Waikiki Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab a coffee and settle in, because I’ve got the full 16-day picture for Waikiki right here. Let’s be real from the start: this stretch is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with barely a ripple for most of the run. The first proper surfable moment doesn’t show up until Wednesday the 26th of August, and even then, it’s pretty average. There’s a gap of about a week right at the beginning with nothing worth paddling out for, so don’t bother checking the buoys.

Waikiki is a beach and reef setup, fairly consistent, but our exposure is to the northeast, and the optimum swell direction is northeast. The water temp is sitting at 50°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you’ll be comfortable in a spring suit.

The first real glimpse of hope comes on Wednesday the 26th of August in the afternoon. We’ve got a little 1ft swell trickling in from the southeast with a 12-second period, which is a nice long-period groundswell. The combined energy is weak at 55, but it’s surfable. The wind is a gentle cross-offshore breeze, so the waves will be clean. It’s ordinary, but it’s a wave.

Then things dry up again until we hit the 30th of August. Sunday afternoon on the 30th, we get a glassy, 1ft swell from the east with an 11-second period, and the combined energy creeps up to 37. It’s still small, but glassy conditions are a major positive for Waikiki. The rain showers might keep the crowds down, which is a bonus.

The best of the whole run, honestly, is still pretty small. On Monday the 31st of August, we’ve got a clean 1.0ft easterly swell with a 10-second period, and the wind is offshore both morning and afternoon. The combined energy is still weak at 18, but it’s clean, consistent, and the offshore wind will smooth it out. It’s not a standout for size, but for quality, it’s the best we’ve got.

Looking further into the first week of September, it’s more of the same. The 1st of September has a 1.0ft easterly swell with offshore winds in the morning, and the 2nd of September has a 2ft easterly bump in the afternoon, but the period drops to 4 seconds, so it’s weak and short. The 3rd of September actually shows a 3ft northeast swell, but with a 5-second period, it’s just a messy, weak windswell. The combined energy is 44, which is weak, and the glassy morning conditions won’t save it.

The standout on the whole 16-day forecast is Monday the 31st of August. It’s not big, but the clean offshore wind and small, consistent easterly swell make it the most likely to produce a few fun, rideable waves. Crowds are possible, but the small size might keep the crowds manageable.

In short, book your flights for the end of August. The first week is a write-off, but there’s a small window of clean, gentle surf from the 26th onward. It’s not going to be pumping, but there’s a wave to be had.

Rusty.

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