Waimanalo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, and I’ve stared at the charts for the next couple weeks, and phew, it’s looking pretty grim for a paddle. It’s not often I have to say this, but right now the whole sixteen-day window is basically a write-off for decent surf. The breaks are simply not cooperating, and what’s on offer is blown out or just messy. There’s a long, sad gap right from the start all the way through.

Let’s start with Waimanalo. Right now, from September 2nd all the way through the morning of September 8th, it’s just no good. The wind is howling from the ENE, mostly 18 to 25 mph straight onshore or cross-onshore, and the wave comment is a clear “poor surf conditions” every time. You’ve got a solid 7 ft to 8 ft of ENE windswell running with a short period of 7 to 8 seconds, but the combined energy is high, in the 600s to over 2000, but it’s all raw, messy, blown-out junk. For a beginner break, that 7 ft+ range is already too much, and with that wind, it’s a washing machine.

On September 5th you get a 8 ft swell with 14-second period and combined energy well over 2000 (2004), but the wind is a fresh 18 mph ENE cross-onshore making it lumpy. That’s a big chunk of raw power hitting the beach – honestly looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer. That long period would be sweet if the wind was offshore, but it’s not.

Then we get a tiny flicker of hope. On the morning of September 8th, the wind finally swings around to the south at 28 mph, giving a cross-offshore flow, and the wave comment says “clean”. The swell drops to 6 ft from the ENE with an 11-second period and combined energy around 955 (moderate). It’s still a bit on the big side for beginners, and the water temp is the usual balmy 81°, about average for this time of year. But for a more experienced surfer, that early Tuesday could be the only window where it’s not completely terrible. That afternoon stays marginal with a 5 ft ENE swell and cross-off wind at 18 mph. It’s not a standout, it’s just the least bad option in a very long, poor stretch.

After that, the rest of the run is a slow fade. From September 9th onward, the swell drops way down to under 3 ft, the wind stays onshore or cross-onshore, and the wave comment stays stuck on “poor surf conditions.” It’s all small, weak, and bumpy with combined energy in the low hundreds. Periods stretch out to 13 or 14 seconds on those tiny swells, but that means long waits for barely rideable lumps. It’s not worth suiting up for.

There are no standouts. The only day that even gets a score of 1 out of 10 is the morning of the 8th, and it’s still a marginal call. The rest is a solid zero. Honestly, for an area that usually isn’t this bad for this long, it’s a real bummer. Forecasts can change, but as it sits right now, put the board away and go do something else.

Rusty.

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