Wailua/Horners Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Wailua/Horners.

To be straight with you, this 16-day window is a tough one. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor surf quality with onshore winds hammering the break day after day. The water is sitting at 81°F with a water temperature anomaly of 0.7°F, so that’s about average for the time of year. The first real chance of anything worth paddling out for doesn’t show up until Wednesday, September 9th, and even then it’s only a marginal shout.

From Saturday, August 29th, right through to Tuesday, September 8th, it’s a dead zone. The wind is coming in from the ENE at 12 to 19 mph, mostly onshore, and the swell is a messy mix of short-period, wind-affected waves. The combined energy of all swells directed here is weak to moderate, ranging from 322 to 1191, but it’s all blown out. The wave comment for every single session reads “poor surf conditions.” That’s a solid 10-day gap where you’re better off doing something else.

We finally get a flicker of hope on Wednesday, September 9th. The afternoon shows a “marginal surf forecast” with a score that suggests it’s barely worth a look. The swell is 8ft from the ENE with a period of 9 seconds, and the combined energy is strong at 1071. The wind is still onshore from the ENE at 12 mph, but it’s a slight improvement. Still, this is not a standout. It’s a last resort for the desperate.

The next chance is Saturday, September 12th, in the afternoon. Again, a marginal call. Swell is 8ft from the E with a period of 9 seconds, and the combined energy is strong at 1191. The wind is onshore from the ENE at 12 mph. The problem is the same – the wind is working against the waves.

The real kicker is that this is an exposed reef break, and it’s inconsistent. It rarely seems to be in good shape. The optimum swell direction is from the N, but we’re getting nothing but ENE and E swells. The crowds are often there, but with this quality, they’ll probably be a lot thinner.

If you’re an expert and you’re absolutely itching, the afternoon of September 12th might be your best bet, but keep your expectations low. The swell is over 8ft, so it’s for experts only, and the wind is a problem. The setup here, with the strong onshore winds and the size of the swell, honestly looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing right now.

It’s a bleak run, but it tends not to stay poor for long in this area. Forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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