TrueSwell

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Makaha Surf Forecast

Oahu West Side, HI · West-side point that goes from playful to giant - big-wave history.

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Makaha Spot Guide

Best swell

WSW
window S–NW (190°–320°)

Ideal size

2–15 ft
breaking-wave face height

Best wind

ENE
offshore · WSW is onshore

Verified against

Buoy 51212
live NOAA readings · our error

The wave

BreakWest-side point with an inside sandbar and famous backwash
BottomReef and sand
WavesFrom playful summer rollers to giant winter walls
AbilityYes on small days — but Makaha at size is heavy, and its community deserves visitors' best manners.
Best tideMid
CrowdMulti-generational west-side families — respect is the currency
HazardsThe backwash off the steep beach, size in winter, localism earned honestly
AccessRoadside lots along Farrington Highway at Makaha Beach Park

Local knowledge

Makaha carried big-wave surfing before the North Shore did — the Waikiki-to-Makaha pioneers rode giants here in the 1950s, and the International Championships made it surfing's first great contest venue. The wave remains a west-side institution wrapped in family history: ride it humbly.

Nearby spots

FAQ

What swell direction works best at Makaha?

WSW swell hits Makaha straight on. The spot picks up anything arriving from S (190°) through NW (320°); swell from outside that window is blocked by the coastline.

What wind is best at Makaha?

ENE wind blows offshore and grooms the surf. WSW wind is straight onshore and chops it up; light wind under ~5 kn is fine from any direction.

When is the best time of year to surf Makaha?

Summer (May-September), when Southern Hemisphere groundswell lights up the south shores. Winter is mostly flat here while the north shores go giant.

What's the best tide at Makaha?

Mid. Tide predictions for the spot's NOAA station are in the forecast above.

Is Makaha good for beginners?

Yes on small days — but Makaha at size is heavy, and its community deserves visitors' best manners.

How warm is the water at Makaha?

Roughly 74°F at its late-winter coldest to about 81°F in late summer. In practice that means trunks or a rash guard in winter and trunks or a rash guard in summer. The forecast above shows the current water temperature.

How far out is this forecast reliable?

The wave model has real skill to about 10 days, and we cut the chart there instead of padding it with guesses. Days 1-3 are solid, 4-7 useful, 8-10 a trend heads-up - and we publish our measured error against NOAA buoys, updated continuously.

Forecast from TrueSwell's own physics-based wave model (exposure → refraction → breaking, every swell train separately), built on public NOAA and Open-Meteo data and scored daily against NDBC buoy observations. How the model works →