Waimanalo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks. Rusty here. It’s gonna be a tough couple of weeks for the most part. The wind is just going to be a problem for the first week, and the waves won’t be clean.

Starting Monday, the 31st of August, the trade wind is blowing straight onshore at 22 mph, and it’s not backing off. The swell is 6 ft, but it’s short-period junk at 7 seconds, and the energy is weak to moderate. The conditions are poor, and the waves will be a choppy mess. The same story carries through Tuesday, Wednesday, and into Thursday, with the wind actually picking up to a strong breeze at 28 mph. The swell gets a little bigger, hitting 7 ft to 8 ft, but the period is still short, and it’s a washing machine. By Friday, the 4th of September, the swell is up to 8 ft, but the wind is still strong and onshore. The energy is moderate, but it’s just unsurfable.

Through the first weekend, the wind switches to a cross-onshore, but it’s still fresh. The swell really starts to pump on Saturday the 5th, with an 8 ft swell and a long 13-second period, sending the energy through the roof. But that fresh cross-onshore is going to ruin it. It’s a case of a big, powerful groundswell completely wrecked by the wind. It’s going to be lumpy and choppy. For a spot like Waimanalo, which is exposed and picks up this ENE swell, the setup is looking more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing right now. On Sunday the 6th, the wind stays cross-onshore, but it’s 7 ft from the E with a 13-second period, so the energy is strong.

Now, there is a glimmer of hope. We have to jump ahead to the 9th of September, Wednesday morning. The wind finally drops to a light cross-offshore from the SSE at 12 mph. The swell is 7 ft from the E with a 9-second period, giving moderate energy. The report says the conditions are “clean.” This is easily the best looking window in the whole forecast. The wind is favorable, and the swell is a decent size. But that’s a one-off, because the next day, the 10th, the wind is back on it, and the swell drops to 5 ft. The following week is a long, slow fade. The wind is onshore or cross-onshore, and the swell is small, between 4 ft and 5 ft, with weak energy.

The big standout is that Wednesday morning, the 9th of September. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual. If you can wait it out, that morning with the SSE wind offering clean conditions on a 7 ft E swell is your best bet by a long shot. Get on it.

Rusty.

Read more