Best time to go to Hawaii for a perfect weather and where to go?
Lucie Lhortolat and Tony Samson last update: 16/04/2024When is the best time to go to Hawaii?
If two seasons stand out, the Hawaiian archipelago is welcoming and pleasant all year round.
Some travelers may prefer to travel to Hawaii during the winter, from December to February. A winter that is not really a winter, as temperatures remain very pleasant but with more rain than in summer. It is also the best time for surfers. In fact, it is possible to attend the most prestigious surfing competitions, such as the Triple Crown of Surfing or the Eddie Aikau Memorial. However, these competitions only take place when the waves exceed 12 meters high (and sometimes are canceled)!
Summer, from May to October, is the right time to enjoy the sun and the beach in Hawaii! If you are wondering when to go to Hawaii to attend festivals, summer is certainly the season for you. If you go in June, do not miss the Molokaʻi Ka Hula Piko: a hula festival, the traditional Hawaiian dance. In August, ukulele fans will enjoy the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival. And in September, the Aloha Festivals, which take place on all islands, are certainly the culmination of all these summer festivities!
Finally, in July and August, underwater visibility is perfect, and with calmer seas than in winter, it is the right time to explore Hawaii's magnificent underwater world.
Where and when to go based on the weather?
Big Island
Hilo, Pahala, Captain Cook...
Kauaʻi
Niihau, Kekaha, Kilauea...
Maui
Molokai, Kahului, Hana...
O'ahu
Honolulu (Oahu), Waianae, La'ie...
To get all the information about the climate and weather in Hawaii for a specific month, click on the corresponding link below:
Hawaii in january Hawaii in february Hawaii in march Hawaii in april Hawaii in may Hawaii in june Hawaii in july Hawaii in august Hawaii in september Hawaii in october Hawaii in november Hawaii in december
Best time to travel to Hawaii by cities
Climate and Weather in Hawaii
Located in the Pacific Ocean off the United States, the archipelago of Hawaii enjoys a pleasant subtropical climate throughout the year.
There are two main seasons, summer and winter (with small temperature differences), and the weather is delightfully refreshed by the continuous presence of trade winds.
Hawaii's Summer Climate
Also known as "kau" in the archipelago, summer extends from May to early October in Hawaii. This is the hottest and sunniest season. The weather is particularly beautiful on the western coasts, such as in Honolulu or Kahului, on the island of Maui. Conversely, the coasts located in the northeast are much less sunny. Moreover, they experience regular showers during this period. However, be aware that summer is also hurricane season in Hawaii, although they remain rare.
Hawaii's Winter Climate
Known as "hooilo" in Hawaii, winter is the coolest and wettest season. Nevertheless, it's nothing like our winter: temperatures are cooler than in summer but generally do not drop below 20°C (68°F) .
The climate in Hawaii during this period, especially during the rainy season between November and January, is characterized by frequent and heavy rainfall. The weather is often cloudy, although the sun makes an appearance every day.
Finally, in winter, there may be some brief tropical storms.
Temperatures and rainfall in Hawaii
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Hawaii and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Honolulu (Oahu), Captain Cook, Hana, Hilo and Kahului, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Average price for flights to Hawaii
A return flight between Sydney and Honolulu (Oahu) is generally cheaper if you go in february ($ 662 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 354 more for your airline ticket to Honolulu (Oahu) if you go in december.
Where to go in Hawaii?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Honolulu (Oahu) | 77°F | 77°F | 77°F | 77°F | 79°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 83°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F |
| Captain Cook | 70°F | 70°F | 70°F | 72°F | 72°F | 74°F | 76°F | 76°F | 76°F | 76°F | 72°F | 72°F |
| Hana | 77°F | 77°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 79°F | 79°F | 81°F | 81°F | 81°F | 79°F | 79°F |
| Hilo | 74°F | 72°F | 72°F | 72°F | 72°F | 74°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 77°F | 76°F | 74°F |
| Kahului | 76°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 79°F | 81°F | 81°F | 81°F | 81°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| Kekaha | 76°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| Kilauea | 77°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| La'ie | 77°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 83°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| Molokai | 77°F | 77°F | 77°F | 77°F | 79°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F |
| Niihau | 76°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| Pahala | 70°F | 70°F | 70°F | 72°F | 72°F | 74°F | 76°F | 76°F | 76°F | 76°F | 72°F | 72°F |
| Waianae | 77°F | 77°F | 77°F | 79°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F |
| Kahoolawe | 76°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 79°F | 81°F | 81°F | 81°F | 81°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| Lanai | 79°F | 79°F | 79°F | 79°F | 81°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F | 81°F |
| Lihue | 77°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| 'Aiea | 77°F | 77°F | 77°F | 77°F | 79°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 83°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F |
| 'Ewa Beach | 77°F | 77°F | 77°F | 79°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F |
| Anahola | 77°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| Hale'iwa | 77°F | 77°F | 77°F | 79°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F |
| Hau'ula | 77°F | 76°F | 76°F | 77°F | 79°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 83°F | 79°F | 77°F |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
About Hawaii
What can I do in Hawaii?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Hawaii reliable?
Climate data for Hawaii has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Hawaii allows us to determine the average for each month in Honolulu (Oahu), Captain Cook, Hana, Hilo, Kahului, Kekaha, Kilauea, La'ie, and 37 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.