Wailua/Horners Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you—this 16-day window for Wailua/Horners is a tough one. The forecast is basically a flat, bumpy, and blown-out mess for the foreseeable future. We’re looking at a long stretch of onshore east-northeast winds and short-period, weak energy. It’s a bleak picture, so don’t get your hopes up for any classic sessions.

The first week and a half is a total write-off. The swell is small, the period is short, and the wind is constantly on it. We’re talking about a lot of chop and closeouts. The combined energy is weak, mostly in the 100s to low 200s, which tells you there’s just nothing pushing in. The water temp is 80°, which is about average for this time of year, so at least you won’t be cold while you’re getting skunked.

There’s a gap of several days here with absolutely nothing on offer. The wind stays onshore, the swell stays small. It’s going to be a frustrating stretch for anyone checking the surf.

Now, as we push into the second week, things get a bit more interesting, but only for the right kind of surfer. Around Friday the 14th, the swell starts to build. We’re still looking at that onshore ENE wind, but the size jumps up. By the 15th and 16th of August, we’ve got some real muscle in the water. The energy numbers climb hard into the 900s and then over 1200, which is strong to very strong. The swell height is poking over 8ft, and that’s serious. This is expert territory only. The period is still short, around 8-9 seconds, so it’s not going to be the cleanest, but there will be a lot of water moving.

This is where I have to be honest. With that much swell and that constant ENE wind, this setup at a reef break like Wailua/Horners is going to be a beast. It’s not a paddle-out for the faint of heart. In fact, with that much wind and swell, it might look more like a kite-surfing day than a surfing day. The conditions are just not favorable for a clean, rideable wave. It’s big, it’s bumpy, and it’s onshore. The only positive is that the swell direction is from the E/ENE, which is in the optimum direction for the spot, but all that size and wind is going to make it a survival session.

So, the long and short of it is this: there is no standout day in this forecast. The first week is a complete dud, and the second week brings size, but with it, a whole lot of ugly. The consistency is poor, the winds are wrong, and the wave quality is poor. If you’re a beginner, stay away. If you’re an expert and you’re hungry for some heavy, messy water, maybe check the 16th of August, but don’t expect any favors from the ocean. It’s a long, blank run, and it might just be a good time to get some things done on land.

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