Island Surf Update: Expect Moderate Swells for Maui and Kauai in Late April 2026

Get the latest surf forecast for Maui and Kauai for late April 2026, with details on wave heights, swell direction, and weather conditions for all shores.

Island Surf Update: Expect Moderate Swells for Maui and Kauai in Late April 2026

Surfers and beachgoers on Maui and Kauai can anticipate a mixed bag of conditions as April 2026 draws to a close. While south-facing shores are expected to remain relatively calm, north and west-facing beaches are set to experience a noticeable increase in wave activity, particularly towards the end of the week.

Key Takeaways

  • North and west-facing shores on both islands will see increasing surf, peaking Thursday and potentially reaching advisory levels over the weekend.
  • South-facing shores will generally remain small, with minor pulses expected.
  • East-facing shores will experience small, choppy conditions with a slight rise possible later in the week.

North and West Shore Surf Conditions

For Maui, north-facing shores are forecasted to see surf in the 4-6 foot range tonight and through Thursday, with a new northwest to north-northwest swell filling in. This swell is expected to peak tonight into Thursday morning before slowly declining. By late Friday into Saturday, a moderate, longer-period northwest swell is anticipated, potentially bringing above-average surf heights.

Kauai's north-facing shores are looking at more significant surf, with 5-7 foot waves expected tonight and through Thursday. Similar to Maui, a new northwest swell will peak tonight into Thursday morning. The outlook for late Friday into Saturday also points to a moderate, longer-period northwest swell, with surf heights possibly nearing advisory levels.

West-facing shores on both islands will see smaller, but consistent surf. Maui's west shores are expected to have 0-2 foot waves, while Kauai's west-facing beaches will see 3-5 foot surf tonight and Thursday, influenced by the same northwest swell.

South and East Shore Outlook

Surf along south-facing shores for both Maui and Kauai is predicted to remain small throughout the week, generally in the 0-2 foot range. A small south-southwest pulse is possible by the weekend, offering a slight increase in wave height, particularly by Sunday.

East-facing shores on both islands will experience relatively small and choppy conditions. Maui's east shores are forecasted at 2-4 feet, with a slight rise possible on Thursday and Friday as trade winds strengthen. Kauai's east-facing beaches will also see 2-4 foot surf, with similar conditions expected.

Weather and Tidal Information

Weather across both islands is expected to be partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Temperatures will be in the upper 60s to lower 80s. Winds will generally be from the east, ranging from 10 to 15 mph, potentially increasing slightly on Thursday and Friday.

Sources