Too big, too blown out, and only for the most experienced, and even then, it looks miserable.

Sunday the 16th is more of the same: 12ft E swell, but with a cross-onshore wind and more storm clouds, a solid combination for staying on the beach. The energy drops a bit through the middle of the week, but the wind keeps messing everything up. From the 17th to the 20th, we’re looking at 4ft to 7ft swells with that constant cross-shore ENE breeze. The period is short, around 7-8 seconds, so it’s all just wind-chop and current.

Here’s the thing about Rock Point (Big Island) – it’s a reef and point setup that wants a NE swell and, ideally, light or offshore winds (NNW is the offshore direction). We are getting the swell direction, but the wind is just killing it. It’s inconsistent at the best of times, so this run of poor quality is especially frustrating.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel:

The only standout, and I mean the *only* one, is the end of the month. Friday, August 28th, and into Saturday morning. We see the energy pick back up, with a strong surge of activity and a 8ft E swell. That`s the bigger swell we have seen all run. The period jumps to a cleaner 10 seconds, which will give it some shape.

But here’s the caveat: the wind is still forecast to be cross-shore from the ENE, so it won’t be perfect. Still, with that size and the better period, this will likely be the best we get. It’s going to be a bigger, more powerful wave, so it’s a game for intermediates and above. The crowd at Rock Point can be pretty regular, so expect some company if it cleans up.

The water temp is running about average for this time of year, so it’s not a factor.

So, my honest take? Save your energy for the last couple of days of the month. The setup finally might come together for a session, but it’s a long way off. Forecasts change, but right now, the long-range is looking bleak. It’s a classic case of a spot that just can’t catch a break. When it’s on, it’s on, but this time around, it’s just not on.

That’s all I got.

Rusty

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