Waihee Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight—this 16-day window for Waihee is a bit of a grind. The first week and a half is pretty much a write-off for decent waves, with persistent cross-onshore winds and choppy conditions. The water temp is sitting at 79°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. The real action doesn’t start to look interesting until the very end of the run, and even then, it’s a mixed bag.

From Thursday the 16th through to about Tuesday the 22nd, we’re stuck with small, weak swell—mostly 2ft to 5ft—with short periods around 6-8 seconds and combined energy that’s moderate at best (83 to 422). The wind is a constant cross-on from the ENE or NE, making everything choppy and poor. It’s not really worth paddling out unless you’re desperate for a splash. The swell direction is mostly from the ENE, which is off the optimum NNE direction for Waihee, so the breaks aren’t lining up well at all.

The first real change comes on Wednesday the 23rd, when the swell starts to lift a bit, but it’s still cross-on and messy. By the 25th of July, Saturday morning, the swell is up to 6ft from the ENE, period 8 seconds, and the combined energy is strong (416). But again, the wind is cross-on, so it’s not clean. The waves are there, but they’re not going to be pretty.

Now, the standout period—and I mean the only real standout—is the stretch from the 26th of July into the 28th. On Sunday the 26th, we see a proper long-period groundswell arrive: 5ft to 5ft from the E, with a period of 16 to 17 seconds, and combined energy shooting up to 1490 and 1584—that’s powerful stuff. The swell direction is E, which is a bit off the NNE optimum, but the long period means the waves will have shape and push. The catch is the wind is still cross-on from the NE at 15 mph, so it’s going to be a bit messy. But for a reef and point break like Waihee, that long-period groundswell can wrap in and offer some decent lines. This one is for intermediate surfers who can handle a bit of chop.

The best of the whole window, if you can gamble on a longer-range call, is Tuesday the 28th of July. The swell hits 10ft from the ENE, period 13 seconds, and combined energy is massive at 3172 to 3399. The wind drops to a light breeze from the NE at 6 mph, making it nearly glassy. That’s about as good as it gets for Waihee—big, powerful swell with clean conditions. But heads up: 10ft is solidly in the expert-only zone, especially with that long period. The point and reef setup can handle it, but it’s not for the faint-hearted. The swell direction is ENE, still a bit off the optimum, but at that size and period, it’ll still produce. Crowds are “sometimes,” so you might have some company, but it won’t be a circus.

After that, Wednesday the 29th holds similar size (12ft) but with a slight onshore breeze, so it’s a step down in quality. The 30th and 31st see the swell drop off and the wind pick up again, returning to poor conditions.

Overall, the only day that truly stands out as a proper session is Tuesday the 28th of July—big, clean, and powerful. Monday the 27th is also okay, with 8ft and a 15-second period, but the wind is a bit stronger. If you’re keen, keep an eye on that long-range window. The rest of the time, it’s a bust.

Rusty.

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