Kohala Lighthouse - surf spot statistics

Kohala Lighthouse is a surf spot that benefits most from consistent ground swells and favorable wind conditions, which are crucial for quality surf. The best months for surfing here are typically from November to February, when ground swell makes up around 44–60% of the swell mix, providing cleaner and more powerful waves. December stands out as the peak month, with the highest mean swell size of 2.0m and a balanced split between ground and wind swells (50/49%). January follows closely, with strong ground swell dominance (60%) and decent wind conditions (32% good). February also remains solid, though wind conditions deteriorate slightly. From March onward, wind swells become more prevalent, reducing wave quality, and unfavorable onshore winds dominate, peaking in summer (June–August) when good wind conditions drop below 20%. Autumn (October–November) offers a slight rebound in ground swell influence but still struggles with inconsistent winds. If you're looking for the most reliable surf, prioritize the winter months when ground swells are prominent and wind interference is relatively lower. Summer and early autumn are less ideal due to choppy wind swells and poor wind alignment.

September at Kohala Lighthouse offers fair to good surfing conditions with an average swell height of 1.4m and a decent period of 9.4s, providing consistent, manageable waves. The swell is predominantly from the NE to ENE directions, with 20.96% of waves in the 1-1.5m range from ENE and 11.31% from NE, ensuring clean, rideable surf. Larger swells (1.5-2.5m) occur around 11.36% of the time from ENE and 7.49% from E, offering more powerful waves for experienced surfers. Wind conditions are a mixed bag—while 21% of the time they're ideal (light to moderate offshore or cross-shore), ENE and E winds dominate, often blowing at 10-30kph (11.80% and 19.38% respectively), which can create choppier conditions. Mornings tend to be cleaner before onshore winds pick up. Overall, September delivers a mix of mid-sized swells with occasional bigger days, best suited for intermediate to advanced surfers who can navigate variable wind effects.