Oahu
Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3+ft on NE swell at 7s with 12mph ENE winds.
Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3+ft on NE swell at 7s with 12mph ENE winds.
Best window·Monday 3PM–6PM·11-15ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Makaha, Oahu. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 3–4ft, 7s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on NE swell at 7s with 12mph ENE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Sep 4: 5–6ft, 6s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 5-6ft waves on NE swell at 6s with 12mph from the ENE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sat, Sep 5: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on NE swell at 7s and moderate E wind around 7mph. Onshore flow builds through the day to 13mph, bringing conditions down to fair.
Sun, Sep 6: 5–7ft, 12s period, rated Fair - Good. Early morning is your best window — 5-6ft waves on SSW swell at 12s with light ENE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, Sep 7: 11–15ft, 14s period, rated Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 6-9ft on SSW swell at 13s with moderate E wind around 12mph. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 22mph from the ESE and dropping conditions to good.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor - Fair today — get one free email when Makaha turns Good.
Check Makaha from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Makaha is Oahu's premier big wave beach break, located on the leeward west coast and exposed to powerful winter North Pacific swells that can reach epic proportions. The sandy bottom and consistent shape make it a mellow summer alternative when smaller swells wrap around from other directions, though winter is when this spot truly shines with hollow, well-defined waves. The break's sheltered position from trade winds and natural amphitheater setting create ideal conditions for both powerful barrel sections and long, peeling walls.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Makaha is 2-3+ft with a 6.5s swell period. Wind is ENE at 14mph. Conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Makaha is 2-3+ft, produced by a 7ft NE wind swell swell at 7s, a 3.3ft S secondary swell at 15s, a 2.7ft SE tertiary swell at 11s, a 1.8ft SSE tertiary swell at 15s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Makaha is Monday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 11ft waves, a 13.5s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Makaha works best with a W swell and E winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Makaha. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Makaha is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Makaha is Oahu's premier big wave beach break, located on the leeward west coast and exposed to powerful winter North Pacific swells that can reach epic proportions. The sandy bottom and consistent shape make it a mellow summer alternative when smaller swells wrap around from other directions, though winter is when this spot truly shines with hollow, well-defined waves. The break's sheltered position from trade winds and natural amphitheater setting create ideal conditions for both powerful barrel sections and long, peeling walls.
The prime season at Makaha is winter, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Makaha include powerful currents, strong rip currents in winter, localism, shallow sections. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Makaha forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable; extended forecasts show general trends. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
