Best time to visit Hawaii
April to May and September to October. Month by month below, with the weather, what's on and what it costs to fly there from your city.
April to May and September to October
Sources most often name the shoulder months of April, May, September and October, with September the most common single pick.
- “The best time to visit Hawaii is during the shoulder season months: April, May, September, October, and November (before Thanksgiving).” thehawaiivacationguide.com
- “Instead, stick to shoulder months such as April, May, June and September to find great weather, lower prices and a better range of accommodation options.” the-independent.com
3 of the 8 travel guides we read name these months.
Hawaii month by month
Average high and low in Honolulu, and days with rain
JanuaryChecking fares…A bit cooler than the rest of the year, with large swells in the north and west and the North Shore surf competitions.Peak season for humpback whales; middle of the rainy season.One source rates January high for rain, crowds and lodging cost, calling it whale season.Sony Championship Hawaii
FebruaryChecking fares…Cooler, with a bit more rain and big waves; whale watching is big.Big wave surf season on the Oahu North Shore, and busier around Valentine's Day and Presidents Day weekend.Punahou Carnival
MarchChecking fares…Same temperatures as February but less rain; the Honolulu Festival takes place on Oahu.Spring break crowds arrive, with high rain, crowds and lodging cost.Merrie Monarch Festival · Honolulu Festival
Best timeAprilChecking fares…Waikiki Spam Jam and the Honolulu Brewers Festival happen on Oahu.Medium rain, crowds and cost; good value once spring break ends.Trade winds return, rain fades and crowds thin after spring break.The Hapalua · East Maui Taro Festival
Best timeMayChecking fares…May Day is Lei Day, celebrated across the islands, and the weather is quite sunny and dry.Low rain and low crowds; called a second favorite shoulder month.May Day lei competitions and hula performances run across the islands.Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii
JuneChecking fares…Dry and warm but school is out, so crowds and lodging cost rise.Honolulu's driest month on average.King Kamehameha Day · Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival, Maui Style
JulyChecking fares…Busiest month of the year with low rain.
Best timeSeptemberChecking fares…Named the best month: best weather, fewer people, best lodging prices and best ocean conditions.The Aloha Festivals are held each September.After Labor Day visitor numbers drop and hotel and flight rates dip.Aloha Festivals · Maui ʻUkulele Festival
Best timeOctoberChecking fares…Low rain, low crowds and low lodging cost, though surf can be bigger.Daily highs in the low to mid 80s F; marks the start of the winter rainy season and hurricane season.Ironman Triathlon on the Big Island in October pushes prices up.Ironman World Championship · Hawaii Food & Wine Festival
NovemberChecking fares…Medium rain and crowds; great before Thanksgiving, then crowds arrive.Early November offers some of the best prices with mostly summer-like weather.Triple Crown of Surfing · Hawaiian Airlines Made in Maui County Festival
DecemberChecking fares…Highest rain, crowds and cost, but worth it at Christmas.Wettest month in Honolulu on average.Honolulu Marathon · Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational
Weather: Honolulu averages from NOAA (1991 to 2020 averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.
Every date to Hawaii from your city
Live fares from your airport. Watch them and we alert you when they drop.
What's on in Hawaii
Festivals and seasons through the year
- Sony Championship Hawaii
- Punahou Carnival
- Merrie Monarch Festival
Honolulu Festival- The Hapalua
East Maui Taro Festival
Maui Onion Festival- Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii
- King Kamehameha Day
Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival, Maui Style
Duke Kahanamoku OceanFest- Aloha Festivals
Maui ʻUkulele Festival- Ironman World Championship
Hawaii Food & Wine Festival- Triple Crown of Surfing
Hawaiian Airlines Made in Maui County Festival
Hui Holidays- Honolulu Marathon
Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational
Busy, quiet and what to watch for
Busiest
- Summer and winterWinter for snowbirds and summer for families when school is out.
- Mid-December through early JanuaryFull hotels, expensive flights, traffic and long restaurant lines.
Quietest
- Spring and fallOff-season, when prices are lower.
- Mid-January, May, mid to late September, October, November and first half of DecemberUsually lower airfare and hotel prices.
Watch for
- June 1 to November 30Hurricane season matches the Atlantic one, but hurricanes rarely pose a direct threat.
- December to MarchKona lows bring heavier rain, especially on windward sides, and rough north shore seas.
- Major holidaysChristmas, New Year, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Thanksgiving are pricier.
Questions people ask
- What is the cheapest time to travel to Hawaii?
- Spring and fall are the off-season, when prices are lowest; avoid major holidays.
More about Hawaii
Best time to visit other places
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