Waimanalo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

To be honest, if you’re chasing a surf, the outlook is a tough one. The whole 16-day window is a write-off for quality waves. There’s not a single session that scores a proper recommendation, so we’re looking at a blank run from start to finish. The wind is just relentless from the east and east-northeast, constantly onshore or cross-onshore, which is going to keep the surface messy and chopped up. The wave energy is moderate at best for the first week, with combined energy values ranging from 109 to 255 (moderate) but it's all poor surf because of the wind.

The swell is short-period windswell for the first stretch, around 6 to 7 seconds, so it’s weak and disorganised. The odd bit of energy kicks up later, but the wind stays strong, so it’s a no-go. For a spot like Waimanalo, which is exposed to the east-northeast, the swell direction is on the nose, but the wind is just ruining it. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing strange there.

Later in the forecast, around the 31st of August into the 1st of September, we get a big spike in energy with combined energy values hitting 1261 to 3008 (very strong wave energy), and the swell period jumps up to 12-13 seconds, so it’s proper groundswell. But the swell height is pushing 7 ft to 10 ft, and with the wind still howling onshore at 22-37 mph, it’s going to be a complete mess. That’s expert-only territory if anyone’s silly enough to try, but with that wind, it’s genuinely more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle surf. The swell direction is east-northeast, which is fine for the break, but the wind is the killer.

There is a brief moment on the 28th of August where the swell period hits 15-16 seconds, which is very long-period groundswell, and the energy is strong (624 to 714), but the height is only 3 ft to 4 ft, and the wind is still cross-onshore. That long period at a beach break like Waimanalo will likely make it break too straight and close out, so it’s not worth paddling out.

In short, there’s nothing to chase. The whole 16 days is a poor run for surf. When it’s like this, it tends not to stay poor for long, but for now, you’re better off doing something else.

Rusty.

Read more