Kohala Lighthouse • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

Kohala Lighthouse sits on the raw, north-facing edge of Hawaii's Big Island, trading the calm lee conditions of the Kona side for the full force of the North Pacific. October may start modest in size at 1.6m (5.2ft), but the period has already jumped to 10.8s, and by November average heights push to 1.9m (6.2ft) and stay there through March. With the Aleutian Low cranking up, a steady conveyor belt of extratropical storms rumbles across the North Pacific and sends long-period groundswell toward the Hawaiian chain. Swell periods sit between 10.8 and 12.5 seconds during this window, which translates to powerful, organized waves at the lighthouse. This is also when the odds of a light S/SW offshore breeze are highest, especially around frontal passages and when the North Pacific High drifts east. The beach faces north, so the N, NNE, NE, NW and NNW groundswells have a direct, unrefracted path into the reef. When a winter swell lines up with a land breeze, Kohala Lighthouse is one of the heaviest, most rewarding waves on the island.

Fair Surf Season (April - May & September)

The shoulder seasons are a mixed bag. April and May still see plenty of size - average swells around 1.6-1.8m (5.2-6ft) - but the dominant angle shifts toward ENE/E trade wind swell, which hits the north-facing coast at an awkward angle. Wave periods slip to 9.5-10.2s and ideal wind days drop to 3-4%. September is a similar bridge: the first hints of renewed North Pacific activity can show up late in the month, but the trade wind machine still rules. If you can find a morning glass-off or a passing front, there are rippable waves, but consistency is poor.

Low Surf Season (June - August)

The summer doldrums are real. From June through August the Aleutian Low is quiet, and the swell window is dominated by ENE/E trade wind swell. Average periods bottom out at 8.4-8.8s, ideal surf wind drops to 0-1%, and the windrose shows 95%+ of all wind coming from the trade direction. For a north-facing reef, that means mostly raw, cross-shore conditions and a lineup that is hard to trust. Unless a stray south swell wraps in - very unlikely at this exposure - this is a season for low expectations and longboard cruises rather than charging sessions.