Kohala Lighthouse - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (November - February)

The heart of winter brings the most reliable combination of North Pacific swell and occasional offshore wind from the south. During these months, the jet stream strengthens, sending a parade of extratropical storms across the North Pacific. These systems generate long-period NW to N swells that directly light up Kohala Lighthouse. While the trade winds still dominate, the frequency of southerly wind events increases, especially when high pressure sets up to the north. This is the prime window for pumping waves in the 1.5-2.5m range with periods exceeding 12s. Expect the best conditions when a cold front clears the islands, leaving behind a light SSE or SW breeze and a powerful NW swell.

Fair Surf Season (March - April & September - October)

The shoulder months offer a mixed bag. Spring sees the North Pacific storm track shifting north, reducing the frequency of N swells. However, occasional long-period NW groundswells can still sneak through, especially in early March. The trade winds are still strong, making clean conditions rare. Autumn brings a gradual ramp-up in swell activity as the Aleutian low reawakens. September can see the tail end of the south swell season, but with the north-facing exposure, these swells are largely blocked. October shows increasing N and NNW swell contributions, and with the trade winds weakening, the chance for a glassy morning increases. Surfable waves are present, but consistency and quality are lower than in the peak season.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

Summer is the most challenging time for surf at Kohala Lighthouse. The North Pacific swell machine shuts down almost completely, leaving the spot exposed to only local windswell and E to ENE trade wind swell. These swells approach from an unfavorable angle, wrapping only slightly into the north-facing nook. The persistent trade winds blow from the east, creating cross-onshore conditions that chop up the already weak waves. Wave heights average 1.6m but with short periods (8-9s), making for bumpy, low-quality surf. The wind is ideal (southerly) less than 1% of the time. Unless you're a log enthusiast looking for small, groveling waves, this is a good time to explore other spots on the island.

September: The Turn of the Tide

September marks the beginning of the transition back to winter. Average swell height drops slightly to 1.5m, but period increases to 9.6s as the first distant North Pacific storms begin to stir. The swell direction sees an increase in NE and N components (4.3% combined), though E (54.1%) and ENE (36.9%) still dominate. The N and NNW swell share rises to 0.4%, a small but promising sign. Wind ideal percentage is still low at 2%, with E and ENE winds at 91.5%. However, the frequency of southerly wind events (SW, WSW) increases slightly to 0.7%. These light winds, combined with a nascent NW swell, can produce the first clean, rideable waves of the season. Keep an eye on the Aleutian low for a September surprise.