Waimanalo Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me tell ya how it is for Waimanalo. I've been watching the charts and, to be honest, it's a rough start. We're looking at a solid week or so of pretty ordinary conditions before we might see a tiny window of something rideable. Here's the word.

Right now, for the next several days, it's a write-off. There's a strong onshore wind from the ENE that's just ruining everything. We’re talking wind speeds of 18 to 25 mph, which is a stiff breeze, and it's blowing straight onto the shore. The swell is showing up with some size, around 7 ft to 7 ft from the ENE, but it's a short-period, wind-affected mess. The wave energy is reading between 762 and 1705, so there's plenty of push, but the quality is just not there. It's lumpy, choppy, and cross-onshore all the way through to the end of the first week. This isn't a paddle-surf situation—with that wind and the beach break setup, it's looking more like a kite-surfing kind of day. The water temperature is a warm 27°, which is bang on average for this time of year, but you won't be enjoying it in these conditions.

We then hit a bit of a lull from Wednesday the 9th right through to Sunday the 13th. The swell drops off, but the wind stays onshore. It's just flat and messy, with wave energy dropping down to between 362 and 851. Not much to see here.

Then things get a little interesting around Tuesday the 8th. The wind is forecast to swing to the S and SSE, lightening up to 9-12 mph, giving us a cross-offshore breeze. For the first time, the forecast is calling for "good surf conditions" and "clean" conditions on Tuesday. We’ve got an ENE groundswell at 5 ft-6 ft with a 10-11 second period. The energy is moderate at 732-949. This is your window. It’s not a massive standout, but it’s the best we’ve got. For a beginner-friendly break like Waimanalo, a clean 5 ft wave with an offshore wind is a solid score. Keep in mind it can get pretty crowded here sometimes, so expect company if you head out Tuesday afternoon.

After that tiny window, it's back to the bad news. From Wednesday the 9th onward, the onshore ENE breeze just parks itself over the coast again. The swell stays between 2 ft and 8 ft for the next week, but it's all wind-slop. The period drops to 7-9 seconds, which is just short-period, junky stuff. The wave energy is moderate at best, from 352 to 1020, but the wind is always onshore, giving us "poor surf conditions". Honestly, from the 9th to the 19th, there's just no real standouts to recommend for a paddle. The forecast for the second week is just more of the same: onshore wind, average to poor surf. It looks like a long, flat, frustrating run for anyone chasing clean waves.

So to wrap it up: ignore the first week entirely. Clear your schedule for Tuesday the 8th if you can. That cross-offshore wind and a clean long-period swell is your one real chance. After that, it's back to the drawing board. The forecast can change, but for now, that's the story.

Rusty.

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