With tropical weather, maximum daylight, and plenty of adventures, the month of June makes an excellent time to visit the Hawaiian Islands. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your June vacation to the islands of Aloha.
What’s the weather like in Hawaii in June?
It’s summertime in the Northern Hemisphere and Hawaii will certainly feel very summery. June is not usually the warmest month of the year in the Hawaiian Islands. (August and September are the hottest months.) In June, expect that daytime temperatures will average in the mid-80s Fahrenheit (roughly 29° to 30°C). Nighttime lows typically dip to the lower 70s Fahrenheit (21-ish °C).
Combining heat with humidity levels that that tend to be in the 60-to-70% range, the air will feel tropical. The prevailing tradewinds flowing from the northeast, help to make the weather feel more pleasant.
Rainfall
If you’re hoping to avoid rain, June is your best bet. Historically speaking, June is the month with the least amount of rain in Hawaii.
More weather information
For more island-specific details about Hawaii weather, check out our guide to Hawaii weather’s patterns and forecasts.
What to pack for a Hawaii vacation in June
As we’ve mentioned, it’s summer with heat and humidity, so you’ll want to wear clothes that will help maximize your comfort. Based on our numerous trips the the Hawaiian Islands, here’s a cheatsheet of what works best:
Daytime wear
These are the types of clothing that we wear most often during the day in Hawaii:
- Swimsuits (Bring at least two suits per person.)
- 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 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.
Evening wear
For evening wear, you can leave the fancy clothes at home because Hawaii’s dress code is laid-back. Ladies might want to pack casual summer dresses or perhaps resort wear tops with nice shorts, skorts, and 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.
More packing recommendations
Though it’s summer, you should probably bring a light sweater or jacket, especially if you will be exploring higher elevations like Haleakala on Maui, Waimea Canyon on Kauai, the Pali Lookout on Oahu and Hawaii volcanoes National Park on Hawaii’s Big Island. (Pro Tip: You’ll likely want to wear a sweater or jacket on your flight to Hawaii anyway. So you won’t need to pack another one.)
For our expert packing tips from our many trips to Hawaii, see our Hawaii vacation packing guide. We provide many packing details that you might not have considered or be aware of.
Where to stay based on the warmer weather of June
You might be expecting location-based recommendation, but what we suggestion is actually much more simple than that. We highly recommend you stay in accommodations with air conditioning. With the heat and humidity being high, having a place to sleep with air conditioning is so much more pleasant.
From our experiences, most Hawaii hotels have air-conditioned rooms. We have stayed in two hotels — Hotel Molokai and Hana-Maui Resort — that didn’t have air conditioning. If we could have changed one thing about those stays, it would have been to have air conditioning.
If you are opting for a VRBO or other vacation rental, that’s where you have to be careful to check if your prospective vacation condo or villa has air conditioning. Most vacation accommodation search engines offer the ability to filter results based on amenities, including air conditioning.
Hawaii ocean conditions in June
Hawaii’s ocean conditions tend to be relatively calm in the summer months. With the calmer conditions, some adventures are more likely to take place. For example, only during the summer months can you take a kayak tour of the Na Pali Coastline or take a boat tour of the Na Pali Coast that departs from the North Shore.
No matter what time of the year you visit the Hawaiian Islands, you must respect the power of the ocean. It’s very, very important to know ocean safety. Experts advise swimming at Hawaii beaches that are monitored by lifeguards. For snorkeling, We 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.
Ocean temperatures are on the rise in June and not quite as chilly as the colder, but still swimmable winter and early spring months. For example, in Honolulu, the typical ocean temperature is 79°F in June. (Learn more about Hawaii ocean temperatures.) Just be prepared that when you step into the ocean after some time basking in the sun, the water temperature will feel very cold.
Natural occurrences in Hawaii in June
Hawaii is extraordinary all the time, even in June. Here are some interesting things specifically about June:
- By the summer equinox, daylight hours will be at the year’s maximum, which will provide you with extra long days of exploration and sightseeing.
- Jacaranda trees can still be in bloom, though their peak blooming season tends to be in April and May.
- Fragrant plumeria are in bloom. Their season typically runs from March through October.
- Rainbow shower trees usually begin blooming in June.
Hawaii night sky viewing in June
Hawaii is an outstanding place to stargaze! That is due to the limited light pollution. So, do take advantage of the opportunity to see the stars. Ideally, you’ll want the sky to be as moonless as possible to maximize star and planet visibility. June 14th will be the darkest night. Check for moonrise and moonset times here.
On June 15th, you can look for the planet Mercury low in the western sky just after sunset.
June festivals and special events in the Hawaiian Islands
There are several excellent cultural festivals and parades happening this June. King Kamehameha Day is a statewide holiday observed on June 11th, however celebrations are taking place on various days in June. If you can, try to catch one of the beautiful floral parades.
Oahu
June 11-13: King Kamehameha Day and Celebrations
June 12-14: The 43rd Pan-Pacific Festival
Hawaii, the Big Island
June 5-7: Hawaii Kuauli Pacific & Asia Cultural Festival
June 6: King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade and Ho’olaulea in Kona
June 11: King Kamehameha Celebrations in Kohala
June 14-20: Ka’u Coffee Festival
TBD – Pu’uhonua O Hanaunau National Historical Park’s 65th Annual Anniversary and Cultural Festival
Maui
June 20: King Kamehameha Commemorative Pa’u Parade and Ho’olaulea
June 25-28: Kapalua Wine & Food Festival
Kauai
June 6-7: Taste of Hawaii
June 13: King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade and Ho’olaulea
June 19-20: Kauai Poke Fest
June 20: Southside Music & Arts Festival
Is June a crowded month to visit Hawaii?
Hawaii typically experiences above average levels of visitor arrivals in the month of June. That is due to the start of summer vacation season for families with children out of school. As such, we recommend you pre-book park reservations, some activities, and dinner reservations. See these articles with advice on what you should consider pre-booking.
- Reservations needed for Oahu vacation
- Reservations needed for Maui vacation
- Reservations needed for Hawaii, Big Island vacation
- Reservations needed for a Kauai vacation
Final notes about visiting Hawaii in June
If you need suggestions for what to see and do on your Hawaii vacation, check out our Hawaii vacation itineraries which ensure you get to experience all the “must see and do” sights and activities.
We hope you enjoy your June visit to the beautiful Hawaiian Islands!
