Best time to surf Hilo – Honoliʻi

The best time to surf at Hilo – Honoliʻi is January–February, with waves of about 1.3 m and water around 25°C.

Hilo, Hawaii (Big Island), United States

Sports: Surfing

Best time to go: January–February

Honoliʻi Beach Park lies in a green valley a few kilometres north of downtown Hilo on the east coast of Hawaiʻi Island, where the Honoliʻi Stream meets the sea. Steps lead down from the road to a small beach with lifeguards, restrooms and showers, and the break is right in front of it.

The waves break over a boulder-strewn bottom at the river mouth, with lefts and rights; on bigger swells at lower tide they get hollow and powerful. Honoliʻi has surf most of the year and can work when the island's west side is blown out; winter brings the strongest north Pacific swells, and summer days are usually smaller and more manageable. The trade winds blow onshore, so mornings and calmer days are cleanest. The Hilo airport weather station, 6 km away, records 15 knots or more on only a few days a year.

Rip and longshore currents are common and get stronger when the stream is running, and big days are fast and unpredictable. The locals are protective of the break: be respectful and patient, especially when it is crowded. Tiger sharks are rare but seen. The water is about 24 °C from February to April and 27 °C in October: boardshorts or a lycra, a spring suit on cool mornings.

Month by month at Hilo – Honoliʻi

January: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.2 m, water 25°C, air 26°C (nights 19°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 28 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 13; a day can have both
February: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 25°C, air 25°C (nights 19°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 23 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 19; a day can have both
March: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 24°C, air 25°C (nights 19°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 25 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 22; a day can have both
April: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 25°C, air 26°C (nights 20°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 25 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 24; a day can have both
May: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 25°C, air 26°C (nights 20°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 26 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 27; a day can have both
June: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 26°C, air 27°C (nights 20°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 30 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 23; a day can have both
July: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 0.9 m, water 26°C, air 27°C (nights 21°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 30 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 25; a day can have both
August: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1 m, water 27°C, air 28°C (nights 21°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 29 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 26; a day can have both
September: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 27°C, air 28°C (nights 21°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 28 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 24; a day can have both
October: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 5 knots, waves 1 m, water 27°C, air 28°C (nights 21°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 27 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 21; a day can have both
November: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 5 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 26°C, air 26°C (nights 20°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 27 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 22; a day can have both
December: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 5 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 26°C, air 26°C (nights 19°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 27 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 15; a day can have both