Are you considering or planning a vacation to Hawaii in the month of March? You may be wondering what the weather like, what you should wear, and all the best activities to experience. We’ve got you covered in this very comprehensive guide of everything you need to know–plus, we share more helpful information that you didn’t even know that you need to know. 🙂 So, let’s dive into March in Hawaii!
How’s the weather in Hawaii in March?
Hawaii’s weather is warm and summery all year-round, even as the seasons transition from winter to spring. For the islands of Oahu, Maui and Hawaii (Big) Island, you can expect the daytime high temperatures in the lower 80s Fahrenheit (roughly 27°C). The northernmost Hawaiian island, Kauai, will likely have daytime highs in the upper 70s (roughly 25.5°C). Daytime weather will be perfect for wearing shorts and short-sleeve shirts.
Nighttime lows will dip to the mid-to-upper 60s Fahrenheit (19-ish °C). You may want to have a light sweater or jacket on hand in the evenings.
As far as rain goes, March tends to be one of Hawaii’s rainier months, but don’t panic, from our March visits to Hawaii, we’ve experience far more sun than rain. When we’ve traveled to Hawaii in other “rainy months”, we’ve very, very rarely had to adjust our outdoor plans due to rain.
Our advice is to keep a happy-go-lucky attitude and be prepared for rain by wearing quick-drying shoes and clothes. Bring or wear a breathable, waterproof, rain jacket and/or and umbrellas just in case you get caught out in a shower. For more information about this topic of rain, see our article: Will it rain during my Hawaii vacation?
The threat of rain may be off putting, I understand, but there are some great reasons that you want to experience at least a little bit of rain. First, rainfall is essential to make waterfalls have a solid flow. Next, Hawaii is always blooming with tropical flowers, thanks, in part to rain. Finally, a brief rain shower gives you an opportunity to see one of Hawaii’s famous rainbows.
For more weather details by island, check out our guide to Hawaii weather’s patterns and forecasts.
What clothes should you pack for a March vacation in Hawaii?
Hawaii tends to be warm and humid throughout the year. Overall, you’ll want to pack for summer-like weather. From our many visits to Hawaii, we’ve figured out the best types of clothes to pack. Here’s a quick overview:
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.)
- Rainproof, breathable jacket – for examples, for women, highly recommend this Columbia waterproof jacket, which is what I have. For men, this jacket by 33,000ft is a good, affordable option. For kids,  this SaphiRose waterproof rain jacket has a lot of great features and is reasonably priced. If you are wondering why you should bring a rainproof, breathable jacket, see our article: Where do you need a jacket or coat in Hawaii?
- 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.
We have many more suggestions for what to pack for a Hawaii vacation, with more specific recommendations based on your choice of activities. For our expert packing tips from our many trips to Hawaii, see our Hawaii vacation packing guide.
Where to stay in Hawaii in March
As mentioned above, March is one of Hawaii’s more precipitous months. Hopefully any rain that you experience will be brief and followed by one of Hawaii’s magnificent rainbows. On each island, there are microclimates with drier and wetter areas. For more details on choosing a drier spot for your stay, see our article: Where to Stay in Hawaii to Avoid Rain.
What are the typical ocean conditions in Hawaii in March?
No matter what time of the year you visit the Hawaiian Islands, you must respect the power of the ocean. Ocean safety is very important to know. 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.
With March being a transitional month from winter to spring, you might still see the big ocean swells of winter. Those swells bring huge (20-foot plus) waves that crash onto the north-facing shorelines of the Hawaiian Islands. The height and power of these giant waves are truly awesome to see. Just observe them only from a safe distance.
When the waves are high on the north shore, the water tends to be a bit calmer on the south shorelines. In general, water sports like swimming and snorkeling can still be enjoyed in March where and when conditions are calm.
With regards to ocean temperatures, you might be pleased to know that ocean temperatures are warm enough for swimming even in March.
Seasonal Highlights in Hawaii in March
It seems that there’s always a spectacular force of nature to enjoy in Hawaii. For the month of March, here are special seasonal highlights to observe as part of your island vacation.
Humpback Whales
March is one of the three peak months for humpback whale watching. You’ll definitely want to keep an eye out for these magnificent creatures to surface to breath or slap their flukes or fins. If you’re really lucky, you might observe an amazing breach.
You can watch for whale activity from the shorelines, but for a more up close view, we recommend a whale watching tour. Learn more about humpback whale season in Hawaii.
March moon phases and night sky events to catch in Hawaii
Hawaii is a wonderful place for stargazing. The summits of Haleakala on Maui and Mauna Kea on the Big Island are two of the top places in the world for observatories. Even if you can’t make it to those summits, you can still likely see more stars and planets in Hawaii due to the low-level of light pollution.
For optimal celestial viewing, aim to visit on or the days around the new moon, which means the moonless nights. For March 2027, the new moon will be on March 8. In contrast the full moon will be on March 22.
On March 17, you might have a chance to see Mercury as it will be at it’s greatest western elongation. Look for the planet above the horizon, low in the eastern sky just before sunrise. (Source SeaSky.org)
What Hawaii tours and activities are not to be missed in March?Â
First, we make your vacation super easy to plan 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.
If you’d prefer more of a cheat sheet instead of the full itineraries, then check out our top tours listed by Hawaiian island. Those are good ideas to build into your vacation.
Now, with March in mind, here are our suggestions for what to do especially for the month:
- With March 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. So, for example, a snorkeling tour might also double 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. For a bigger boat, we can also recommend Pride of Maui which offers these tours:
- Pride of Maui Elua Luxury snorkeling tour
- Pride of Maui Maxi Catamaran snorkeling tour
- Pride of Maui Elua luxury whale watching tour
- Pride of Maui sunset dinner cruise with Hawaiian hula
- On the Big Island, we like Mauna Lani Sea Adventures and Ocean Sports.
- On Maui, Maui Sailing Canoe is excellent. Read about our Maui Sailing Canoe experience. For a bigger boat, we can also recommend Pride of Maui which offers these tours:
- 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 eight to 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.
March Cultural Festivals & Special Events in Hawaii
Checking out a local festival can be a great way to learn and appreciate the local culture. Almost every festival in Hawaii is a blend of local music, food, dance, crafts and more.
For March, here are the top cultural events you might want to consider including in your vacation plans. Please note that many events dates and details will not be announced until closer to March. In the meantime, check out the links to get an idea of what might be repeated for March 2027. This page will be updated for 2027 events closer to March 2027.
Oahu
March TBD for 2027: The 17th Annual Kualoa Hakipu’u Canoe Festival
March 5-7:Â Honolulu Festival is one of the bigger, annual cultural festivals for the Island of Oahu. Note that this festival typically ends with a bang with a spectacular fireworks show from Waikiki Beach.
March TBD: Ilau Ka HulaÂ
March TBD: The Art of Hawaiian Pa’u
March 26: Â Prince Kuhio Day is a state holiday in Hawaii. Various events may be held on March 26 and/or the weekend prior or the weekend after. Check with the concierge at your accommodation for events that may be happening near you. Here are specific events that have been announced for this year:
-
- 2026 Prince Kuhio Parade on March TBD
Hawaii, the Big Island
March TBD: Laupahoehoe Music Festival
March 13: Kona Brewers Festival celebrates their 32nd anniversary in 2027.
March TBD: Hula Arts at Kilauea
March 26: Prince Kuhio Day is a state holiday in Hawaii. Various events may be held on March 26 and/or the weekend prior or the weekend after. Check with the concierge at your accommodation for events that may be happening near you.
Maui
March TBD: Wailuku First Friday
March 26: Prince Kuhio Day is a state holiday in Hawaii. Various events may be held on March 26 and/or the weekend prior or the weekend after. Check with the concierge at your accommodation for events that may be happening near you. Here are specific events that have been announced:
-
- Prince Kuhio Maui Ho’olaule’a on March TBD.
Kauai
March TBD: The 32nd Annual Ho’ike Hula Concert 2026 at the Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall
March 26: Prince Kuhio Day is a state holiday in Hawaii. Various events may be held on March 26 and/or the weekend prior or the weekend after. Check with the concierge at your accommodation for events that may be happening near you. Note that Kauai is the birthplace of Prince Kuhio.
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 are needed to access some of the top state parks and other activities. We highly recommend you understand where you’ll need reservations. Do yourself a favor and prepare for what reservations you should secure weeks or even months ahead of your vacation. March 2026 is not anticipated to be a particularly crowded time for a Hawaii vacation, however, we should note that family spring breaks may take place in late March.
