Waimanalo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on offer for Waimanalo over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, the start of this period is a tough one. For the first several days, it's a bit of a write-off. We've got some chest-high swell early on Tuesday the 8th, around 6 feet, coming from the ENE with a period of 11 seconds, and the wave energy is moderate at 799. But that wind? A fresh 35 km/h cross-offshore messes with the shape. Tuesday afternoon cleans up nicely though. The wind drops to a 20 km/h offshore breeze, and the 6 feet ENE swell holds its 11-second period, making for some clean, surfable waves. It's a brief window, but it's there.

But then, from Wednesday the 9th through all the way until the morning of Tuesday the 16th, it's pretty much a dead zone. The wind is either onshore, cross-onshore, or just too strong. The swell drops off, and the energy readings are consistently in the low 100s range—weak stuff. The setup here is an exposed beach, so when it's onshore and choppy, there's just nothing doing. There's a stretch of nine days where you wouldn't bother paddling out.

The real glimmer of hope, and the standout by a country mile, comes on Thursday the 17th of September. Thursday morning, we get a little 5 feet ENE swell, period of 8 seconds, and the wave energy bumps up to a moderate 368. The magic is in the wind: glassy. One of those rare, perfect mornings. The afternoon stays clean with a light cross-offshore breeze. This is the session to circle on your calendar. It's a beginner-friendly spot normally, but with the glassy conditions, everyone will be having a ball. Keep in mind, the optimum swell here is from the NE, and we're getting it from the ENE, so it's a bit of a cheat, but the clean conditions make up for it.

Friday the 18th runs a close second. A similar 5 feet swell from the east in the morning, with a light cross-offshore breeze keeping things clean. The energy is still solid at 355. It's a consistent run of clean surf, but the 17th is the clear winner for that glassy factor.

After that, it drops back off again. Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th get messy with onshore winds and fading swell. From Monday the 21st onward, the wind is howling at 30-35 km/h, and the swell is all over the place with some long-period NNW energy showing up, but it's just too lumpy and cross-onshore to recommend. It looks like it'd be more fun for kite surfers than paddle surfers.

So, to sum it up: forget the first week and a half. Set your alarm for Thursday the 17th of September. That glassy morning is the one.

Rusty.

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