Taapuna Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, it's your local surf reporter Rusty here, and let's get into it. We've got a bit of a turbulent picture shaping up for Taapuna (Big Island) over the next couple of weeks. The winds are going to be the main story for a while, and it's not a pretty one for us paddle surfers.

Right off the bat, from July 6th through to the 8th, we're dealing with some serious cross-shore and onshore winds that are going to ruin the wave faces. There's some SSW swell pushing in around 4ft to 5ft with a decent period, but the wind is just hammering it. The wave energy is moderate, but the quality is poor. That combo makes it a better setup for the kite crew than anyone on a surfboard, to be honest.

Things start to look a little more promising on Thursday the 9th and especially Friday the 10th. On the 10th, we get a clean, offshore breeze from the NE hitting the reef. The swell drops to a smaller 2ft to 3ft from the SSW, but the energy is still moderate and that 15-16 second period is some proper groundswell. This is where the wave shape will be at its best for the first week, even if the size is a bit gutless. The wind will be fresh offshore and then moderate offshore, making for some clean, lined-up walls, perfect for a longboard.

Moving into the second week, there’s a real standout window for the experienced crew. July 13th and 14th look absolutely electric. Monday the 13th morning brings glassy conditions with a light westerly breeze. The swell jumps to a solid 4ft to 5ft from the SSW, and the energy is strong. The guidance calls this excellent for experienced surfers, and it's easy to see why.

Then Tuesday the 14th is the pick of the entire forecast. Both the morning and afternoon are glassy, and the swell is pumping. It's 6ft to 7ft from the SW in the morning with strong energy, and it drops slightly to 5ft to 6ft from the SW in the afternoon. It's still clean and glassy. This is a heavy, powerful reef break setup with a solid, long-period swell. With those conditions, Taapuna is going to be a freight train. It'll be fast, hollow, and for experts only. Crowds are sometimes a factor here, so expect company if you're paddling out for those waves.

After that peak, the swell stays in the 6ft to 8ft range for the rest of the week, but the wind turns ugly again with strong cross-shore and cross-onshore conditions. The wave energy is very strong at times, but the quality drops off a cliff. By the weekend of July 19th and 20th, the swell is a bit smaller and the period drops into the 9-10 second range, making it a bit weaker and more disorganized.

Overall, the best bet is to keep your eyes locked on the 13th and 14th of July. That glassy, long-period groundswell at Taapuna is a rare treat, even if it’s a heavy one. For the rest of the time, the wind is going to be your biggest enemy.

That's the word from Rusty. Keep your eyes on the horizon.

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