Are you planning a vacation to the Hawaiian Islands this January? You’ve come to the right spot to find all the information you need to know to make the most of your vacation.
How’s the weather in January in the Hawaiian Islands?
Though January is a winter month, you’d never know it when you step off the plane. You can expect the average daytime high temperatures to be about 80°F (or around 26 to 27°C). Nighttime temps dip to the mid-60 degrees Fahrenheit, which is roughly around 18°C. As Kauai is the northernmost Hawaiian island, it tends to be a degree or two lower that Oahu, Maui and Hawaii’s Big Island. See our Hawaii weather guide for more details by island.
In terms of rain, January tends to be one of Hawaii’s wetter months. That might sound disappointing at first, but I can say from our experiences of traveling to Hawaii in January, rain rarely, if ever, affected our vacations. In fact, we’ve enjoyed plenty of sunny days in January and other winter months.
To “rain proof” your vacation, we recommend you choose an accommodation and prioritize your activities in the drier regions of the islands. Next, wear quick-drying clothes and shoes and carry or wear a breathable, waterproof rain jacket. You’ll be prepared in case you get caught in a rain shower.
There are some upsides to being in Hawaii during the rainier season. First, the waterfalls will have a steady flow. Second, if there is a shower, afterwards you have a chance to see one of Hawaii’s famous rainbows.
What do you need to pack for a January vacation in Hawaii?
Well, we’ve already mentioned how quick-drying clothes and shoes are important for exploring the beautiful Hawaiian Islands. What else do you need besides that, sunscreen, and swimsuits? You’ll want to pack for a warm, tropical environment. So, pack your favorite summer clothes. Just in case the weather feels “chilly” in the evenings, you might want to have a light sweater.
For many more recommendations on what to pack, see our Hawaii vacation packing guide. We cover more details about special items you’ll want to pack based on your activities and where you plan to sightsee. For example, if you want to go horseback riding, you’ll need to wear long pants and close-toe shoes. Another example is there are places that you might visit that are much colder than the beaches and you’ll want to pack warmer clothing for those environments. We cover those scenarios and much more in our comprehensive Hawaii vacation packing advice.
Hawaii ocean conditions in January
No matter what time of the year you visit the Hawaiian Islands, ocean safety is super important. It’s especially important in winter months as giant waves of 15-feet and higher roll onto the north-facing shorelines.
The height and power of these waves are truly incredible to behold and must be respected. Just keep to observing these huge swells from a safe distance. A great way to marvel at the big waves is by checking out a big wave surfing contest, for which the north shore of Oahu is famous. We’ve noted some event windows for January competitions in the event’s section of this article.
When the waves are high on the north shore, the water tends to be calmer on the south shorelines. In general, water sports like swimming and snorkeling can still be enjoyed in January where and when conditions are calm.
Experts advise swimming at beaches with lifeguards. For snorkeling, I recommend you choose an organized-tour company as they are more informed of the safer spots and tend to keep an eye out for their snorkelers’ safety.
Regarding ocean temperatures around the Hawaiian Islands, the months of January, February, March and April tend to be the “chilliest” at around 77°F (25°C). Wetsuits are not necessary for swimming in Hawaii, even in winter months.
Special events for a Hawaii vacation in January
After the December holidays, January tends to be the lightest month for some of the islands’ top cultural festivals. That being said, there are some ongoing street fairs and community events that include the local culture.
In January, Hawaii hosts interesting sporting events that are special to the islands. You’ll find golf, volleyball and surfing competitions.
Here are the special events that you may want to include in your January vacation plans:
Oahu
January 4-16 event window: Da Hui Backdoor Shootout at Banzai Pipeline, Ehukai Beach Park (Source)
January 12-18: Sony Open in Hawaii kicks of the PGA Tour’s 2026 season.
January 17-19: Transpacific Volleyball Championships
January 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a nationwide holiday. A parade is planned in Waikiki.
January 29 – February 9 event window: Pipe Pro surfing competition at Banzai Pipeline, Ehukai Beach Park (Source)
Kauai
For January, there aren’t any major festivals taking place on the island of Kauai. For a calendar of ongoing markets, craft fairs, etc., check out KauaiFestivals.com.
January 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a nationwide holiday.
Hawaii, the Big Island
At the time of writing, for January, there aren’t any major festivals planned for the Big Island.
January 18: The monthly Kokua Kailua Village Stroll
January 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a nationwide holiday.
TBD- Hawaii Wood Guild Exhibition for 2026
Maui
January 2: Wailuku First Friday is a monthly community event.
January 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a nationwide holiday.
January 24: The 24th Annual Buy Back the Beach
January’s Seasonal Highlights & Natural Occurrences in Hawaii
Humpback whale season
The peak of humpback whale season runs from January through March, which makes January a very exciting time for whale watching. As you gaze over the ocean, look for humpbacks coming to the surface to breath. Sometimes, if you’re lucky you can observe behaviors such as fin and fluke slapping and the ever exciting breach.
You can see whales from all the islands, but from our experience, we have seen more whales from Maui and the Big Island than Oahu or Kauai. Our anecdotal experience also correlates to whale count data.
Big Wave Season
We’ve already mentioned big wave season, but thought it would be worth mentioning again. These giant waves are awesome to see with the biggest ones reaching heights of more than 50 feet.
Snow
What? Snow in Hawaii? It’s true, the summits at or above 10,000 feet above sea level–like Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and sometimes Haleakala–get snow in the winter months. It’s pretty cool to see the snow-capped summits from the beaches.
Stargazing
Hawaii is one of the best places in the world for stargazing. Here’s what’s happening in the sky for January 2026:
- January 3 – Full moon
- January 3, 4 – Quadrantids Meteor Shower
- January 10 – Jupiter will be the most visible as it will be fully illuminated by the sun.
- January 18 – New Moon
What Hawaii tours and activities are not to be missed in January?
First, we make your vacation planning super easy with our tried-and-true Hawaii vacation itineraries. Those itineraries are designed to make sure you experience all the top highlights of each island, yet they can easily be customized to your interests.
Now, with January in mind, here are our suggestions for what to do especially for the month:
- With January being one of only three peak months for humpback whales, we highly recommend taking a snorkel, sunset, and/or whale watching tour to get a closer view of these majestic creatures. (Pro tip: during the peak of humpback whale season, just about any catamaran or boat tour practically doubles as a whale watching tour.) Our favorite islands for spotting humpbacks are Maui and Hawaii’s Big Island. For tours, some of our favorite tour companies are:
- On Maui, Maui Sailing Canoe is excellent. Read about our Maui Sailing Canoe experience.
- On the Big Island, we like Mauna Lani Sea Adventures and Ocean Sports.
- On Hawaii’s Big Island, Kilauea has been erupting in an incredible fashion with fountains of lava reaching heights of over 1,500 feet in the air. When these episodic eruptions happen, they generally last about 10 hours give or take, so you need to be pay attention to the Kilauea updates to have an idea of when the next episode is anticipated. The eruptions have been occuring in episodes with days or weeks pause in between.
- With the winter swells rolling to the north shores, January make s a great time to get a glimpse of them. Pay attention to the surf reports, which are usually given along with weather forecasts.
More information to help you make Hawaii vacation plans:
- Is this your first time visiting Hawaii? If so, check out our first-time visitor’s guide to the Hawaiian Islands.
- Don’t forget that reservations needed to access parks and other activities. Reservations are particularly important if you are visiting over a holiday, such as Martin Luther King Jr holiday weekend.
Sheila Beal
