Wailua/Horners Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here.

Alright, let’s be straight up – the next 16 days at Wailua/Horners (Kauai) are a tough watch for a paddler. This is a reef break that’s inconsistent and often crowded, and the wind is a major problem for most of the forecast. The water temp is sitting at 81°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We kick off the first recommendation on Monday afternoon, August 31, but honestly, it’s a write-off. A 6 ft swell from the ENE with a short 8-second period, onshore wind at 12 mph, and the combined energy is moderate at 400. The surf is just poor.

That pattern sticks hard right through to Monday, September 7. Swell heights hover between 6 ft and 8 ft, but it’s all short-period, onshore ENE wind, and the energy builds from moderate to strong (911 to 1929). The wind is mostly onshore, so it’s choppy and messy. For a reef break, that’s a no-go.

Finally, a real standout arrives on Tuesday morning, September 8. A light S wind at 9 mph, cross-offshore, makes for clean conditions. The swell drops to 6 ft from the ENE, but with a 10-second period, it’s got better shape. Combined energy is a solid 699 (moderate). This is the best window in the whole run – clean lines, manageable size, and the reef will be working. The afternoon also looks okay with a 4 ft NE swell and light S breeze, but it’s much smaller. Expect crowds here, as usual.

After that, it’s back to poor surf from Wednesday, September 9, all the way through to Tuesday, September 15. Swell sizes drop from 7 ft down to 2 ft, periods stay short (8-10 seconds), and the wind is either onshore or cross-onshore. The energy falls from 704 down to 159 (weak to moderate). Honestly, there’s nothing to get excited about in that second week.

If you’re a kite surfer, the strong onshore winds and consistent 6 ft+ swell from September 3 to September 7 might be more interesting than paddle surfing.

So, the call is clear: Tuesday, September 8, morning is the only real standout. It’s clean, it’s got a bit of energy, and the reef will offer some proper waves. Everything else is a skip.

Rusty.

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