CatchWindow fishing intelligence

Kawaihae, HI Daily Water Report — August 27, 2026

Welcome to Kawaihae, where today’s water is giving divers something to cheer about while everyone else gets a solid, second-tier day. The diving score of 9.2 out of 10 jumps off the page, and the numbers back it up. Water temperature sits at a measured 28.8°C, which is a full 1.5°C above the long-term average for this date. That alone will make hanging at depth comfortable for longer stretches. Combined with negligible wind waves and an ocean current running just 0.4 m/s toward the northeast, the underwater environment is about as stable as it gets along this coast. Visibility through the atmosphere is limited to 3.5 kilometers this morning, but that’s a function of humidity and hazy sky cover—not an indicator of what you’ll see below the surface. On the chlorophyll front, the reading of 0.06 mg/m³ confirms classic blue-water oligotrophic conditions, meaning you’re looking at clear, open-ocean water with low productivity. For boaters, this is a straightforward 8 out of 10. Representative northeast winds at 5 knots with gusts to 12 won’t test your seamanship, but keep an eye on the 11:00 hour when the day’s strongest gust hits 17.5 knots—brief, but worth noting if you’re running an exposed stretch. Wave heights sit at a uniform 0.46 meters with a 10.5-second period from the southwest, so the ride is long and gentle. Kayakers will find the same conditions favorable, scoring 7.7, though the mid-day wind pickup could turn the paddle home into a bit more work. Surfers get a 7.2, which is respectable for summer. The swell is small—0.34 meters at 11.5 seconds from 214 degrees—so don’t expect overhead sets. But the long period means the energy that does arrive will have some push, and the light offshore component from the northeast will keep faces clean through the morning. The calmest wave heights arrive around 19:00, but by then you’re racing sunset at 18:45. Fishing scores a 6.5, right at the midline. The solunar window from 10:49 to 12:49 is the best bet, with the major period aligning with midday and light winds. No rain in the forecast, pressure is steady at 1014 hPa, and the waxing gibbous moon at 98% illumination will be overhead late—moonrise at 17:57. That evening window, overlapping the minor period from 17:19 to 18:19, could be decent for nearshore action if you’re willing to fish through dusk. Looking ahead, the next several days paint a picture of remarkable consistency. Wind stays light through September 2nd, with peak gusts barely reaching 7 knots. Wave heights hang in that 0.4 to 0.5-meter groove, and precipitation chances stay below 15% every day. The only real variable is the swell, which slowly drops from 0.4 meters down to 0.2 meters by the end of the week—great for flat-water paddling, less interesting for surfers. Best bet: Get in the water before 10:00 for the calmest surface and the warmest welcome