Surf spot

Polihale State Park

Forecast conditions and map view for Polihale State Park in USA, Hawaii, Kauai. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, Hawaii, Kauai
Coordinates: 22.0756, -159.7694

Metric
Metric	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00
Wave height (m)	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.9	0.8	0.7	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.7	0.7	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.5	0.5
Wave direction	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	SSE	S	NNE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	S	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NNE	S	NE	S	S	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NNE	NNE	NNE	NNE	S	S	SSE	S	S	NNE	NNE	NNE	SSW	SSW	SW	SSW	NNE	SSW	SSW
Wave period (s)	9.7	9.9	9.9	9.4	9.6	8.9	9.4	9	7.3	6.5	6.8	7.2	6.8	6.8	6.7	6.8	6.6	7.1	8.6	7.2	7	6.8	6.6	6.5	6.7	6.8	7	8.4	6.8	8.6	8.7	6.7	6.4	6.3	6.2	6.3	6.3	6.5	7	6.5	7	8.4	8.6	8.7	9.8	9.9	8	6.7	6.7	11.5	11.3	11.3	12.6	6.3	14.8	14.7
Wave energy (kJ)	138	125	132	132	111	96	103	94	88	57	48	42	45	47	44	45	38	44	64	45	42	42	40	41	39	36	32	48	32	46	38	24	22	23	24	23	21	22	23	20	18	33	31	29	34	35	23	39	43	72	70	54	73	33	92	100
Wind speed (km/h)	2.4	5	3.6	8.2	10.1	6.8	1.3	5.1	4	3.2	5.8	9.3	5.5	4.1	6.3	3.6	1.8	5.6	0.5	9.2	7	7.7	2.8	3.6	5.6	3.7	2.1	10.1	10.1	6.5	3.7	2.7	1.9	3.6	2.5	10.5	13.8	9.9	2.6	4.7	3.6	3.2	1.6	8.6	13.2	7.3	5.6	3.6	6.5	6.1	3.9	4.4	8.7	1.8	4.3	6.1
Wind direction	WNWGlassy	SSWCross-on	SWGlassy	WNWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WOnshore	SWGlassy	SCross	WSWGlassy	WGlassy	SSWCross-on	WSWOnshore	WOnshore	WNWGlassy	SSWCross	NWGlassy	EGlassy	SSECross-off	SWGlassy	WNWOnshore	NWCross-on	SWCross-on	SWGlassy	NEGlassy	SECross-off	ENEGlassy	ESEGlassy	WSWOnshore	WOnshore	WOnshore	SGlassy	ESEGlassy	ESEGlassy	EGlassy	EGlassy	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WOnshore	NWGlassy	EGlassy	EGlassy	ESEGlassy	ESEGlassy	WOnshore	WSWOnshore	WOnshore	ENEOffshore	EGlassy	EOffshore	EOffshore	ESEGlassy	WGlassy	WSWOnshore	WGlassy	ESEGlassy	EOffshore

Polihale State Park on Kauai’s west shore is a remote, exposed surf spot known for its long stretch of sand, dramatic scenery, and powerful surf. It faces the open Pacific, so it’s fully exposed to south and west swells, with conditions that can build quickly and get heavy.

Surf character

Wave type: Mostly beach break, with shifting sandbars
Power: Can be strong and hollow when conditions line up
Consistency: More reliable during south swell season and bigger winter west swells
Crowd: Usually less crowded than more accessible Kauai breaks because it’s remote

Best conditions

Swell direction: South to southwest swell, and some west swells
Wind: Light offshore or calm winds are ideal
Tide: Varies by sandbar, but mid tide often works better than extreme high or low

Hazards

Polihale is beautiful but can be serious: - Strong currents and rip currents - Powerful shorebreak - Remote access with limited services - Very rough ocean when swell is large - No lifeguard coverage in most areas

Skill level

Best for experienced surfers who are comfortable in powerful, open-ocean beach break conditions.

Vibe

It’s a wild, undeveloped, scenic surf zone rather than a groomed or easy-access surf park. The setting is part of the appeal: wide beaches, big sky, and a sense of isolation.