Wailua/Horners Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's take a hard look at what Wailua/Horners has got cookin' for us. I gotta be straight with you – it’s a rough stretch ahead.

Overall, the trade winds are blowing strong and steady from the east and east-northeast, with speeds mostly around 12 mph. That means onshore, choppy conditions day in and day out. The swell is coming from a similar easterly direction, which is *not* the optimum for this spot – it wants that north swell to really stand up and barrel. What we're getting here is short-period, mushy energy that just doesn't have the punch for a good session.

The water temp is sitting at a very normal 81°, pretty average for this time of year.

For Tuesday the 25th, we’re looking at a weak 5 ft easterly swell with a poor 8-second period. The combined energy is low (343) and with that onshore wind, it’s just a messy, blown-out lineup. This same pattern just keeps repeating. Wednesday and Thursday offer slightly smaller waves, down to 4 ft and 4 ft, but the period drops to a dismal 6 to 7 seconds. The energy dips even lower (119), and the wind stays onshore. It’s not good.

We get a slight bump in size over the weekend of the 29th and 30th, with the swell reaching 5 ft to 6 ft. The period is still a pitiful 7 seconds, but the combined energy does climb into the moderate range (over 380). Unfortunately, the wind remains relentless onshore, so it’s going to be bumpy and unappealing.

The first few days of September are more of the same gray, windy grind. There’s a bit more oomph in the energy by the 2nd (415), but it’s still a short-period, onshore mess.

Now, here’s the one flicker of hope and the only standout in this whole forecast. Check out Friday the 4th of September. The morning is tiny at 3 ft, but by the afternoon, we get a jump to 5 ft. The big news is the period jumps to a gorgeous 14 seconds – that’s proper long-period groundswell! The combined energy absolutely roars to 1179, which is strong. This is a real swell event. The catch? The wind swings to the northeast at 12 mph and goes cross-onshore, making it choppy. It’s the one day in the whole 16-day window that has a pulse, but that wind is going to mess with the shape. It’s worth a look, but expect lumpy conditions.

We get another pulse of long-period energy on Sunday the 6th of September. The swell holds at 6 ft from the east-northeast, a very long 13-second period, and the energy is a massive 1084 in the afternoon. Again, the wind is onshore, killing the quality. It’s a tease.

Honestly, for the next two weeks, the combination of constant onshore trades (9 to 18 mph) and short-period, weak easterly swell is a real bummer. The afternoon of the 4th and 6th of September are your only real bets for size and power, but the wind will make it a battle. If you’re desperate, you might get a few, but don’t expect any classics. With this consistent onshore wind and decent swell size at a beach setup, this honestly looks more interesting for kitesurfing than for a clean paddle session.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on that wind forecast for the 4th.

Rusty.

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