Surf Forecasts:
Waimanalo surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 12s period, E swell with 1,290 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Waimanalo this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Waimanalo in the next 16 days are 2.1m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 14s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (HST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Waimanalo over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. The truth is, looking at this 16-day window, we’ve got a rough patch ahead. The trade winds are going to be howling from the ENE for days on end, and they’re not giving us a break. The swell is there, but it’s short-period, wind-driven junk, and the wind is just ruining it. For the first week and a half, nearly every session is described as "poor surf conditions," so I’m not going to sugarcoat it.
We’re starting off with nothing. Friday the 28th of August through to Monday the 7th of September is pretty much a write-off. The wind is a solid 18 to 25 mph from the ENE, sometimes cross-on, mostly onshore, and the waves are a messy 5ft to 8ft with a short, weak period of 6 to 8 seconds. The combined wave energy is moderate, climbing from 239 to over 1000 by the 4th, but it’s all just lumpy, blown-out crud. For a beginner spot like Waimanalo, that 7ft to 8ft is already getting too big for the less experienced, and the wind is making it a total mess. No standouts here.
Now, there’s a glimmer on the horizon. Friday the 4th of September and Saturday the 5th see the swell period jump to 11 and 12 seconds, and the energy cranks up to 1263 – that’s strong energy. The swell is still 7ft from the ENE. The problem is, the wind is still smashing it at 22 mph, and it’s onshore or cross-on. That’s a lot of power, but it’s going to be a battle. This is really only for the hardcore, experienced crew who don’t mind a beatdown.
The real standout, if you can call it that, is a bit of a window early in the second week. Look at Tuesday the 8th of September. The swell is pumping 10ft to 12ft from the ENE, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 1623. That’s a lot of water moving. But here’s the kicker: the wind is still a strong 25 mph onshore. At 12ft, this is strictly for experts only. For a beach break like Waimanalo, with that much onshore wind, I’d be honest and say this setup looks more interesting for the kite surfers than the paddle crew. The waves will be big and unruly, but the wind is going to hold them open.
We finally get a bit of relief late in the window. By Friday the 11th of September, the wind drops right down to 9 to 12 mph, with a gentle cross-shore or cross-on breeze. The swell drops to a more manageable 4ft to 5ft from the NE with a 9-second period. The energy is still moderate at 349 to 389. This is the only time in the whole outlook where the conditions might actually be clean enough for a decent surf. The water temp is 81°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no wetsuit needed. But this is a long way off, so it’s promising but not a sure thing.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 25°C on Fri morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Warm (max 26°C on Tue morning, min 25°C on Mon morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
161 | 122 | 195 | 219 | 244 | 394 | 325 | 372 | 383 | 423 | 471 | 566 | 654 | 513 | 476 | 372 | 372 | 333 | 424 | 357 | 421 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 3:14PM0.63m | 3:05AM0.46m | 3:30PM0.60m | 3:52AM0.48m | 3:45PM0.56m | 4:44AM0.51m | 3:57PM0.51m | 5:44AM0.52m | 4:04PM0.47m | 7:03AM0.52m | 3:54PM0.43m | 9:02AM0.54m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 8:18AM0.02m | 9:29PM0.12m | 8:54AM0.07m | 9:52PM0.09m | 9:33AM0.13m | 10:17PM0.05m | 10:16AM0.20m | 10:46PM0.03m | 11:06AM0.27m | 11:19PM0.02m | 12:22PM0.33m | 00:03AM0.02m | 1:10AM0.03m | ||||||||
6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | |
— | 6:50 | — | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:45 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | ENE 11 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | E 9 | E 13 | E 12 | ENE 12 |
104 | 100 | 146 | 126 | 77 | 75 | 43 | 25 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 74 | 107 | 107 | 92 | 130 | 79 | 139 | 87 | 110 | 418 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 16 | E 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | S 10 | E 13 | ESE 12 | E 14 | S 14 | ESE 12 | E 13 |
78 | 104 | 93 | 54 | 54 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 47 | 91 | 65 | 59 | 421 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | N 7 | NW 8 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | S 16 | S 20 | S 21 | S 19 | SSW 13 | SW 14 | E 15 | E 14 | S 10 | E 15 | S 15 | S 10 | S 14 | S 13 |
9 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 28 | 26 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 29 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 14 | 8 | 38 | 69 | 8 | 59 | 56 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | N 6 |
161 | 122 | 195 | 219 | 244 | 394 | 325 | 372 | 383 | 423 | 471 | 566 | 654 | 513 | 476 | 372 | 372 | 333 | 424 | 357 | 16 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 44 | 116 | 44 | 45 | 116 | 50 | 50 | 57 | 44 | 50 | 52 | 44 | 45 | 52 | 44 | 44 | 50 | 44 | 44 | 116 | 44 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Oahu | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











