When Is the Best Time to Visit Hawaii?

Throughout our 40 years of specializing in all-inclusive Hawaii travel, we have often been asked “when is the best time to travel to Hawaii?”. The short answer is “it’s always the best time to visit Hawaii!” However, there are differences in weather, prices, crowds and seasonal activities throughout the year that may affect when you consider it the best time to visit Hawaii. Stick around as we explore the various months, seasons and holidays that impact Hawaii travel.

Is the best time to travel to Hawaii determined by the weather?

My dad once described Hawaii’s weather as a “warm, eternal spring”. In my opinion, that is a perfect description. Hawaii’s weather  fluctuates only a few degrees in each direction from a median daily high of 82°. During summer, the high averages 85°, and during the “winter” months the average is 78°. The average low temperature throughout the year in Hawaii is 67°.

Water activities such as swimming, surfing, snorkeling and kayaking are comfortable year-round, and many water activities are featured in our all-inclusive Hawaii Packages.

Hawaii is blessed with gentle trade winds, which are the cooling breezes that come from the northeast, and work to keep the humidity at bay. Occasionally, trade winds slacken, and a warm, humid breeze comes from the south, known as Kona winds. Kona winds are predominantly responsible for “vog”, also known as volcanic smog. Much like rain, it is hard to predict, so it usually has no bearing on travel plans.

Clients often ask – is there a rainy season? Statistically, there is slightly more rain in the warm, winter months of mid-December to mid-April. Most rainfall occurs on the windward sides of the islands and in the mountain rainforests. The hotels and resorts we offer in our vacation packages are predominantly on the sunny, leeward sides of the islands. A silver lining of traveling between December and April is that rain makes everything extra green and lush, which may make this the best time to visit Hawaii!

If you are wondering about Hawaii’s hurricane season, it is the same as the Atlantic hurricane season, June 1 – November 30. Due to Hawaii’s geographic isolation, and other factors, hurricanes rarely pose a direct threat to the islands.

When is the best time to travel to Hawaii to get good deals?

Hawaii travel deals can be found year-round, but generally, the best time to travel to Hawaii is during the off-season.

Hawaii’s off-season:

• Mid-January
• May
• Mid to late September
• October*
• November*
• The first half of December

Travelers will usually find lower airfare & hotel prices during these times, and sometimes additional savings are offered to stimulate travel during traditionally slower travel months.

*If cost is your bottom line, you should avoid travel during major holidays, such as Christmas, New Year’s, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Thanksgiving. The Ironman Triathlon is held on the Big Island of Hawaii annually in October, and prices are also higher during this time.

Best Time to Visit Hawaii to Avoid Crowds

If you want to skip the crowds when you visit Hawaii, try to plan your travel during the off-season. Major holidays are a peak travel time for Hawaii, and in addition to being more expensive, it’s more crowded. Hawaii has more visitors when schools are out of session. While Hawaii isn’t a “party” spring break destination, there are more families traveling during spring break and summer vacation. If you are traveling with school-age children, aim for mid to late July and August dates.

Best Time for Seasonal Activities, Events & Holidays in Hawaii

Hawaii features a wide array of festivals, events and holiday celebrations throughout the year. If any of these are on your “must do list, then the best time to visit Hawaii would center these dates.  We have compiled a few highlights below.

Festivals

• Hawaii’s Spam Jam – This annual celebration of all things Spam is held in Waikiki the last week of April. Bustling Kalakaua Avenue is closed to motor vehicle traffic, and you can enjoy live entertainment, street vendors and an assortment of restaurant booths featuring Spam-centric menus. This may sound like a big fuss over tinned meat, however Hawaii consumes more Spam than any other state in the US!
• Merrie Monarch Festival – Taking place each spring in Hilo, the Merrie Monarch Festival showcases traditional Hawaiian culture. The highlight of the festival is a three-day hula competition of the best of the best in the world of hula dancing.
• Aloha Festivals – Held each September, this collection of festivals consist of parades, cultural events processions, demonstrations and more. A highlight is the Waikiki Ho‘olaule‘a, a street party stretching down the main strip in Waikiki featuring live entertainment, food, crafts, merchandise and lots of people watching!

Events

• Vans Triple Crown of Surfing – Oahu’s North Shore has been home to this annual surfing competition since 1983. The three surfing venues are Haleiwa, Sunset Beach and Pipeline. Waves can reach 50 feet in the winter, attracting international crowds to watch these incredible athletes take on Mother Nature. Winter months are the best time to visit Hawaii if you are interested in surfing.
• Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii Ceremony – This stunning ceremony takes place annually at Ala Moana Beach Park on Memorial Day. Honoring a remembrance of loved ones, visitors may purchase tickets to participate, or simply view the breathtaking spectacle.
• Halloween – This is not an event, per se, but Halloween night is a big deal in Hawaii! Thousands of revelers pack Waikiki’s Kalakaua Avenue, dressed in their wildest costumes. Although some shops and restaurants pass out candy, it is mainly a night to see and be seen. Prior to the devastating wildfires in Maui, Lahaina Town was also a favorite on Halloween. A keiki (children’s) parade would begin the evening, followed by throngs of partygoers celebrating the night away on the sidewalks and bars of Front Street.

Holidays

• St Patrick’s Day – When most people think of holiday celebrations in Hawaii, this quintessential Irish holiday usually isn’t one of them. However, there is a morning St. Patrick’s Day parade in Waikiki, and then the party shifts to Honolulu’s Chinatown, where Murphy’s Irish Pub and Bar hosts the largest St. Patrick’s Day Block Party in the Pacific.
• Lunar New Year – Celebrate the Lunar New Year in Honolulu’s historical Chinatown. This annual celebration features a lion dance, entertainment, vendors, cultural demonstrations and delicious food.

To sum it up, there is always a best time to visit Hawaii! Blessed with year-round beautiful weather, staggering natural beauty, fascinating cultural events and affordable prices, there is never not a good time to go to Hawaii.