Reef
both
Level 5/10

Kewalos

South Shore, Oahu, USA
🪸Sharp reef👥Crowded

Kewalos is an A-frame peak that has served as the proving ground for some of Hawaii's greatest modern surfers, including Carissa Moore and Seth Moniz. The left walls up for high-performance surfing, making it a popular summer competition venue.

Kewalos surf forecast

Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.

10-Day Forecast
Tue22
55
Fair
0.9m@14s
19km/h
Today23
26
Poor
0.8m@12s
21km/h
Thu24
27
Poor
0.7m@13s
23km/h
Fri25
21
Poor
0.9m@11s
26km/h
Sat26
25
Poor
1.2m@11s
34km/h
Sun27
26
Poor
1.6m@11s
28km/h
Mon28
19
Poor
1.1m@9s
15km/h
Tue29
62
Fair
1.2m@12s
4km/h
Wed30
60
Fair
1.2m@14s
12km/h
Thu1
52
Fair
1.2m@13s
13km/h
5+ days out, less certain

Today's Conditions

Find Flights
Best session: MorningAM 15 km/h · PM 22 km/h · Tide at 6am (0.1m)
Swell
0.9m
S(184°)
Score: 11/25
Period
14s
Long period groundswell
Score: 25/25
Wind
19km/h
NE(54°)
Score: 7/25
Weather
29°C
0.0mm53%
First light 5:50amSunrise 6:20amSunset 6:27pmLast light 6:57pm
Windswell0.6m@3sSecondary0.3mConfidence
100%

Location & Conditions

Loading map...
0°45°90°135°180°225°270°315°NESW
Swell
Wind
Showing forecast for today

Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows

Strike window: 9:05–11:08am · risingStrike window: 4:10–6:05pm · droppingIdeal tide: mid
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
6am
9am
12pm
3pm
6pm
°C
25°
28°
31°
31°
28°
25°
29°
30°
29°
26°
24°
27°
30°
29°
26°
24°
27°
27°
27°
25°
25°
26°
27°
26°
24°
24°
25°
27°
27°
26°
25°
27°
29°
29°
27°
24°
26°
28°
29°
26°
25°
27°
29°
29°
26°
24°
25°
28°
28°
25°
2m1.0
sec
14s
14s
14s
14s
14s
12s
12s
12s
12s
12s
13s
13s
13s
13s
13s
11s
11s
11s
11s
11s
11s
11s
11s
11s
11s
11s
11s
11s
11s
11s
9s
9s
9s
9s
9s
12s
12s
12s
12s
12s
14s
14s
14s
14s
14s
13s
13s
13s
13s
13s
swell
windkm/h
13g27
17g41
20g51
22g53
23g57
17g39
21g48
23g55
23g56
19g49
18g38
22g52
26g61
26g61
23g53
21g45
24g54
28g65
29g65
26g55
33g70
34g76
36g82
33g81
34g75
28g67
27g64
28g71
30g70
29g68
21g52
20g47
15g42
11g40
9g37
3g12
1g13
7g22
7g27
3g25
10g22
12g28
14g36
14g40
12g39
10g25
12g29
15g35
15g38
10g39
tidem
1:37am0.3m
6:45am0.1m
1:42pm0.6m
8:30pm0.1m
2:02am0.3m
7:30am0.1m
2:13pm0.6m
8:48pm0.1m
2:37am0.4m
8:15am0.1m
2:42pm0.6m
9:11pm0.0m
3:12am0.5m
9:00am0.1m
3:15pm0.6m
9:31pm0.0m
3:47am0.5m
9:48am0.1m
3:42pm0.5m
9:55pm0.0m
4:26am0.6m
10:37am0.1m
4:12pm0.5m
10:18pm0.0m
5:10am0.6m
11:41am0.1m
4:45pm0.4m
10:45pm0.0m
5:52am0.7m
12:45pm0.2m
5:17pm0.3m
11:15pm0.0m
6:48am0.7m
2:15pm0.2m
5:52pm0.2m
7:56am0.7m
4:07pm0.2m
Ideal tide (from tide preference)Strike windowNight

Tide times today

1:37 am
High tide - 0.29m
6:45 am
Low tide - 0.10m
1:42 pm
High tide - 0.60m
8:30 pm
Low tide - 0.08m
Times shown in spot-local time.

Strike Score Breakdown

55
Fair
Components
Swell Direction20/25
Swell Size11/25
Swell Period25/25
Wind7/25
Raw Score63/100
Adjustments
🌊💨 Windswell-3
💨 Gusty Wind-5
Adjusted Score55/100
Confidence
Multiplier×1.00
Final Score55

Plan Your Strike

Return flights to HNL, departing today with a 5-day trip window.

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Swell Requirements

Optimal direction
S (190°)
Direction range
155° - 225°
Size range
0.9m - 1.8m
Ideal size
1.3m - 1.6m
Height multiplier
0.97×
Ideal period
14s+

Wind Requirements

Optimal direction
N (10°)
Offshore range
340° - 55°

Tide Requirements

Optimal tide
mid

Water temp

26°C

Wetsuit

Boardshorts / Rashguard

Bottom

Reef

Max wave face

2.5m+

Board

Shortboard

Consistency

6/10

Difficulty

5/10

Crowd level

7/10

Access: Beach access near Kewalo Basin.

Frequently Asked Questions

What tide is best at Kewalos?

The Kewalos profile favors mid tide. Compare this preference with the forecast tide and local conditions before choosing a session.

What wind direction is offshore at Kewalos?

The Kewalos profile uses wind from N (10°) as its preferred direction, with an offshore range of 340° to 55°. Wind speed matters too: light winds outside that range can still produce surfable conditions, while strong offshore winds can make takeoffs difficult.

What swell size and direction work best at Kewalos?

The Kewalos scoring profile favors swell from S (155° to 225°), a swell-height range of 0.9m to 1.8m, and a reference period of 14s. These are model inputs, not guaranteed breaking-wave heights or a promise that the surf will suit every ability.

When is the best time of year to surf Kewalos?

The main season at Kewalos is May-Sep. A secondary window runs Apr, Oct. May-Sep. A-frame peak. Hot bed for Hawaii's emerging talent.

How do I get to Kewalos?

The spot profile lists HNL as a nearby airport. The estimated road transfer is 12 minutes. Beach access near Kewalo Basin.

What kind of wave is Kewalos?

Kewalos is a reef break, a peak with lefts and rights over a reef bottom. Difficulty is rated 5/10.

Best Season

Peak: May-Sep

Secondary: Apr, Oct

May-Sep. A-frame peak. Hot bed for Hawaii's emerging talent.

Getting There

Airport
HNL
Drive time
12 min
Data quality
verified

Plan a trip around Kewalos

Compare this break with other destinations in these surf guides.

Strike Log

Community Discussion