If you've heard that there's no bad time to visit Hawaii, you heard right. But really, let's get into it: What's the best time to visit Hawaii, really?
The Hawaiian Islands are incredible year-round, with warm temperatures and sunny beaches that make the state one of the most sought-after travel destinations for Americans and even many international tourists. But some months are rainier than others … and that varies from island to island. Crowds fluctuate throughout the year, too.
For instance, November will likely have the fewest crowds of any month in Hawaii … but it's also one of the rainiest months of the year. Want to go in June? Historical averages show there won't be much rain, but you'll be dealing with bigger crowds as families take their kids on trips after school is out.
There are a few different tradeoffs and other things to consider before you book your trip to Hawaii. Let's break it all down.
Read next: What is the Best Island to Visit in Hawaii? A Complete Guide
What's the Best Month to Visit Hawaii?
The Hawaiian Islands boast some of the most varied landscapes in the world, from tropical forests to lava deserts to snow-capped mountains to plunging oceanside cliffs and more.
That means that you could experience wildly different weather on the same day exploring just one island. Head to another island? The climate can be completely different. The temperature rarely drops below 60 degrees or gets above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. It rains all year in Hawaii, but there tends to be more rain in the winter months, peaking in December. Hurricane season in Hawaii runs from June through November, generally speaking.
Keep in mind that each island will vary slightly in both temperature and weather. Still, here's generally what you can expect in terms of weather and tourist activities each month in Hawaii.
January
January is one of the more popular months for tourists to visit Hawaii.
If you want to go in January, make sure to plan well in advance as resorts and hotels typically sell out. Not only is January popular with tourists but there are also annual PGA golf tournaments held in January on several islands.
January has an average high of 81 degrees and an average low of 64 degrees with three inches of precipitation over the month.
February
February is also a popular month to visit Hawaii.
It has an average high of 81 degrees and an average low of 66 degrees with 3 1/2 inches of precipitation over the month.
February is one of the rainier months of the year in Hawaii. It's also popular among travelers looking to flee gloomy, cold weather on the mainland.
March
Because of spring break, March is going to be a busy time to travel anywhere … and Hawaii is no exception.
March has an average high of 82 degrees and an average low of 68 degrees with 3 1/2 inches of precipitation over the month.
There are a handful of events that happen in March including the annual Honolulu Festival and the Kona Brewers Festival that can lead to some bigger crowds.
April
Tourist season starts to slow down in April – with the exception of Easter weekend.
The average high is 84 degrees and the average low is 70 degrees. The average precipitation drops in April to just 2 inches of rain over the course of the month, making it a great time to plan your trip to Hawaii.
May
May is the start of the dry season in Hawaii.
The average precipitation is just 1 1/2 inches of rain over the month. The temperatures are great, too, with an average high of 86 degrees and the average low of 70 degrees.
May is also one of the slower tourist months for Hawaii, meaning prices for hotels and resorts may be more reasonable.
June
Hawaii starts to heat up in June.
The average high in June is 88 degrees and the average low is 72 degrees. The average precipitation is under 1 3/4 inches of rain over the month.
On the flip side, tourist season starts ramping up again in June with families taking advantage of summer break.
There are plenty of events and festivals that take place in June on all of the different islands. Two of the main events are the Kapalua Wine & Food Festival in Maui and the King Kamehameha Celebration that is celebrated on all of the islands.
King Kamehameha Day, June 11, was created to honor the memory of Kamehameha the Great who united the Hawaiian Islands in 1810 and became Hawai‘i’s first King. The festivals celebrating Kamehameha features traditional Hawaiian dance, music, chant, practices, arts and crafts, and ‘ono (delicious) food
July
Rain starts to fall in Hawaii in July again.
The average high in July is 88 degrees and the average low is 73 degrees. But the average precipitation is over 2 1/4 inches of rain over the month.
The Prince Lot Hula Competition, put on by the Moanalua Gardens Foundation, takes place every year on the third weekend of July on the island of Oahu. Since 1970, the Moanalua Gardens Foundation has had the goal to preserve and protect the environmental and cultural resources of Hawaii.
August
Seeking the heat? August is usually the warmest month in Hawaii.
The average high is 90 degrees and the average low is 75 degrees. The average precipitation is just above 1 1/4 inches of rain over the month.
August sees some of the peak season traffic that June and July do, but it starts to drop off. It might be a good sweet spot to consider a summer trip, so long as you don't mind a little bit of heat!
September
With kids back in school, tourism in Hawaii starts to slow down a bit for a few months starting in September.
The average high temperature in September is 90 degrees in Hawaii, with the average low touching 73 degrees. The state averages about 2 1/2 inches of rain during the month of September, which is much lighter than the rainier months ahead as fall gets underway
October
October in Hawaii is a busy month with the Hawaii International Film Festival, the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival, the Kauai Chocolate and Coffee Festival, and the Eo E Emalani I Alakai Festival all typically taking place on their various islands.
The average high temperature on the Hawaiian Islands in October is 88 degrees, with the average low being 73 degrees.
But rainfall on the islands picks up, too, with an average of nearly 3 1/4 inches of rain throughout the month of October.
November
If you're hoping to visit the Annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival on the Big Island, you can expect good weather (as always) in Hawaii. November is, however, the rainiest month on the islands.
November rains in Hawaii total nearly 5 inches on average, making it one of the rainiest months on the island. The average high temperature in November is 84 and the average low is 72.
As a result, November is one of the best times to visit the islands if you want to avoid the crowds and take advantage of cheaper hotel rates. Just be sure to pack a raincoat.
December
To round out the year, December has an average high temperature of 82 degrees and an average low of 66 degrees, making for great running conditions for the Honolulu Marathon, which takes place that month every year.
December can also be quite rainy with an average of nearly 3 1/2 inches – and in some years, the islands will see considerably more December precipitation.
Mid-December to March is also the peak tourist season in Hawaii. It's still a great time to go to Hawaii to get away from the winter, but expect higher rates at hotels and resorts and more crowds.
Best Times to Go Whale Watching in Hawaii
Whale-watching is one of the most popular activities when visiting Hawaii.
If you're set on seeing whales, the best time to do so is from November through May. That's when the Pacific humpback whales return to the warm waters around the islands to breed, birth, and nurse their young.
You can watch for whales from the shores of almost any Hawaiian island, but one island stands out: Maui.
The Auau Channel between Maui, Molokai, and Lani is one of the prime spots for whale watching. There are numerous whale watching tour companies in Maui to choose from, many of which depart from Ma'alaea Harbor on Maui's western coast.
Surf's Up
Surfing was born in Hawaii, and it's incredibly popular today.
You can surf year-round in Hawaii. If you're looking for the biggest swells to test your skills, there are a few times of the year and locations that are better than others. Between November and February, the west and north shores of Oahu are where you'll find the biggest and most powerful waves.
Not a surfer? Take a lesson! You can find a small group or one on one surfing lessons on almost every island. Airbnb Experiences is a great place to find a local for a class.
If you don't want to get on a board yourself, Hawaii is also one of the best places to watch surfing.
The big wave season happens from November to February every year. You can watch surfers on any island but the big competitions happen on Oahu. The North Shore of Oahu is the place to be to watch the pros in world-renowned competitions.
Tips to Avoid Crowds
You can avoid packed resorts and crowded beaches by visiting Hawaii from mid-April to mid-June and September to mid-December.
Monthly visitor statistics from the Hawaii Tourism Authority clearly show that peak tourist season in Hawaii typically runs from mid-December through the end of March to the beginning of April. If you want to visit Hawaii during these months, expect hotels and resorts to sell out fast.
The second busiest time of the year is typically from mid-June to the end of August when many families with kids on summer break vacation.
The Cheapest Time to Visit Hawaii
Because mid-April to mid-June and September to mid-December are the slowest seasons for tourism in Hawaii, that's when you're most likely to score a deal.
Hotel and resort rates tend to be cheaper and so do tours. And because demand is down, you can also find cheaper flights to Hawaii during these months.
As for booking flights, there is no best day to book. But the cheapest flights to Hawaii are typically found in the fall and early winter, too.
No matter when you're looking to travel, use Google Flights to zero in on the best fares. You can use filters to see only the flights you want to book. You can even set Google Flights price alerts to track fares and book when prices drop.
Read our guide to save on lodging in Hawaii!
Bottom Line
There's truly no bad time to go to Hawaii. But there might just be a best time to visit Hawaii – at least for you. And there's no question some times are better than others.
You might want to avoid the wettest times of the year when the most rain falls, from November through February. And if you want the island to yourself, you might want to skip going from January through March and the peak summer travel season from June through August.
What is the location from the cover photo? Looks amazing!!
Hi Bethany, it is Na Pali coast, Kauai. Thanks for reading!
“Hawaii” consists of multiple separate islands with quite different weather patterns. Equally important, different parts of each island have quite different weather. The information in this article about number of visitors in different months is helpful and generally accurate, but the information about rain is misleading. On the Big Island of Hawaii (which is not Oahu) the western side has very little rainfall year-round. Hence, the resorts on this Kohala Coast can be visited any time of the year without weather concerns. The much less frequented eastern side of the island, where Volcanos National Park is located, is rainy pretty much all the time. April-May and October-November are great times to visit the Kohala Coast–lovely weather (as always) and no crowds (and definitely better prices, including for flights). Even then, however, plan to reserve the better restaurants for dinner.
Excellent Article ! Mahalo.