What to know for a November 2025 Hawaii vacation

November is a great month to visit Hawaii. With below average visitor arrivals and occupancy, as a whole, November is an off-peak period. It’s actually one of the cheapest months to visit Hawaii. The brief exception is that Thanksgiving week/weekend tends to gets a little busy.

What’s Hawaii’s weather like in November?

The weather is always nice and summery in Hawaii without the big temperature swings that temperate regions (e.g., North America and Europe) experience on a seasonal basis. You can expect the average daytime high temperatures to be roughly 84°F (28.9°C) with nighttime temps only dipping to about 70°F (21.1°C). For more weather insights by island, see our Hawaii weather page.

While the amount of rain in November is above average compared to the drier summer months, I wouldn’t expect rain to have much of an impact on activities. There’s an interesting weather phenomena in that most of Hawaii’s rain falls overnight. The advantage you’ll gain from the typical uptick in rain is that the waterfalls should be flowing nicely and you might even catch one of Hawaii’s famous rainbows.

What should you pack for a Hawaii vacation in November?

Sunscreen, swimwear, shorts and t-shirts are must-haves on your Hawaii vacation anytime of year. For days of exploration like sightseeing or hiking, we recommend moisture-wicking and quick-drying clothing as you might work up a sweat and/or get caught out in a brief rain shower.

For evening attire, wear comfortable resort wear, like breezy fabrics with vibrant colors or prints. With the temperatures dipping to the low 70s at night, you might want a light sweater.

ProTip: We recommend bringing a sweater or jacket to wear on your flight to Hawaii. So, let this layer play double duty as your in-flight wear plus a layer you can use, if needed, at night.

For our tried-and-true packing tips from our many trips to Hawaii, see our Hawaii vacation packing guide. We provide many packing recommendations that you might not have considered based on your sightseeing plans and activities.

What are the ocean conditions in November in the Hawaiian Islands?

Ocean temperatures are warm enough to swim year round in Hawaii. In November, the ocean temps start to cool down a bit from their warmest in September and October, but remain above average at around 78° F (25.5°C).

In November, ocean conditions transition to the bigger swells of winter predominantly on the north-facing shores. These big waves bring in professional surfers who are amazing to watch. See this list of surfing competitions planned for the famous big wave beaches of Oahu’s North Shore.

The big waves are incredible to see and leave it at just that — seeing them. Let the pros do the surfing on the big swells. See more about ocean safety in Hawaii.

With big winter swells, I would not advise making plans for ocean sports in unsheltered spots of the north shorelines. When north-facing shores experience big waves, the south shores are generally calmer.

November’s natural occurrences in Hawaii

There are some wonderful natural occurrences that happen every November in Hawaii. First, the big winter swells start coming in as we just mentioned.

Another neat natural occurrence is that more humpback whales start arriving into the sheltered waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands. Though the official whale watching season doesn’t start until mid-to-late December, if you keep your eyes peeled, you might see humpback whale activity.

By November, most of North America and Europe would have experienced the bleakness from the first frost. But, in Hawaii, flowers are in bloom and plants are green and vibrant and absolutely lovely.

Last, but not least, the incredible episodic eruptions at Kilauea may continue. These jaw-dropping eruptions produce high-volume lava fountains that have reached heights of approximately 1,500 feet. Per the USGS, Episode 36 may happen between November 5-11, with November 6-9 being the most probable time frame. See our summary of Episode 35 along with our tips for trying to catch 36. If there’s a 37th episode, our best guess is that it might occur in another two weeks.

Notable sky events in November

With low light pollution, Hawaii is a tremendous place for stargazing. There are several noteworthy night sky events happening this November.

The full moon is November 5. This one is considered a “supermoon”. The moon will be near its closest approach to Earth and may appear slightly bigger and brighter than usual.
The Taurids Meteor Shower is a minor meteor shower that will peak on November 4 and 5. With the full moon, the meteors might not be as visible.
The Leonids Meteor Shower is an average shower that produces up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak takes place on November 17 and 18.
The new (i.e. no) moon is on November 20. This evening is ideal for stargazing.

November Cultural Festivals & Special Events

There are two national holidays in November — Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. Hawaii offers a nice setting for both.

For Veterans Day, November 11th, look for special events across the islands, but especially on Oahu. Additionally, some national parks and other attractions tend to offer free or discounted tickets for veterans on Veterans Day.

For the Thanksgiving holiday, November 27th, you can find many Thanksgiving-themed menus at Hawaii restaurants. You’ll likely find traditional Thanksgiving foods, such, but with a delicious Hawaii twist. As Waikiki is a popular destination for this holiday, we update this Waikiki Thanksgiving guide each year, which is a work in progress at the moment as most venues haven’t announced what they’re offering yet. That said, we’ve listed some excellent holiday kick-off events happening around Thanksgiving.

Beyond those two national holidays, there are some excellent festivals and special events that you might find interesting to include in your vacation itinerary. Here are some top events for November 2025.