Waimanalo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it.

Honestly, I’m looking at a tough stretch ahead for Waimanalo. The whole 16-day window is pretty much a write-off for any proper surf. There’s no standout session in here, no hidden gem to point you toward. The wind is just relentless—blowing onshore from the ENE nearly every single day, and when it’s not full-on, it’s cross-on and choppy. That’s a real heartbreaker because the swell is actually there at times, but the conditions are just ruining it.

Right from Thursday the 20th, we’ve got tiny 3ft swells from the NE, with a short 7-second period and a light breeze that’s onshore. The combined energy is weak at 128. It’s just not worth paddling out. Friday and Saturday aren’t any better—the wind picks up, and by Saturday the 22nd we’re looking at 22 mph onshore winds, making a mess of the 4ft to 5ft NE swell. The water temp is sitting at a very normal 80°, nothing unusual there for this time of year.

The whole first week through to the 27th is more of the same: onshore winds in the 16 to 25 mph range, short-period swell, and ratings that are all zero. There’s a brief moment around the 28th of August where the period jumps way up to 14 and 16 seconds, and the energy climbs to 393 and 496, but it’s still cross-on and lumpy from that stiff ENE breeze. That kind of long-period groundswell would usually be a treat at a point break or reef, but here at Waimanalo, it’s just breaking too straight and messy.

From the 29th onward into early September, the swell hangs around the 3ft mark with longer periods (13 seconds), but again, the wind stays onshore and fresh. The energy values are moderate to strong—like 523 and 534—but it’s all for nothing with that wind direction.

Even the beginning of September doesn’t flip the script. The 31st of August sees a bump in swell to 7ft from the ENE, with very strong energy around 1200 to 1250, but it’s accompanied by 22 to 25 mph onshore winds. That’s big, but it’s only for experts if they can handle that wind, and honestly, at a beach break like this, that setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddling. The first few days of September stay lumpy and onshore, with a chance of thunderstorms on the 3rd.

Bottom line: this is a 16-day gap with zero good surf recommendations. The wind is the main villain here. There’s hope that forecasts can change, because when this spot gets a break in the wind, it can turn on. But for now, leave the board in the car and save the energy.

Rusty

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