Wailua/Horners Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Rusty here again. Let’s break down the same outlook but in feet and miles per hour for those who think that way.

Honestly, this is a rough stretch. From now all the way through August, we’ve got almost nothing but poor conditions. That’s a big gap of days with no decent surf in sight. The only break on our radar is Wailua/Horners, a reef break for advanced surfers. It’s inconsistent and can get crowded. Water temp is about 80°F, which is dead normal for this time of year.

First week is a write-off. From the 8th through the 15th, onshore winds (ENE to NE, 12 to 19 mph) keep things bumpy. Swell hangs between 4 ft and 10 ft, but the period is a short 6 to 9 seconds – classic windswell. The wave energy is moderate, climbing from 167 to 1277 by the 15th, but with onshore and cross-onshore winds, it’s messy. By the 15th and 16th, you get strong breeze (20 to 31 mph) and bigger swell (8 ft to 12 ft), but the wind is cross-onshore or onshore – it’s a kite-surfing setup more than a paddle-surfing one.

Then on Monday the 17th of August, there’s a slight shift. Morning brings a cross-shore SE wind at 16 mph, with swell around 8 ft from the east, period 8 seconds, energy 819 – still only “marginal.” But by the afternoon, the wind drops to a light breeze from the SE at 6 mph, giving a near-glassy cross-shore with just small ripples. Swell is 7 ft, energy 562. That afternoon window might be your only chance for something halfway decent if you’re experienced. The rest of the 16-day outlook after that is back to onshore wind and poor surf.

So, if you’re an expert who can handle an inconsistent reef, you might get a brief session on the afternoon of Monday the 17th of August at Wailua/Horners. Otherwise, this is a long, dry run. The spot doesn’t break often anyway, so a stretch like this isn’t totally out of the ordinary. Keep an eye on it – forecasts can flip – but right now, the board stays in the car.

Rusty

Read more