Rock Point/Pohakuloa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it's Rusty here, and I've been looking over the charts for our stretch of coast, focusing on Rock Point/Pohakuloa. Gotta be straight with you: the next week and a half is a bit of a mixed bag, but there's a moment of real magic hiding in there if you can wait it out.

The overall pattern is dominated by strong, consistent ENE trade winds blowing cross-shore for most of the period. This is kicking up a lot of lumpy, messy conditions that are hard to love. The swell energy is moderate to strong, but the quality just isn't there for most of it. For the first several days, it's basically a write-off.

We kick off on September 1st with clean skies but a fresh 19 mph cross-shore wind from the ENE. The swell is a raw 6 ft from the ENE with a short, weak 8-second period, and the call on the water is simply "poor surf conditions." The water temp is 80°, which is bang on average for this time of year. This messy, cross-shore chop continues right through the 3rd and into the 4th. On the 4th afternoon, things start to change – the swell drops to 4 ft but the period stretches right out to a very long 14 seconds, but it's still cross-shore and lumpy.

The weekend, the 5th and 6th, sees some serious energy building, but it's rain showers and strong cross-shore winds, making the 8 ft swell a messy, chunky beast. The wave comment is "marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions", and it’s really only one for the die-hards.

We get a bit of a reprieve on Monday the 7th. Winds ease to a gentle 9 mph cross-shore, the swell settles to 7 ft from the ENE with a nice long 12-second period, and the text says "marginal" but the score bumps up a bit. It's getting close.

But the real standout? Circle your calendar for Sunday, September 13th and Monday, September 14th. This is the window.

On Sunday the 13th morning, the wind swings to a light NE at 6 mph, going cross-offshore. The swell is a solid 8 ft from the ENE with a 10-second period, and the water is described as "clean." The report flags this as "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." 8 ft is getting chunky, so this is one for the guys and gals who know what they're doing. The afternoon looks just as clean.

Then Monday the 14th morning is the real gem. Glassy conditions with an ESE wind at just 3 mph. The swell bumps up to 8 ft from the ENE with a longer 11-second period, and the energy is pumping. This is as good as it gets for a wave this size – clean, powerful, and well-shaped. It's still an 8 ft wave, so it's expert territory, but if you can handle it, Rock Point will be firing. The afternoon sees the wind turn cross-shore again, so get on that morning session.

After that high, the surf tapers off. Tuesday the 15th is cleaner with lighter winds, but the swell drops to 5 ft. Wednesday the 16th has some clean, cross-offshore wind with a small 3 ft to 3 ft NNW swell, but the period is a nice and long 12-13 seconds.

For the rest of the time, the wind is just too strong and cross-shore to make anything out of the 6 ft-plus swells. It's all lumpy cross-chop and not worth paddling out for.

Keep in mind, Rock Point is a reef and point break that doesn't fire all the time, so when it does, and with these clean conditions, it's a special opportunity. You'll want to keep an eye on the crowd situation too, as it can get busy.

That's the rundown. A long wait for a couple of perfect sessions. Be patient, and you'll be rewarded.

Rusty

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