Best Times to Visit Hawaii – Weather, Price, Crowds
Posted on Mon, Oct 15, 2007 by Sheila
Many people wonder when is the best time to visit Hawaii. There are multiple answers to that question. In my opinion, there’s really not a bad time to go to Hawaii. You’ll always be able to find nice warm weather in Hawaii, even in the winter. (See my post, Is Winter A Good Time To Go To Hawaii?)
Though winter months (November – March) tend to be a tad rainier, chances are you won’t have to contend with much rain through your entire trip. I’ve been to Hawaii in all the seasons and very rarely has rain cause any issues. Many times rain showers are short lived and you are treated to a rainbow afterwards. (See my article, Where to Stay in Hawaii to Avoid Rain.)
Most people like to consider weather, crowds, and costs when choosing a good time to go to Hawaii. I’ve developed the following decision matrix that helps you compare all those key factors. I’m going to use Kauai as an example of average high temperatures (F) and average rainfall levels (inches) so that you can get an idea of overall trends that will generally be true across Hawaii.
| Day Temp |
Rainfall |
Crowds |
Hotel Rates |
|
| January | 78 | 4.6 | High | High |
| February | 78 | 3.4 | High | High |
| March | 78 | 3.6 | High | High |
| April | 79 | 3.0 | Med * | Med/Low |
| May | 81 | 2.9 | Med | Low |
| June | 83 | 1.8 | Med/High | Med |
| July | 84 | 2.1 | High | Med |
| August | 85 | 1.9 | High | Med |
| September | 85 | 2.7 | Low ** | Low |
| October | 83 | 4.3 | Low | Low |
| November | 81 | 4.7 | Low *** | Low |
| December | 79 | 4.8 | Low & High **** | Low/High |
* Exception in April is that if Easter falls in April, the weeks around Easter can be higher.
** Generally high until the week after Labor Day, then low.
*** Exception is the weekend of Thanksgiving.
**** Crowds are very low until approximately December 20th, then very high through the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
From the matrix, you can see that May and September are optimal times for best weather, least crowds, and lowest costs. The end of April and beginning of October are also quite good. Another great time to consider is the very beginning of June before kids get out of school in the U.S.
I’ve compiled this list of links to see average weather trends for each island:
- Maui (Kahului) temperature and rain averages by month
- Kauai (Lihue) temperature and rainfall averages by month
- Oahu (Honolulu) temperature and rainfall averages by month
- Big Island (Hilo) temperature and rainfall averages by month
- Big Island (Kailua-Kona) temperature and rainfall averages by month
- Lanai (Lanai City) temperature and rainfall averages by month
- Molokai temperature and rainfall averages by month
The best places in Hawaii for avoiding rain on each island and practically any time of the year are:
- Maui: Wailea area
- Kauai: Poipu Beach
- Big Island: Kohala Coast
- Oahu: Waikiki Beach
- Lanai: Manele Bay
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I can hardly wait till the highs are in the 70s!
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Kailani – Don’t rub it in that your winters are in the 70′s. (Just kidding!)
Here’s hoping for many nice days for you this winter. 
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I have a friend who lives in Hawaii. I was asking his advice on visiting in late Oct. He said the weather is nice but the winds were annoying that time of year because they blow ash from The Big Island. He said it can be overcast and rainly at times. What do you think? He said late Sept would be good. Otherwise I was looking into Feb. But according to your chart that is the cold time of the year. Any advice?…Thanks
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Hi April,
Anytime of year is a good time to visit Hawaii. I was just there at the end of October and didn’t have any issues with the wind.
I think your friend may be referring to VOG (volcanic gases), and the way the wind blows does impact that, but there’s not many days that the wind blows in the direction that creates VOG problems on the other islands. In general the areas most likely to have VOG problems are on the southern end of Hawaii’s Big Island.
Even in February, the weather is still wonderfully warm. The biggest issue in Dec – Feb is rain. See this article on where to stay to avoid rain in the winter months. http://www.govisithawaii.com/2008/08/28/where-to-stay-in-hawaii-to-avoid-rain/
When I originally wrote this article, the economy was stronger. The winter months and summer months are typically the most expensive times to visit Hawaii. That’s not necessarily the case with the present economy. Some of the deals I’ve seen are absolutely tremendous.
Honestly, I wouldn’t hesitate to go Hawaii anywhere or anytime.
I’d be interested in finding out what you decide. Good luck!
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[...] The Best Times to Visit Hawaii – Weather, Price, Crowds [...]
i cant wait to see your island my friends and i will be there in sept 2010 for my 50th birthday i wish we can do it all
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sheila Reply:
April 20th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Lydia – I hope you have a wonderful time celebrating your birthday in Hawaii!
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Thank you for an informative and easy to read website.
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Hello. First time site visit. We have been to Maui 2 times and Love the southside/Kihei. It is us more than big condos. Where would you suggest we go next as we have pretty much explored Maui. Life is too short to return to places too often when there is so much of this world to experience. Thanks Dan
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sheila Reply:
August 11th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
Hi Dan,
If you’ve seen Maui and are interested in checking out another island, I might suggest Kauai. It’s a gorgeous island with lots of scenic spots and beaches. . If you like the southside of Kauai, you might also like the southside of Kauai in Poipu.
You might also find some help in this post: http://www.govisithawaii.com/2010/06/28/how-to-pick-the-best-hawaiian-islands-for-your-vacation/
Hope that helps!
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Thanks for this!! It’s really appreciated!! Looking forward to our Kauai trip in February & this really helps to know what we should expect.
J
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sheila Reply:
December 11th, 2010 at 11:14 am
Glad it helps, Juliana. Thanks for that feedback. Hope you have a great time in Kauai!
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Was planning a vacation for the 2011 holiday time. I was wondering if that is a good time. My 14 yr. old wants to visit pearl harbor and go to the beaches while the rest of us want to see the volcanoes and a ethicnatic laui. Can all that be done during that time frame or would sometime be better.
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sheila Reply:
December 31st, 2010 at 9:17 pm
Deedee – you can certainly do all those things during 2011 holiday time.
Since you mentioned volcanoes, I just wanted to let you know that all the islands are made of volcanoes and the shape of the island really shows that. If you want to see volcanic activity, only one island has an active volcano — Hawaii’s Big Island.
If you want to see Pearl Harbor that’s on Oahu. You can either, split time on your vacatoin between the islands or….another suggestion is that it’s fairly easy to go island hopping for the day either on your own or with an organized tour.
Luaus are on all the islands.
You might want to take a look at this post to help you with your planning – http://www.govisithawaii.com/2010/06/28/how-to-pick-the-best-hawaiian-islands-for-your-vacation/
Hope that helps. Best of luck!
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Hi there everyone, my partner and I are looking at getting married in Hawaii around August 2012, Where are the nicest places to stay. Any ideas? We are traveling from rainy England. Thank you.
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sheila Reply:
February 23rd, 2011 at 12:45 pm
Hi Mark – I’ve lived in rainy England myself, so I can tell you that you are in for a big treat when you visit beautiful, sunny Hawaii!
Hawaii is very, very romantic, so you’ve picked a great spot for your wedding.
There are nice places to stay all over the Hawaiian islands. Some of the poshest areas to stay in Hawaii are:
- Wailea on Maui
- Kapalua on Maui
- Princeville on Kauai
- Manele Bay on Lanai
- Kohala Coast on the Big Island
- Hualalai on the Big Island
To help you choose the right island(s) for you, you might find a good starting point here:
http://www.govisithawaii.com/2010/06/28/how-to-pick-the-best-hawaiian-islands-for-your-vacation/ If you want to comment on that post with what you’re hoping to do and find when you’re in Hawaii, I can better steer in you to the island(s) that may be the best fit for you and your partner.
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Hi there. It’s me, Miguel. Right now I’m in the Philipines. Recently, I have resigned from my job in Dubai as a medical claims representative who I had worked straight in 9 years. I have finished for the 3rd term my contract and I wanted to live and find a job in Hawaii because this time I want a place w/c the whether would seem similar to Philippines. I’m age 36,graduated as nurse, able to have passed CGFNS in 1997. I strongly desire for Hawaii. Any help please. Thnks.
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I am planning to go to Hawai for my honeymoon in November. I want recommendations for a romantic resort but also near the downtown with the shops and restaurants. I also want to avoid too much rain if possible. Thanx
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sheila Reply:
March 31st, 2011 at 2:29 pm
If shopping is important for you, Waikiki is the best place in Hawaii for shopping. To make your Waikiki honeymoon more romantic, opt for one of the eight resorts that are on the beach. Those resorts are listed in this article: http://www.govisithawaii.com/oahu-where-to-stay/
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Hello,
I am planning on taking my wife and son to Maui, HI for the first time next month. Unfortunately, she has become a little hesitant visiting next month after reading online that June is hurricane season. Is it hurricane season? What do you think about visiting this month? From June, July, August which month do you reccomend?
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sheila Reply:
May 6th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
Daniel – that’s an interesting question you posed. Just from my knowledge of Hawaii, I can recall only one hurricane off the top of my head and that was Iniki back in 1992. So, I did some searching, I found this great Hawaii weather resource: http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/MET/Faculty/businger/poster/hurricane/ Notice that is says that hurricanes in Hawaii are very rare events. That source also says that since 1950, there have only been 5 hurricanes that cause any significant damage in Hawaii.
In terms of the best month of the three you listed, I would recommend June and the earlier the better before summer vacations start to increase. Also, per this chart, there’s never been a hurricane recorded in Hawaii in June:
http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/MET/Faculty/businger/poster/hurricane/Fig7_climates.gif
If past history is an indicator of the future, you really don’t need to be concerned with hurricanes in Hawaii.
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Hi,
I’m considering a wedding this November in Maui, it will be our first time to Hawaii. Is mid November a good time for a wedding in Maui? I’m concerned about the weather being rainy, etc… Also, what hotels are kid friendly yet nice as well as affordable? We have a 4 year old so want to make sure he is entertained as well. Any advice is much appreciated!
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Sheila Reply:
May 12th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
Ashley – Maui is a very romantic place for a wedding.
November is just on the cusp of Hawaii’s “ranier” season, but definitely not in the peak of it. As I mention in this article, http://www.govisithawaii.com/2008/10/02/where-to-stay-on-maui-for-the-best-weather/ the Wailea area might be a good choice to avoid rain. For a kid-friendly resort, you might want to consider the Marriott in Wailea.
One thing to bear in mind about Hawaii’s rain, is that most of it falls a night. Yippee! http://www.govisithawaii.com/2011/04/05/most-of-hawaiis-rain-falls-at-night/
A great thing about going in November is that hotel and airfare rates are usually pretty low. Another plus is that you definitely won’t be dealing with crowds.
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Hi, I am looking into planning a vacation this December over Christmas break. I have two daughters ages 9 and 12 and can not decide which island to visit. We like nice beaches with kid friendly activities. Rainfall and crowds are my concern. Any suggestions? Do the islands have a Christmas feel over the holidays?
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sheila Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Kelly — based on what you described, I’d suggest the Wailea area of Maui — plenty of beautiful beaches, plus lots of kid-friendly activities throughout the island of Maui. Wailea is an area that receives approximately 15 inches of rainfall per year, so there’s a good chance you’ll mostly be dry. Although, there are no guarantees, which I’m sure you understand.
All the islands and resorts do have a Christmas feel over the holidays, but with a neat “island-style” theme to it. For example the resort Christmas trees may have shells for ornaments or surfing santas, etc. Most of the resorts will offer lavish Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals, many with all the traditional mainland holiday staples.
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Hi we are planing on coming in June 2012 and was wondering what your take on the so call all Inclusive is ?
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sheila Reply:
October 5th, 2011 at 9:23 am
Cindy – Hawaii doesn’t have many all-inclusive options. The only resort that’s all-inclusive is Travaasa Hana on Maui. Other resorts might offer an all-inclusive meal plan, but that’s about it.
I know that all-inclusives can be nice, but as a frequent visit to Hawaii, I’m glad that there’s not a lot of all-inclusives. There’s so many great activities and restaurants to explore on each island, that I don’t want to be captive to one resort. Plus, the Hawaiian Islands are so safe for exploring, you don’t have to fear being outside of a resort like you have to do in some all-inclusive destinations.
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Hi fellow Sheila!
My mother, who is 61 years old, has always dreamed of going to Hawaii. This year, I would LOVE to treat her to a vacation. My mother is very simple (so am I) so she would mostly enjoy sightseeing, dining, shopping, and sun soaking. My mother has vacation time coming up from Oct. 31st to Nov 13th. Which island(s) do you suggest we visit? And which sights do you think we absolutely MUST visit? Thank you!
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sheila Reply:
October 5th, 2011 at 9:11 am
Aloha Sheila — Oh yes, it’s high time to make those dreams of visiting Hawaii come true!
Based on what you described what you like to do, I would recommend Maui and/or Oahu. If you’d be there for two weeks, you could easily do both islands. FYI – Island day trips are easy to do from Oahu. So, you might even consider taking a day island hop over to Kauai and the Big Island, too. You can either do that on your own or go with an organized tour.
Here are some of my “must do’s” for Maui and Oahu:
# Best Maui Vacation Activities
# Best Oahu Activities
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me and my wife leaves in NJ , we have 18 months twin baby. we can manage 7 day vacation sometime in NOV end to dec 2nd week.
do you think it will be cost effective and enjoyable to travel Hawaii with 18 months, what area will you suggest us to visit-we want to see active valcano and some good beachs. we may not able to hike lot. and our budget is also tight. can you suggest a plan and an idea of cost.
thanks for help
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sheila Reply:
October 26th, 2011 at 4:20 pm
Hmmmm…. traveling from NJ with 18 month old twins might be a challenge. Depending on where you go and connections, it can take about 12 to 15 hours in just flying and connecting time. If you’ve flown with your babies and know they do well, then maybe that’s no big deal.
Flights are quite expensive now, unfortunately. We recently purchased tickets to the Big Island for November and they were just under $1100 each. Ouch!
If you want to see the active volcano, you must go to the Big Island of Hawaii as it’s the only island with an active volcano. That being said, you need to be careful about bringing young children around volcanic fumes as they may be harmful.
Good beaches are on every island!
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Hi Sheila,
Whats the best way to travel between islands? Fly or boat?
I’m keen to visit Pearl and the big Island with my family.
(Wife and Teenage daughter.)
KR
Ian
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sheila Reply:
November 19th, 2011 at 9:03 am
Ian — to get from Oahu (where Pearl Harbor is) and the Big Island, you must fly. It’s a short 30-45 minute, inter-island flight. See this link for details on Hawaii’s inter-island travel.
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Hi Sheila. My husband and I are planning a vacation in the mid-February and are debating where to spend it. New York or Hawaii? We are leaning towards Hawaii due to the warmer weather. The question that we have is which part of Hawaii should we visit? As first time visitors, where would you recommend us to go? We would like to get the most of Hawaii from our trip. Also, is there scuba diving during February and what would you recommend to pack to wear? What would be a recommended budget for spending after airfare and hotel for comfortable and a good time?
Look forward to hearing from you!
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sheila Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 1:29 pm
Hi Liz — I’ll point you to some articles to help answer your questions:
- See this post on how to choose the best island for you: http://www.govisithawaii.com/2010/06/28/how-to-pick-the-best-hawaiian-islands-for-your-vacation/ If after reading that you’re not leaning towards a particular island, in my opinion, Maui is a great island for first time visitors. As a matter of fact, it was the first Hawaiian Island I visited.
- Since I’m not a diver, I can’t speak from experience. I do go snorkeling in Hawaii and have been snorkeling several times in Hawaii in January/February/March, so, assuming it’s safe enough to snorkel in these winter months, I’d imagine it’s safe enough to dive, too.
- Here’s what to wear/pack: http://www.govisithawaii.com/2007/07/23/what-to-pack-for-your-hawaii-vacation/
- Here’s a rough idea of what to budget for a Hawaii vacation: http://www.govisithawaii.com/2008/05/06/how-much-money-should-you-budget-for-a-hawaii-vacation/ There’s loads of excellent things to see and do throughout Hawaii that are free or nearly free to do. There’s also loads of great activities like taking a helicopter tour or going on a snorkeling excursion that are not cheap, so it’s really up to you on how much you want to do and spend.
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Hi me and my best friend have been wanting to take a trip this summer because we are graduating from college. We want to go to Waikiki but I really don’t know what the weather situation is. We want to go the last week of may/first week of June because that’s right when we get out of school. What’s the weather like and would it he better to go later in the summer like August?
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