Well, I havent tried the Pod, but from the shape: noserider front plus narrow tail with V, you can expect something like described by "viper" here:
www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=11695.0A board for hollow fast waves, that can be used in slop due to its wide nose, but not really lively in these conditions (bogging down in turns). Kind of a Takayama Sorpion, I had a similar board:
imgur.com/a/DWrQS. Great for retro style surfing (noserides, pivot turns) in small waves.
If you want a board that will be alive in slop, you should get the opposite: a wide tail for power in gutless waves, that will not sink when you put the foot on the tail to turn. Wide noses are good if you want to noseride, otherwise they may limit you in turns. It depends on what surfing style you favor, but by reading you I guess you want the opposite: A short length, fast rocker, a wide tail with a not too wide nose, for explosive surfing in weak waves. Your Hokua has too narrow a tail and too big a rocker for slow waves.
Pro-level riders can make narrow tails work in weak waves, by generating speed with their technique, but most people will just be pushing water.