Best time to visit Hawaiʻi (seasons month by month)

Hawaiʻi is warm all year (highs in the low to high 80s °F), so the best time depends on crowds, prices and what you want to do. The sweet spots are late April through May and mid-September through October: dry weather, fewer people and lower rates. Winter (November to April) brings whales and big North Shore surf, and the holidays are the most expensive weeks of the year.

• Best overall: late April, May, and mid-September through October. May is often the top pick for weather, demand and rates.
• Busiest and priciest: Christmas through New Year's, Thanksgiving week, Presidents' Day weekend, spring break and Easter, and July (especially around the Fourth).
• Dry season: roughly May to October. Wet season: roughly October to April. Windward and mountain areas (Hilo, Hāna, the North Shore of Kauaʻi) are wetter all year than leeward resort coasts (Waikīkī, Kona, Wailea, Poʻipū).
• Whale season: humpbacks are around November through April, with the peak January through March.
• Surf: big, dangerous north-shore waves mostly December through February; summer calms the north shores, while south swells hit south-facing beaches.
• Hurricane season: June 1 to November 30, with the peak July to September. Storms rarely hit, but watch forecasts and consider travel insurance.
• Temperatures (average highs and lows): Honolulu about 81 to 89 °F and 67 to 76 °F; Hilo cooler and much rainier than Kona.
• Taxes: the state hotel room tax rose to 11% on Jan. 1, 2026, on top of general excise and county taxes.

Source: Hawaii-Guide: best time to visit Hawaiʻi (updated Oct. 27, 2026)

Last checked Oct. 30, 2026. Hours, fees and rules can change, so confirm with the official source before you go.