Waimanalo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, this is a tough one for Waimanalo. The first ten days of the forecast are pretty much a write-off for decent surf. From Friday the 24th of July right through to the end of the month, it’s a constant battle with strong onshore winds from the ENE, mostly in the 18 to 25 mph range. That’s a recipe for messy, blown-out conditions. We’re looking at swell heights around 6 ft to 7 ft, but the wind is just ruining it. The combined swell energy is moderate to strong, hitting 454 on Friday morning, but with those winds, you’d be wasting your time. There’s a block of days here with no real surf to recommend.

We finally get a glimpse of something a little different on Wednesday the 29th of July. In the morning, a big 10 ft ENE swell rolls in with a period of 11 seconds, and the combined energy is a hefty 2285. But here’s the thing – that’s way too much size for Waimanalo. It’s a beginner-friendly break, and over 8 ft is expert-only territory. The wind is a light cross-on from the NNW at 9 mph, which is okay, but the forecast itself says it’s too big for this spot. The afternoon of the 29th is a different story. The wind swings to a light SSW at 9 mph, giving us a clean, cross-off breeze. The swell drops to 8 ft, and the energy is still solid at 958. This is the real standout of the whole outlook. The conditions are labeled as “very good,” and while the swell is still on the big side for beginners, for the average surfer who can handle a bit of power, that Wednesday afternoon is your best bet. It’s the only window in the first week and a half that looks genuinely clean.

After that, it’s back to the grind. From Thursday the 30th through to the end of the first week of August, the ENE winds return, mostly in the 15 to 22 mph range, and the surf is poor again. The swell quality is just not there. There’s a bit of a pulse on the 4th of August with a 6 ft ENE swell and a 13-second period, but it’s still onshore and labelled as poor. The combined energy is strong at 1211, but the wind kills it.

The very end of the run, on Friday the 7th of August, offers a tiny glimmer. A 5 ft NE swell with a 9-second period, and a light cross-off wind from the SSE in the afternoon. The energy is weak at 405, and the forecast says “good” conditions. But that’s a long way off, and with such small, weak waves, it’s more of a longboard or foiling session than a proper stand-up wave. It’s a promising detail, but not something to get too excited about a week and a half out.

The water temperature is sitting at 80°F, with a tiny anomaly of 0.4°F, so it’s perfectly average for the time of year.

So, the short story: wait for the afternoon of Wednesday the 29th of July. That’s your one truly good chance to get a clean wave at Waimanalo before the wind messes it up again.

Rusty.

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