Surf Forecasts:
Waimanalo surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 5 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, ENE swell with 2,187 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Waimanalo this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Waimanalo in the next 16 days are 2.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 05) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 12s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Waimanalo over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get real about this forecast. It’s a tough one. Honestly, there’s not a single session in the whole 16-day window that I’d paddle out for at Waimanalo. Clean, ridable surf? Barely a whisper. The whole period is a write-off for decent waves.
The water temp is sitting at 27°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The first few days, from Monday the 31st of August right through the first week, are all blown out. We’ve got a solid 7 ft to 8 ft swell from the ENE, but the wind is hammering onshore at 22 to 28 mph. The combined energy is moderate to strong – hitting 429 early on, then climbing to over 1000 by Friday the 4th of September – but with that wind, it’s just a washing machine. Short period, 7 to 8 seconds, so it’s messy and lumpy. No good for anyone.
The weekend of the 5th and 6th of September sees a bigger, longer-period groundswell roll in – 8 ft from the ENE, period stretching to 13 seconds, and the combined energy jumps way up to 2109. That’s a lot of power, but again, the wind is on it, cross-onshore and choppy. That’s expert-only territory, and even then, it’s not clean. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
We get a tiny window of cleaner conditions on Tuesday the 8th of September, with a cross-offshore wind and a smaller 4 ft NE swell, but the period is short at 9 seconds and the energy is moderate at 473. The call is “poor surf conditions” – so it’s not worth the drive.
After that, it’s a long, slow fade. From the 9th of September onward, the swell drops away, the wind stays onshore or cross-onshore, and the energy drops to weak levels – 129, 110, even 79 by the 14th. There’s a tiny pulse of long-period NW groundswell on the 15th of September – 3 ft at 14 seconds – but it’s tiny and the wind is still on it.
So, the bottom line: there’s a gap of almost the entire 16-day forecast with no real surf worth chasing. The wind is relentless, the swell is either too big and blown out or too small and just as messy. Waimanalo is a fairly consistent spot, so it’s a bit of a bummer, but sometimes the trade winds just lock in and ruin everything. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d leave the boards in the shed.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed morning. Warm (max 26°C on Mon afternoon, min 25°C on Mon morning). Mainly strong winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Warm (max 26°C on Fri night, min 25°C on Thu morning). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 14 | E 14 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
429 | 419 | 419 | 441 | 483 | 483 | 444 | 445 | 574 | 623 | 588 | 804 | 789 | 604 | 485 | 732 | 2091 | 2155 | 1836 | 1568 | 1854 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 3:57PM0.51m | 5:44AM0.52m | 4:04PM0.47m | 7:03AM0.52m | 3:54PM0.43m | 9:02AM0.54m | 10:54AM0.59m | 11:56AM0.64m | 12:39PM0.68m | 11:21PM0.29m | |||||||||||
Low Tide | 10:16AM0.20m | 10:46PM0.03m | 11:06AM0.27m | 11:19PM0.02m | 12:22PM0.33m | 00:03AM0.02m | 1:10AM0.03m | 2:48AM0.04m | 4:19AM0.02m | 8:00PM0.22m | |||||||||||
6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | |
— | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:44 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:42 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
Feels °C | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | S 16 | S 16 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | E 13 | E 13 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | S 10 | SSW 10 | ENE 13 | SSW 10 | ENE 12 |
21 | 19 | 74 | 107 | 107 | 99 | 130 | 79 | 123 | 119 | 107 | 170 | 225 | 294 | 432 | 732 | 75 | 34 | 1836 | 21 | 1854 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | S 10 | E 14 | E 14 | S 15 | S 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | NNE 10 | SSE 12 | SW 11 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 |
21 | 21 | 18 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 33 | 66 | 69 | 65 | 66 | 167 | 189 | 121 | 160 | 102 | 18 | 28 | 29 | 71 | 66 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 21 | S 19 | SW 14 | SW 14 | E 15 | E 14 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 14 | S 14 | S 14 | N 9 | SW 13 | NNE 11 | NNE 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 |
8 | 29 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 14 | 8 | 23 | 9 | 19 | 34 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 20 | 31 | 26 | 26 | 20 | 20 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | — | ENE 12 | — |
429 | 419 | 419 | 441 | 483 | 483 | 444 | 445 | 574 | 623 | 588 | 804 | 789 | 604 | 485 | 525 | 2091 | 2155 | — | 1568 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 56 | 50 | 44 | 44 | 116 | 44 | 50 | 55 | 50 | 117 | 116 | 117 | 57 | 57 | 50 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 50 | 50 | 16 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Oahu | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the Waimanalo Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Waimanalo provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Waimanalo can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Waimanalo surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Waimanalo) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Waimanalo may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Waimanalo is 7 km (4 miles) from Kailua. If you plan a vacation in Oahu, look for hotels and other accommodation in Kailua. Kailua has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











