Waimanalo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks for Waimanalo are looking like a real battle with the wind. We’ve got consistent swell, but the conditions are making it a tough go for a clean paddle.

The whole 16-day window is a bit of a write-off for quality surf. The dominant wind is a relentless onshore breeze from the ENE, which is just about the worst direction for this spot. The water is sitting at a warm 80°, which is pretty much average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Looking at the start, Saturday the 1st of August kicks off with a chunky 8ft swell from the east, packing a massive 1100 units of energy, but that’s paired with a nasty 25 mph cross-onshore wind. It’s messy, choppy, and pretty much unsurfable. That same pattern holds through the weekend and into Monday with 7ft to 6ft of onshore slop. The energy stays high, around the 496 to 896 mark, but the wind just won’t let up.

By Tuesday the 4th, the swell drops a bit to 5ft, and the period stretches to 11 seconds, which would normally be a sign of some nice groundswell. But the wind is still on it, so it’s not going to clean up. The energy is still moderate at 584. The rest of the first week is more of the same: 4ft to 2ft of weak, wind-affected swell, with energy dropping to as low as 110. It’s a real frustrating stretch.

We hit a bit of a lull on the 6th, with the swell bottoming out at 2ft and only 81 units of energy. Then it starts to build again, but it’s all short-period windswell. Friday the 7th brings a 4ft swell with a pathetic 6-second period, and the wind is howling at 22 mph. It’s just not worth the paddle.

The second week doesn’t offer any relief. From the 8th to the 13th, we’re stuck with 5ft to 6ft of onshore slop, all with periods of 6 to 7 seconds. The wind is either onshore or cross-onshore, never letting the waves clean up. The energy is moderate, ranging from 169 to 359, but the quality is just poor.

The forecast wraps up with a building swell from the 14th to the 16th. Saturday the 15th sees a solid 8ft east swell with 849 units of energy, but again, the wind is a strong 22-25 mph cross-onshore. It’s a powerful, messy wall of whitewater. For a beginner-friendly spot like Waimanalo, anything over 5ft is already pushing it, and with these winds, it’s not just challenging – it’s dangerous for anyone but the most experienced. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for the kite surfers than for paddle surfers.

So, there’s no standout session in this window. The wind is the enemy, and it’s not letting up. Keep the board in the car and wait for a day when that ENE wind backs off. Forecasts can change, but right now, we’re in a dry spell.

Rusty.

Read more