The Best Time to Visit Hawaii
Hawaii is warm and swimmable every month of the year, so the real question is about crowds and cost, not weather. Here's every month rated for surf, whales, rain and price - so you dodge the holiday and summer spikes and pay less for the same sunshine.
When is the best time to visit Hawaii?
The best time to visit Hawaii is the shoulder months of April to May and September to early December, when the weather is warm and drier, prices dip and beaches are less crowded. Temperatures stay in the mid-20s to low-30s Celsius (75-85°F) year-round, so any month works; the main things that change are rainfall, north-shore surf and price. Avoid the mid-December to early-January holidays and the mid-June to August summer peak if you want the lowest prices.
Best time to go
April–May & September–early December
Cheapest time
April–May, September–early December
When to avoid
Mid-December–early January & mid-June–August (price)
Hawaii climate at a glance
Avg daytime high (°C / °F) · rainfall · season- 27°81°FJan
- 27°81°FFeb
- 28°82°FMar
- 28°82°FApr
- 29°84°FMay
- 30°86°FJun
- 31°88°FJul
- 31°88°FAug
- 31°88°FSep
- 30°86°FOct
- 28°82°FNov
- 27°81°FDec
Every month in Hawaii is rated for weather, crowds and price. Drag the slider to find your sweet spot - the greener the month, the better value the trip.
Cheapest window: April–May, September–early December
April: $$ · Moderate crowds · 21–28°C, drying out
Hawaii month by month
Every month rated for weather, crowds and price, so you can match the trip to the month.
| Month | Weather | Crowds | Price | What it's like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19–27°C, wetter | High early, then Moderate | $$$ | Crowds and prices stay high through the first days of January, then ease; big north-shore surf and whale season are in full swing. |
| Feb | 19–27°C, wetter | Moderate | $$ | Peak whale-watching month and reliable north-shore swells, with prices settling back after the holidays. |
| Mar | 20–28°C, wetter | Moderate to High | $$ | Warm and mostly fine, though US spring-break weeks can briefly push up crowds and prices. |
| Apr | 21–28°C, drying out | Moderate | $$ | The rains taper and the summer crowds haven't arrived - one of the best-value windows of the year. |
| May | 22–29°C, dry | Low to Moderate | $$ | Warm, dry and quiet before the summer rush; excellent value with calm, swimmable water on most coasts. |
| Jun | 23–30°C, dry | High | $$$ | Classic summer weather arrives and so do the families; prices climb as the school holidays begin mid-month. |
| Jul | 24–31°C, dry | Peak | $$$ | Hot, dry and busy - the height of the summer season, with the year's strongest demand alongside the holidays. |
| Aug | 24–31°C, dry | Peak | $$$ | Still hot, dry and crowded; south-shore surf peaks, but expect top prices and full beaches. |
| Sep | 24–31°C, dry | Low | $$ | The summer crowds vanish once school resumes, leaving warm, dry weather at some of the lowest prices of the year. |
| Oct | 23–30°C, warming rains | Low | $$ | Quiet and warm with occasional showers returning late month; strong value across islands. |
| Nov | 22–28°C, wetter | Low to Moderate | $$ | The wetter season begins and north-shore surf builds, but crowds stay light until the Thanksgiving week. |
| Dec | 20–27°C, wetter | Low then Peak | $$$ | Quiet and good value early on, then crowds and prices surge for the Christmas and New Year holidays from around mid-month. |
When to book Hawaii
Find the row that sounds like your trip.
| If you want | Months | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The best trip for the money | Feb and Mar | Rated good above without hitting the top price band, so you are not paying peak rates for the conditions. |
| Peak season anyway | Jul and Aug | Busiest and dearest. This is the window where booking early changes the price, not just what is left. |
- Free cancellation on most rooms
- No booking fee
- Prices on Trip.com
Time it right: Hawaii's seasonal highlights
Humpback whale season
December–AprilThousands of humpbacks migrate to Hawaiian waters; Maui's Auau Channel is a prime viewing spot, peaking around February.
North-shore big-wave surf
November–MarchWinter swells bring huge waves to Oahu's North Shore; the big-wave contest windows open when conditions allow.
Summer south-shore surf
May–SeptemberSummer swells shift to south-facing shores like Waikiki, giving gentler waves that suit beginner surfers.
Merrie Monarch Festival
Spring (week after Easter)Hilo's celebrated hula competition on the Big Island draws visitors; tickets and rooms are scarce that week.
Aloha Festivals
SeptemberStatewide cultural festival of music, hula and parades celebrating Hawaiian heritage, mostly on Oahu.
Best time to visit Hawaii: FAQ
The timing questions travelers ask most before booking.
Staying in Hawaii? Book the area before the hotel
Picking the month is half of the decision. The other half is the area, because that is what sets how far you walk and what a room costs in Hawaii. These go into the detail:
- Free cancellation on most rooms
- No booking fee
- Prices on Trip.com
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Photo credits (3)
Photos via Wikimedia Commons, used under their respective licences.
- Humpback whale season: National Marine Sanctuaries - Public domain · source
- North-shore big-wave surf: Jeff Rowley - CC BY 2.0 · source
- Summer south-shore surf: Diego Delso - CC BY-SA 3.0 · source