Hawaii Ocean & Surf Report
Where you can surf in Hawaii today, island by island, and whether it suits you.
Some surf on the south shore
Some surf on the south shore
Some surf on the south shore
Some surf on the south shore
Surf spots today
East shore
light wind5 mph, tonight
West shore
light wind5 mph, tonight
Water 81°F·Heights are the wave face, trough to crest, the way the National Weather Service measures them. Locals often call the same wave half that. What we show as 6 ft, someone at the beach may call 3 ft. What each height means on a person
The full forecast
A moderate mid-period south swell will continue to steadily decline over the next few days with below average surf expected by the weekend. Background southerly swells will keep surf from going flat over the weekend into early next week. The leeward Kona side is usually calmest, the windward Hilo side livelier. Check lifeguards and posted signs before you get in.
· NWS · NDBC · NOAA Tides · Hawaii DOH
Surf by shore
North
0-2 ft
East
3-5 ft
South
3-5 ft
West
1-3 ft
Forecast surf face heights from the National Weather Service, by the direction a shore faces. Which way a coast points decides what swell reaches it.
How big is that, on a person?
Today's biggest shore, drawn to scale against someone standing in it. Waist high is about 3 ft, head high about 5 ft, and overhead starts at 6 ft.
At this size: Barrels and carving, with real consequences attached.
The full surf height guide: skill levels, boards, the Hawaiian scale
Tides today
Hilo tide station. High and low times are HST.
Beach advisories
Keokea Beach Park to Ka Lae Point (South Point)
Sep 9, 2026
Brown Water Advisory
Brown Water Advisory for the Westside of Hawaii Island: From Keokea Beach Park to Ka Lae Point (South Point).
Punaluu Beach Park
Aug 27, 2026
Beach Advisory
Bacteria Threshold Exceedance Advisory at Punaluu Beach Park, Hawai‘i
Honuapo to Punaluu
Aug 26, 2026
Brown Water Advisory
Brown Water Advisory from Honuapo to Punaluu, Hawai‘i
Hamakua Coast to Hilo Bay
Aug 26, 2026
Brown Water Advisory
Brown Water Advisory from Hamakua Coast to Hilo Bay, Hawai‘i
Posted by the Hawaii Department of Health. Stay out of water that looks brown or murky, especially after heavy rain, whether or not an advisory is posted.
Rentals and lessons
Kailua-Kona
Board rental
- Kahaluʻu Bay Surf & Sea boards, right by the beach park
- Kona Boys boards, SUPs and kayaks
- Hulakai Hawaii surf shop, Kona and Waikoloa
Lessons
- Hawaii Lifeguard Surf Instructors teaches at Kahaluʻu, running since 1998
- Kona Mike's Surf Adventures lessons at Kahaluʻu Bay, book online
- Kahaluʻu Bay Surf & Sea lessons and board rental at the bay
- FBI Surf School group and private lessons
- Kona Boys lessons and rentals, Kailua Bay and Kealakekua
Hilo
Board rental
- Hilo Ocean Adventures surfboard rental, book online
- Hulakai Hawaii surf shop on the Hilo side
Lessons
- The Surf Cottage lessons at Honoliʻi, book by phone
Surf spots today
West shore
offshore, cleaner faceseast 10 mph, tonight
North shore
Off seasonnorth swell, roughly October to April
cross-shoreeast 10 mph, tonight
Water 81°F·Heights are the wave face, trough to crest, the way the National Weather Service measures them. Locals often call the same wave half that. What we show as 6 ft, someone at the beach may call 3 ft. What each height means on a person
The full forecast
A moderate mid-period south swell will continue to steadily decline over the next few days with below average surf expected by the weekend. Background southerly swells will keep surf from going flat over the weekend into early next week. West Maui sits in the wind shadow and stays the calmer side; the north shore is where winter swell lands. Check lifeguards and posted signs before you get in.
· NWS · NDBC · NOAA Tides · Hawaii DOH
Surf by shore
North
0-2 ft
East
3-5 ft
South
3-5 ft
West
1-3 ft
Forecast surf face heights from the National Weather Service, by the direction a shore faces. Which way a coast points decides what swell reaches it.
How big is that, on a person?
Today's biggest shore, drawn to scale against someone standing in it. Waist high is about 3 ft, head high about 5 ft, and overhead starts at 6 ft.
At this size: Barrels and carving, with real consequences attached.
The full surf height guide: skill levels, boards, the Hawaiian scale
Tides today
Hilo tide station. High and low times are HST. · Water 81°F
Beach advisories
Maalaea to Keawekapu
Sep 8, 2026
Brown Water Advisory
Brown Water Advisory from Maalaea to Keawekapu, Maui
West Maui (Hanakao'o Point to Papalaua)
Sep 8, 2026
Brown Water Advisory
Brown Water Advisory for West Maui (from Hanakao'o Point to Papalaua), Maui
Posted by the Hawaii Department of Health. Stay out of water that looks brown or murky, especially after heavy rain, whether or not an advisory is posted.
Surf spots today
North shore
Off seasonnorth swell, roughly October to April
cross-shoreeast 10-15 mph, tonight
South shore
In seasonsouth swell, roughly April to October
cross-shoreeast 10-15 mph, tonight
Water 85°F·Heights are the wave face, trough to crest, the way the National Weather Service measures them. Locals often call the same wave half that. What we show as 6 ft, someone at the beach may call 3 ft. What each height means on a person
The full forecast
A moderate mid-period south swell will continue to steadily decline over the next few days with below average surf expected by the weekend. Background southerly swells will keep surf from going flat over the weekend into early next week. The south shore is the summer side and the north shore belongs to winter, which is why Waikīkī and Pipeline are almost never good on the same day. Check lifeguards and posted signs before you get in.
· NWS · NDBC · NOAA Tides · Hawaii DOH
Surf by shore
North
0-2 ft
East
3-5 ft
South
3-5 ft
West
2-4 ft
Forecast surf face heights from the National Weather Service, by the direction a shore faces. Which way a coast points decides what swell reaches it.
How big is that, on a person?
Today's biggest shore, drawn to scale against someone standing in it. Waist high is about 3 ft, head high about 5 ft, and overhead starts at 6 ft.
At this size: Barrels and carving, with real consequences attached.
The full surf height guide: skill levels, boards, the Hawaiian scale
Tides today
Hilo tide station. High and low times are HST. · Water 85°F
Beach advisories
O‘ahu
Sep 8, 2026
Brown Water Advisory
Brown Water Advisory, Island of O‘ahu
Posted by the Hawaii Department of Health. Stay out of water that looks brown or murky, especially after heavy rain, whether or not an advisory is posted.
Surf spots today
North shore
Off seasonnorth swell, roughly October to April
cross-shoreeast 10 mph, tonight
South shore
In seasonsouth swell, roughly April to October
cross-shoreeast 10 mph, tonight
Water 80°F·Heights are the wave face, trough to crest, the way the National Weather Service measures them. Locals often call the same wave half that. What we show as 6 ft, someone at the beach may call 3 ft. What each height means on a person
The full forecast
A moderate mid-period south swell will continue to steadily decline over the next few days with below average surf expected by the weekend. Background southerly swells will keep surf from going flat over the weekend into early next week. Poʻipū and the south work through summer, Hanalei and the north through winter. Check lifeguards and posted signs before you get in.
· NWS · NDBC · NOAA Tides · Hawaii DOH
Surf by shore
North
0-2 ft
East
3-5 ft
South
3-5 ft
West
2-4 ft
Forecast surf face heights from the National Weather Service, by the direction a shore faces. Which way a coast points decides what swell reaches it.
How big is that, on a person?
Today's biggest shore, drawn to scale against someone standing in it. Waist high is about 3 ft, head high about 5 ft, and overhead starts at 6 ft.
At this size: Barrels and carving, with real consequences attached.
The full surf height guide: skill levels, boards, the Hawaiian scale
Tides today
Hilo tide station. High and low times are HST. · Water 80°F
Beach advisories
Kaua‘i
Sep 7, 2026
Brown Water Advisory
Brown Water Advisory, Island of Kaua‘i
Posted by the Hawaii Department of Health. Stay out of water that looks brown or murky, especially after heavy rain, whether or not an advisory is posted.
Where to snorkel on the Big Island
Our snorkelling guide covers the Big Island for now, where the leeward Kona coast holds the clearest water and the easiest entries. Pick a spot against the Big Island surf above, and remember snorkelling is the most common way visitors drown in Hawaii.
Box jellyfish
Box jellyfish arrive on south and leeward shores about 8 to 10 days after each full moon. The pattern is best documented at Waikīkī and holds around the islands, so it is worth checking before any south-shore swim.
Humpback season
Humpbacks are in Hawaiian water from November through April, and they are the one thing on this page nobody can measure live. Our season page works out where today falls in that window instead, and says plainly that Maui, not this island, is where the density is.
Before you get in
- Never turn your back on the ocean. The waves that hurt people are the ones they didn't see coming, off a rock or a ledge.
- Swim where there are lifeguards, and ask them about the day. They know the specific break and rip currents you can't read from a forecast.
- If you're caught in a rip current, don't fight it. Float, signal, and let it carry you out until it releases, then swim in at an angle.
- This page is a heads-up, not a green light. Surf and advisories change through the day; the posted conditions at the beach win.