If you’re going to Hawaii this October, you’ll likely want to get an idea of what sort of weather you can expect, what special events are taking place, etc. We’ve organized all those important vacation topics and even more helpful information into this one convenient spot.
Overall, October is an excellent month for a Hawaii vacation. While the weather in the rest of the Northern Hemisphere is cooling down, Hawaii continues to be an endless summer. Another advantage to visiting in October is that crowds and hotel rates tend to be lower than peak summer and holiday periods.
What’s the weather like in Hawaii in October?
When I think of October in Hawaii, I think of warm sunshine in a vibrant tropical environment. At the beach resorts, for daytime high temperatures, you can expect mid-to-upper 80°F (roughly 30°C). Evening temperatures only tend to dip into the lower 70s.
From our experience, Hawaii tends to feel a little more humid in October. So, lightweight and quick-drying clothes will feel most comfortable.
October is not typically known as a rainy month in Hawaii. Rainfall levels are generally low — especially when compared to the wetter, winter months.
Ocean temperatures are at their warmest in September and October at approximately 81°F (27.2°C). While the water might feel chilly when you first step in, these ocean temperatures will feel pleasant after you acclimate.
As we mentioned in our September 2025 guide to Hawaii, this time of year is hurricane season. Though, hurricanes rarely make landfall in Hawaii, if they pass near the Hawaiian Islands, they can cause high winds and heavy rain. That being said, we’ve visited Hawaii many times in October and not once did a hurricane affect our trip. If a hurricane is threatening Hawaii, many airlines and hotels tend to offer a bit more flexibility to cancel and/or reschedule vacation plans. So keep your eyes on the weather forecasts as your trip approaches.
For more weather details in October as well as the other months, see our Hawaii weather page.
What are the best vacation activities to include in an October visit to Hawaii?
With warm ocean conditions and sunny weather, you can have many great land and sea adventures. Check out our tried-and-true Hawaii vacation itineraries for all the best activities and sightseeing to enjoy.
- Oahu vacation itinerary
- Maui vacation itinerary
- Kauai vacation itinerary
- Hawaii (Big) Island vacation itinerary
October is a month when ocean conditions start to transition from calmer, summer conditions to the bigger swells of winter. As such, if you were considering a tour of the Na Pali Coast that departs from the North Shore or kayaking the Na Pali Coast, we recommend you make a back up plan as the conditions might not be safe enough. The tour companies will let you know if the forecast is safe or not.
As October is on the cusp of the winter big wave season, there can be days of higher surf. It’s always a good idea to check ocean conditions before you swim, dive or snorkel. For your safety, we recommend organized tours for snorkeling and diving.
What special events and festivals are happening October 2025 in Hawaii?
If you’d like to learn about Hawaiian culture or perhaps observe a sporting event, check out the following list of special events on tap for October 2025.
Oahu
- October 12: Molokai Hoe World Championship outrigger canoe race from Molokai to Oahu
- October 18, 19, 25, and 26: North Shore Menehune Surf Contest is a surfing contest for kids ages four to 12.
- October 30-31: Hawaii Food & Wine Festival events begin on Oahu
Maui
- October 2-5: Maui County Fair makes a return for the first time since 2019.
- October 18: Maui Steel Guitar Festival
- October 18-25: Festivals of Aloha events in Hana
- October 24-26: Festivals of Aloha events in Wailea
- October 24-26: Hawaii Food & Wine Festival events on Maui
- October 26: Festivals of Aloha events in Makawao
- 2025 Ukulele Festival TBD
Big Island of Hawaii
- October 4: Hawaii Island Festival of Birds
- October 4: Hamakua Sugar Days Festival
- October 11: IRONMAN World Championship (Note if you are visiting on this date, you would be wise to check for local road closures and plan accordingly.)
- October 17-18: Hawaii Food & Wine Festival events on Hawaii Island
- October 19: Slack Key Guitar Festival
- Aloha (Hawaiian) Shirt Festival 2025 TBD
Kauai
- October 19: Kauai Chocolate & Coffee Festival
Molokai
- October 10: Festivals of Aloha – Molokai Ho’olaule’a
- October 12: Molokai Hoe World Championship outrigger canoe race from Molokai to Oahu – October 13th
Are there any natural occurrences that happen in October?
Flowers bloom all year round in Hawaii, so, you’ll get to see loads of gorgeous tropical plants and flowers. You’ll definitely have opportunities to snap photos of hibiscus, ginger and fragrant plumeria.
Though humpback whale watching season doesn’t “officially” start for another couple of months, quite often, the first whales are spotted in October. If you go out for a snorkel or sunset catamaran cruise, keep your eyes peeled for humpback whales.
Though there’s no seasonality tied to volcanic activity, Kilauea continues to be in an interesting pattern of dramatic, fountaining eruptions followed by degassing “rest”. Since December 2024, there have been over 30 eruption episodes. If you are going to Hawaii’s Big Island, you might have an opportunity to see one of these eruptions. See the links on this page to help keep track of the volcano activity.
Notable night sky events in October
Hawaii is a tremendous place for stargazing. This October is shaping up to be a very good month in terms of night sky events.
October 7 – Full Moon – This October’s full moon will be a little more special. The Moon will be near its closest approach to the Earth and may appear larger and brighter than usual. Other names for this type of full moon are supermoon, blood moon and hunter’s moon.
October 7 – Draconids Meteor Shower peaks on the night of the 7th, though the full moon will likely hamper meteor visibility.
October 21 – New (no) Moon – The Moon will not be visible in the night sky, which makes this evening the ideal time for stargazing.
October 21-22 – Orionids Meteor Shower will peak on the night of October 21 and morning of October 22. This show also coincides with the New Moon, which creates a special opportunity for watching this meteor shower.
October 29 – After sunset, look for the planet Mercury low on the western sky.
More articles to help you have an amazing Hawaii vacation in October 2025 and beyond, too!
- What to pack for a Hawaii vacation
- Is this your first time visiting Hawaii? If so, check out our first-time visitor’s guide to the Hawaiian Islands.
- Don’t forget the reservations needed to access parks and other activities:
Sheila Beal
