All you need to know for planning a Hawaii vacation for September 2026

September can be an excellent time to travel to Hawaii. With the possible exception of Labor Day weekend, visitor arrivals for the month of September are below average. When arrivals are low, that means lower airfares, better hotel pricing, and less crowds. Hawaii’s September weather tends to be quite summery. So, all in all, with low crowds, lower costs, and good weather make September a great choice for a Hawaii vacation. Now, let’s look into more of the details you should know for a September 2026 vacation to the beautiful Hawaiian Islands.

What are the typical weather conditions for a Hawaii in September?

At most beach resorts, the daytime temperatures average in the mid-to-upper 80°F (31°C). Nighttime feels warm, too, with lows only dipping into the 70s.

On average, September is one of the drier months to visit Hawaii. So, you should be able to enjoy plenty of sunshine.

There is one, weather “hitch” worth mentioning for a September trip to Hawaii. It’s hurricane season in the Pacific Ocean. The good news is that hurricanes and tropical storms rarely make landfall in Hawaii, though the wind and heavy rain can affect the islands. (See frequently asked questions about Hawaii hurricanes.) So far, 2026 has been a rather active season for tropical storms. In August, a Category 1 Hurricane Lala came within 100 miles of making landfall on the southern coast of Hawaii’s Big Island. Flooding in the remote district of Kau did cause damage and power outages. Recovery is still in progress.

Another weather-related point worth mentioning is that after the driest months of June, July, and August, waterfall flows tend to be on the skimpy side. However, for 2026, rainfall has been higher and therefore the waterfalls are flowing nicely.

Where to stay based on the weather of September

The good news for September is that it’s not in the rainy season, so you don’t need to worry about where you should stay to avoid rain. Though hurricanes are unusual, to be on the safe side, you might want to consider staying on the west side of the islands, as hurricanes predominately travel from east to west.

From our experience, we’ve found September and October to feel quite humid in the Hawaiian Islands. With both the heat and humidity, we highly recommend you stay in accommodations with air conditioning.

Most Hawaii hotels have air-conditioned rooms. We have stayed in two hotels — Hotel Molokai (before they added air conditioning to their garden-view rooms) and Hana-Maui Resort — that didn’t have air conditioning. If we could have changed one thing about those stays, we would have appreciated air conditioning.

If you are opting for a VRBO condo or other vacation rental, that’s where you have to be careful to check if your prospective vacation condo or villa has air conditioning. We’ve stayed in a couple of Hawaii vacation rentals without air conditioning and we really wished we had air conditioning. When searching for vacation rentals, look for filters that allow you to filter for rentals with air conditioning.

Ocean conditions around Hawaii in September

Ocean temperatures are at their warmest in September and October at approximately 81°F (27.2°C) in Honolulu. While the water might feel chilly when you first dip your toes in, these ocean temperatures will feel pleasant after you acclimate.

September is a transitional month where the ocean conditions might begin to shift from the calm summer conditions to bigger swells that come in winter months. Overall, September tends to be more calm that rough.

What to pack for a September vacation in Hawaii

As we’ve mentioned, the weather is hot and humid. We recommend that you pack clothes that will help maximize your comfort. Based on our numerous trips the the Hawaiian Islands, here’s a cheatsheet of what works best:

What to pack for daytime wear for beach or sightseeing

These are the types of clothing that we wear most often during the day in Hawaii:

- Swimsuits (Bring at least two suits per person so that you’ll have a dry suit to wear each day.)
- Swimsuit cover ups
- Rash guard shirts
- Quick-drying, moisture-wicking tops with sun protection (Hanes makes a very affordable performance shirt that we probably have a dozen of between us. It’s their Cool Dri tops. They’re quick-drying, moisture-wicking and they have built in UPF 40 sun protection. I have even used the women’s long-sleeve version as a rash guard.)
- Other shirts, like t-shirts – We recommend wearing light colors that don’t absorb the sun’s warmth as much to help keep you as cool as possible.
- Quick-drying, moisture-wicking shorts, skorts, and/or trousers depending on your activities
- Hat or visor
- Sunscreen (See our recommended sunscreens for a Hawaii vacation. Note that you should use a sunscreen that’s Hawaii 104 Act Compliant, meaning that it’s made without Octinoxate and Oxybenzone. Additionally note that Maui County has banned the sale of chemical sunscreens.)
- Lip balm with sunscreen (Our favorite mineral-based lip balm is this water-resistant Burt’s Bees SPF 30 that comes in three tropical flavors.)
- For daytime shoes, we recommend flip flops for the beach and pool and close-toe, performance sandals for hiking and sightseeing. See our guide to the essential shoes for a Hawaii vacation.

What to pack to wear for evening/ dinner in Hawaii

For evening wear, you can leave the fancy clothes at home because Hawaii’s dress code is casual. Ladies might want to pack summer dresses or perhaps resort-wear tops with nice shorts, skorts, or trousers. For men, we suggest you pack summery shirts, like polos or short-sleeve button downs, along with nice shorts. If you have clothing with “Hawaiian prints” they’ll be perfect to wear on your Hawaii vacation.

For more expert packing tips we’ve developed from our many trips to Hawaii, see our Hawaii vacation packing guide. We provide many more packing recommendations, including specialized shoes and gear to bring for tours.

Activities and adventures to include in a September visit to Hawaii?

With warmer ocean conditions and sunny weather, you can have your pick of great adventures. Check out our tried-and-true Hawaii vacation itineraries for all the best activities and sightseeing to enjoy.

With ocean conditions tending to be more calm than rough, September is one of the last months of the year for certain boating tours. On Kauai, those tours would be kayaking the Na Pali Coast or takinf a catamaran tour of the Na Pali Coast that departs from the North Shore. (Note that, conditions permitting, catamaran tours from Kauai’s south shore operate throughout the year.) On Maui, you’re more likely to be able to take a snorkel tour to Honolua Bay.

What special events and festivals are going on in Hawaii for September 2026?

To immerse yourself into Hawaii’s rich culture, consider attending a festival. Several great cultural festivals take place in September. Of particular note are the annual Festivals of Aloha that are held on most islands between September and October.

Aloha Festival Royal Court — Aloha Festival royal court presentation in Honolulu

Oahu Cultural Events in September 2026

September 2: Queen Lili’uokalani Birthday & Hawaii History Month Celebration

September 5, 19, 26: Aloha Festivals

September 5, 19, 20, 26, 27: Celebrations of the 51st anniversary of the Honolulu Community Garden Program at Foster Botanical Garden

September 12: Kalo & Awa Festival

Maui Cultural Events in September 2026

September 4, 11, 19: Festivals of Aloha events including Wailuku First Friday and Aloha Friday at Queen Ka’ahumanu Center, plus the Richard Ho’opi’i Leo Ki’eki’e Falsetto Contest.

September 5: La Ulu breadfruit festival

September 12: Kumai Ka Hula (Maui’s premier adult hula competition)

September 18-19: The 34th Annual Celebration of the Arts

September 19: The 24th Annual Richard Ho’opi’i Leo Ki’eki’e Falsetto Contest

Big Island of Hawaii Cultural Events in September 2026

September TBD: Annual Queen Lili’uokalani Festival is typically held on the first Saturday in September. For 2026, this event is to be determined.

September 9-10: The 40th Annual Kupuna Hula Festival

September 12: Kona Orchid Society’s Fall Orchid Show

September 14-19: Aloha Festivals Island of Hawaii Paniolo Festival

September 26-27: Hawaii Keiki Rodeo

Kauai Cultural Events in September 2026

September 6: The 17th Annual Kauai Marathon and Half Marathon

September 20-26: Mokihana Festival is a weeklong Hawaiian culture festival.

Stargazing and night sky viewing in Hawaii in September

Hawaii is an outstanding place to stargaze due to its limited light pollution. For September, here are some events taking place:

September 11: The darkest night of the month with the New Moon makes this evening the ideal night for stargazing.
September 26: This moon will be full on this evening.