Waikiki Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on offer for the Oahu south shore stretch, centered on the Waikiki zone. It’s gonna be a slow start, but there’s a little light at the end of the tunnel.

For the first few days, honestly, it’s pretty flat and frustrating. We’re looking at Thursday the 6th and Friday the 7th of August with tiny 1ft swell from the SSW. Combined wave energy is weak, around 102 to 192. The wind is offshore from the ENE, which is nice and clean, but there’s just not enough push to get a proper wave. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Saturday the 8th through Monday the 10th stays small, with swell nudging up to just 2ft to 2ft. The wind stays offshore, making conditions glassy-looking, but the wave period is still short and the energy is low. It’s the kind of stuff that’s barely rideable on a log. The forecast confidence is high for this near-term call, but the surf quality is just not there.

Now, Tuesday the 11th afternoon shows a bit of a pulse. Swell picks up to 3ft from the SSW, period around 14 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 299. That’s moderate energy, and with offshore breezes, it *starts* to look interesting. But it’s still on the small side.

The real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, comes on Thursday the 20th of August. We’ve got a solid 2ft to 2ft groundswell from the S, with a period of 16 seconds. That’s a long-period swell, bringing proper shape and energy. The combined energy reading is 315 to 364 – that’s moderate wave energy. The wind is offshore from the ENE, and by Friday morning the 21st, it goes glassy calm with a WNW wind at 0 mph. That means absolutely perfect, clean conditions. The swell is small enough for beginners but has enough grunt for a longboard. This is the best window in the whole 16-day outlook, but it’s a long way out, so treat it as a promising forecast that could change.

Friday the 21st morning is the pinnacle: 2ft from the S, 13-second period, glassy conditions. That’s the one to circle on the calendar.

For the rest of the period, after that Thursday/Friday window, it looks like it drops back off quickly. The spot is Waikiki, which is a beach and reef setup. It’s very consistent, so even when it’s small, there’s usually something to sit on. Crowds are often there, especially on the good days, so expect company.

Bottom line: don’t bother paddling out until the second week. The 20th and 21st of August are your best bet for a proper, clean, fun session on the south shore.

Rusty.

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