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Surf forecast for Kawaihae

Tide
⏱️s.
⚡️kJ
Timezone:
Pacific/Honolulu
Forecast updated:
19/06, 02:00
Wind: SN UNITY Atmos
(20260619 06z)
Waves: SN UNITY WAVE
(20260619 06z)
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Timeline

Tomorrow Fri 19/06 to Sat 20/06
No surf windows (2 days)
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Kawaihae Surf Forecast Guide

Kawaihae is a surf spot located in the historical town of Kawaihae, tucked under the northwest corner of the Big Island. It’s accessible and can be a fun place to catch some waves during both the winter and summer months. This spot is known for its right and left breaks, where the WNW to N swells travel along the northwest coast and hit the breakwater, creating decent right-handers. However, the left tends to empty into the boat channel, making it not as appealing as the right.

The surf here can handle swell sizes from about 4ft to 7ft (1.2m to 2.1m). The best swell directions are from the SouthWest, WestSouthWest, West, and WestNorthWest. The bottom is made up of lava, rock, and coral, so be aware of that when you’re out there. The winds are typically calm or offshore from an easterly direction, with mornings usually offering the best conditions before an afternoon seabreeze kicks in. The tide is best at low to mid or mid to high, while this spot is suitable for surfers of various skill levels, including beginners, intermediate, and expert surfers.

Getting to Kawaihae is easy with parking available at the Kawaihae Cultural Surf Park right by the breakwater. The crowd factor can vary based on the quality of the surf, so it’s hit or miss when it comes to how busy the spot gets. The local vibe is generally friendly, so just be cool and respect the lineup. This spot is accessible year-round, with winter bringing N to WNW swells and summer offering SSW-SW swells. Whether you prefer shortboards, funboards, longboards, fish, bodyboards, or even SUPs, Kawaihae has something for you.

Surf spots near Kawaihae

Kawaihae Breakwater
Hawaii, United States
Reef break
Fri 19
Sat 20
Sun 21
Mon 22
Tue 23
Kawaihae
Hawaii, United States
Jetty break, Reef break
Fri 19
Sat 20
Sun 21
Mon 22
Tue 23
Hapuna Point
Hawaii, United States
Reef break
Fri 19
Sat 20
Sun 21
Mon 22
Tue 23
Anaehoomalu Bay
Hawaii, United States
Point break
Fri 19
Sat 20
Sun 21
Mon 22
Tue 23
Keawaiki Bay
Hawaii, United States
Reef break
Fri 19
Sat 20
Sun 21
Mon 22
Tue 23

Frequently asked questions

What are good surfing conditions for Kawaihae?

Kawaihae is usually best with southwest to west-northwest (SW-WNW) swell around 1.2 m / 4 ft to 2.1 m / 7 ft, wind from north through east-northeast to southeast (N-ENE-SE), with east-northeast (ENE) offshore, and any tide.

Where is the surf spot Kawaihae?

Kawaihae is a surf spot in Kawaihae, Hawaii, United States.

What is the surf break like at Kawaihae?

Wave types at Kawaihae are jetty and reef. Waves at Kawaihae break right and left. Kawaihae breaks over lava, rock, and coral. Expect a fairly quiet crowd and a reserved lineup.

What season is best for surfing Kawaihae?

The main surf season at Kawaihae is spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

What surfing skill level is Kawaihae suitable for?

Kawaihae can suit beginner, intermediate, and expert surfers.

Is Kawaihae beginner friendly for surfing?

Yes. Kawaihae can suit beginner surfers when conditions are manageable.

What surfboards work at Kawaihae?

Shortboard, Funboard, Longboard, Fish, Bodyboard, and Sup are common choices at Kawaihae.

What surf spots are near Kawaihae?

Other nearby surf spots are Kawaihae Breakwater, Hapuna Point, Anaehoomalu Bay, and Keawaiki Bay.

What swell direction works for surfing at Kawaihae?

Kawaihae can work with swell from southwest to west-northwest (SW-WNW).

What swell size works for surfing at Kawaihae?

Kawaihae usually works with swell around 1.2 m / 4 ft to 2.1 m / 7 ft.

What wind direction is best for surfing at Kawaihae?

Kawaihae usually works with wind from north through east-northeast to southeast (N-ENE-SE); east-northeast (ENE) is offshore.

What wind direction is offshore for surfing at Kawaihae?

East-northeast (ENE) is offshore at Kawaihae.

What tide works best for surfing at Kawaihae?

Kawaihae can work on all tides. A rising tide is usually better here.

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Readme

Welcome! If you’re new to surf forecasting, check out this quick guide.

Forecast Table

The forecast table (the section on the page with all the numbers) is designed to pack as much information in the screen as possible. Although intimidating at first, it will help you make informed decisions about the waves faster, trust me :D. The table consists of roughly four sections, time and predictions, wind, waves, and tides:

🔮 Time and predictions section

Here we show the forecast thour and the overall surf quality prediction. This is determined based on the wave, wind and tide quality prediction. These individual predictions can be found on the forecast map.

💨 Wind section

The first row on the table (with the 💨 icon) shows wind speed, direction and gust. The more the wind speed the more aggressive the color (from blue, green, orange to red).

🌊 Wave section

The waves section consists of three rows, one for wave height and direction, one for period and one for wave energy. Our algorithm chooses the "dominant wave" using spot-adjusted surf energy (depth + directional fit). This is usually the first swell partition, but during local storms it can switch to wind waves. If that happens, values are shown in gray and italic.

🌒 Tide section

The tide section consists of a row with the actual heights per hour (measured at the half hour) and a table that displays the flow of the tide and the extremes (lows and highs).

Forecast map

The forecast map consists of arrows. These arrows represent all wave partitions (swell partitions and wind wave partition) and the wind. This allows you to see things like: a secondary swell or wind waves messes up the surf, or the wind is just a tick offshore so very surfable. Click a metric label in the bottom left to bring that arrow to the front — handy when arrows overlap.

Forecast Cheat Sheet

Short on time? Focus on wave energy. It’s the best single metric to gauge how big and powerful the waves will be.

Click any table cell to jump to that forecast hour. The map will update with forecast arrows, so you can see if wind and swell direction are lining up.

Use the table sidebar to switch units for height and speed.

Log your surf sessions to compare forecasts with real sessions and sharpen future predictions.

Models and Updates

Surfnerd blends multiple global and local wind and swell models using advanced interpolation and spatial techniques to create an "ensemble" forecast. Forecasts are refreshed hourly.

Surf Predictions

Our AI-driven algorithm scores surf quality, shown by green, orange, and gray dots. Each forecast hour is rated for wind, swell, and tide quality, then combined into an overall score. Here’s the scale:

Perfect
Good
Average
Bad or No Data

Session logs also feed the algorithm — the more you log, the smarter your forecasts get.

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