MARINE REPORT / 72 HOURS

Kapalua Bay Snorkel Report Today

USA · Updated Sun 06:20 (HST) · Source: Snapshot

The skinny

Marginal Data updated Sun 06:20 (HST)

Kapalua Bay looks marginal today. The least-bad daylight window is around Sun 11:00, but waves is limiting the forecast.

Right now (forecast)

Fair · 3.8/10

Sun 07:00 (HST)

Later today

Fair · 3.7/10

Sun 11:00 (HST)

Next three days

Fair · 4.2/10

Tue 10:00 (HST)

Model estimates using Open-Meteo; not observations or safety guarantees. Check official advisories and conditions at the beach.

Score: 3.7/10

Best time: Sun 11:00

Main risk: Waves

Best morning signal: Sun 11:00 (Fair).

Best afternoon signal: Sun 12:00 (Fair). Peak afternoon wind is about 7.6 m/s.

Email me when it is good Compare nearby spots

Best nearby spots later today

Molokini Crater 5.3/10 Fair · Sun 10:00 Ulua Mokapu 5.3/10 Fair · Sun 09:00 Kaanapali Beach 4.7/10 Fair · Sun 08:00

Read the Maui snorkeling guide for coast, access and best-month guidance.

Plan your visit

These notes help with planning. Rules and closures can change.

Open map

AccessSandy shore entry with reef along both points. Start in the water only when the bay is calm.

ParkingParking near the bay is limited. Arrive early, use marked spaces, and never block residents or access roads.

ReservationsNo bay-wide snorkel reservation is listed. Check current beach signs and county notices.

ClosuresSkip the entry when waves break across the bay or local officials post a closure.

Marine lifeReef fish and green turtles are common reasons people visit. Keep distance and do not touch wildlife.

Hawaiʻi beach and marine notices

Sunrise

06:23

Sunset

17:59

Water

27.1°C

Max air

28.4°C

Sky

Partly cloudy

51% cloud

No good model window in the next 72 hours

Use the best-available section for the least-bad times.

3-day planner Best available Show data

3-day planner

Sunday

⚠️ Fair conditions

Main blocker: Waves

Monday

❌ Poor conditions

Main blocker: Waves

Tuesday

⚠️ Fair conditions

Main blocker: Waves

Best available hours

  • Tue 10:00: Fair (0.42) · still limited by waves, wind
  • Tue 12:00: Fair (0.37) · still limited by waves, wind
  • Tue 11:00: Fair (0.37) · still limited by waves, wind

Why this verdict

Main blockers across the next 72 hours:

  • Waves (69 hours)
  • Wind (69 hours)
  • Tide/current (58 hours)

Jellyfish drift risk

Drift estimate from wind, swell, current and warm water.

Low · 34/100

Low peak drift risk around Mon 01:00.

warm water supports seasonal jellyfish activity; surface drift/current is noticeable; local shoreline exposure is not mapped yet.

Sightings override the model: if you see small purple jellyfish with long trailing tentacles, treat them as sting-capable and give them space.

Upcoming high tides

Next early morning high tide: Tue 00:00

Mon 11:00, Tue 00:00, Tue 11:00, Wed 00:00

Nearby snorkel spot map

Compare nearby spot forecasts for later today before choosing a beach.

Molokini Crater Fair · Sun 10:00 5.3/10 Ulua Mokapu Fair · Sun 09:00 5.3/10 Kaanapali Beach Fair · Sun 08:00 4.7/10 Kaanapali Black Rock Fair · Sun 08:00 4.7/10 Ahihi Kinau Fair · Sun 13:00 4.6/10 Maluaka Turtle Town Fair · Sun 08:00 4.4/10 Honolua Bay Fair · Sun 11:00 3.7/10 Napili Bay Fair · Sun 11:00 3.7/10

Forecast spot map

Use the map to see where the compared spots sit. Open a card for the hourly forecast.

Molokini Crater Ulua Mokapu Kaanapali Beach Kaanapali Black Rock Ahihi Kinau Maluaka Turtle Town Honolua Bay Napili Bay
  1. Molokini Crater
  2. Ulua Mokapu
  3. Kaanapali Beach
  4. Kaanapali Black Rock
  5. Ahihi Kinau
  6. Maluaka Turtle Town
  7. Honolua Bay
  8. Napili Bay

This is a location diagram, not a marine chart. Check the shore and local signs in person.

Nearby alternatives in USA

Napili Bay

0 km away

⚠️ Fair

Honolua Bay

3 km away

⚠️ Fair

Kaanapali Beach

9 km away

⚠️ Fair

Kaanapali Black Rock

9 km away

⚠️ Fair

Advanced forecast data

Viewing historical data

Fri 07:00 – Mon 07:00 (HST)

Previous day Yesterday Next day Live

Snorkel Score (selected 24h)

Best snorkel score is 0.58 around Fri 08:00; 7 of 24 hours are good, fair, or excellent.

Score trend, higher is better. Excellent ≥ 0.72, good 0.55–0.72, fair 0.35–0.55.

Conditions (24h trends)

Tap a chart to load just that series.

0/24 sampled hours stay at or below 0.36m (range 0.86m to 0.92m).

Wind is at or below 5.4m/s in 24/24 sampled hours (range 0.55 to 4.4m/s).

Tides range from 0.29m to 0.86m; 1 of 24 hours are in or near peak slack windows.

72-hour historical overview
Good 🌟 Good
Good 🌟 Good
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Poor ❌ Limited
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Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Poor ❌ Limited
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Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Poor ❌ Limited
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Scoring methodology (for technical users)

We score each hour from 0 to 1 using daylight and these weighted components:

  • Wave height (35%): best below 0.36m, then decreases as it rises.
  • Wind speed (25%): best below 5.4m/s, lower is better.
  • Sea surface temperature (15%): best within 20.6°C to 30.4°C.
  • Tide and currents (15%): best around slack/high-tide windows.
  • Daylight (10%): visibility is better in daylight, so night hours score lower.
Detailed hourly data table
Time Wave (m) Wind (m/s) Sea temp (°C) Status
Fri 07:00 0.86 · high 0.78 · good 27.40 · good Good
Fri 08:00 0.86 · high 2.55 · good 27.40 · good Good
Fri 09:00 0.88 · high 3.46 · good 27.40 · good Fair
Fri 10:00 0.88 · high 3.76 · good 27.40 · good Fair
Fri 11:00 0.90 · high 4.30 · good 27.50 · good Fair
Fri 12:00 0.90 · high 4.40 · good 27.50 · good Fair
Fri 13:00 0.92 · high 4.04 · good 27.50 · good Fair
Fri 14:00 0.92 · high 3.42 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Fri 15:00 0.92 · high 3.21 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Fri 16:00 0.92 · high 3.06 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Fri 17:00 0.92 · high 2.71 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Fri 18:00 0.92 · high 2.53 · good 27.40 · good Poor
Fri 19:00 0.92 · high 1.77 · good 27.40 · good Poor
Fri 20:00 0.92 · high 1.01 · good 27.40 · good Poor
Fri 21:00 0.92 · high 0.67 · good 27.40 · good Poor
Fri 22:00 0.90 · high 0.96 · good 27.40 · good Poor
Fri 23:00 0.90 · high 0.92 · good 27.40 · good Poor
Sat 00:00 0.90 · high 0.99 · good 27.40 · good Poor
Sat 01:00 0.88 · high 0.89 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Sat 02:00 0.88 · high 0.55 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Sat 03:00 0.88 · high 0.65 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Sat 04:00 0.88 · high 0.91 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Sat 05:00 0.88 · high 1.04 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Sat 06:00 0.88 · high 1.19 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Sat 07:00 0.90 · high 4.67 · good 27.50 · good Fair
Sat 08:00 0.90 · high 5.06 · good 27.50 · good Fair
Sat 09:00 0.90 · high 4.92 · good 27.50 · good Fair
Sat 10:00 0.92 · high 4.81 · good 27.60 · good Fair
Sat 11:00 0.92 · high 4.73 · good 27.60 · good Fair
Sat 12:00 0.92 · high 4.96 · good 27.70 · good Fair
Sat 13:00 0.92 · high 5.62 · high 27.70 · good Fair
Sat 14:00 0.92 · high 5.91 · high 27.70 · good Poor
Sat 15:00 0.92 · high 5.76 · high 27.70 · good Poor
Sat 16:00 0.90 · high 5.49 · high 27.70 · good Poor
Sat 17:00 0.90 · high 5.34 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Sat 18:00 0.88 · high 4.88 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Sat 19:00 0.88 · high 4.76 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Sat 20:00 0.86 · high 4.90 · good 27.60 · good Poor
Sat 21:00 0.86 · high 4.92 · good 27.60 · good Poor
Sat 22:00 0.86 · high 4.96 · good 27.60 · good Poor
Sat 23:00 0.86 · high 5.21 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Sun 00:00 0.86 · high 5.12 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Sun 01:00 0.84 · high 5.61 · high 27.30 · good Poor
Sun 02:00 0.86 · high 5.66 · high 27.30 · good Poor
Sun 03:00 0.88 · high 6.10 · high 27.20 · good Poor
Sun 04:00 0.92 · high 6.01 · high 27.20 · good Poor
Sun 05:00 0.94 · high 6.20 · high 27.20 · good Poor
Sun 06:00 0.98 · high 6.28 · high 27.20 · good Poor
Sun 07:00 1.00 · high 6.43 · high 27.10 · good Poor
Sun 08:00 1.08 · high 6.16 · high 27.10 · good Fair
Sun 09:00 1.06 · high 6.67 · high 27.10 · good Fair
Sun 10:00 1.06 · high 6.58 · high 27.20 · good Fair
Sun 11:00 1.04 · high 6.72 · high 27.20 · good Fair
Sun 12:00 1.02 · high 6.78 · high 27.20 · good Fair
Sun 13:00 1.02 · high 6.84 · high 27.30 · good Fair
Sun 14:00 1.00 · high 6.83 · high 27.30 · good Poor
Sun 15:00 0.98 · high 6.77 · high 27.30 · good Poor
Sun 16:00 0.98 · high 6.70 · high 27.30 · good Poor
Sun 17:00 0.96 · high 6.87 · high 27.30 · good Poor
Sun 18:00 0.96 · high 6.31 · high 27.20 · good Poor
Sun 19:00 0.98 · high 6.48 · high 27.20 · good Poor
Sun 20:00 0.98 · high 6.89 · high 27.20 · good Poor
Sun 21:00 1.00 · high 6.86 · high 27.20 · good Poor
Sun 22:00 1.02 · high 7.26 · high 27.20 · good Poor
Sun 23:00 1.04 · high 6.83 · high 27.20 · good Poor
Mon 00:00 1.06 · high 6.77 · high 27.20 · good Poor
Mon 01:00 1.08 · high 6.48 · high 27.20 · good Poor
Mon 02:00 1.04 · high 6.29 · high 27.20 · good Poor
Mon 03:00 1.04 · high 6.30 · high 27.20 · good Poor
Mon 04:00 1.06 · high 6.43 · high 27.20 · good Poor
Mon 05:00 1.06 · high 6.26 · high 27.20 · good Poor
Mon 06:00 1.08 · high 6.24 · high 27.20 · good Poor