What's the best time to visit Hawaii?
The idea of visiting Hawaii conjures images of a lush, tropical oasis — pristine beaches lined with palm trees, verdant mountains, giant ferns and sweet-smelling flowers lining hiking trails, and tribal traditions that live on in thrilling fire knife and hula dancing.
Hawaii is breathtaking, biodiverse, and one of our favorite places to visit in the U.S. It’s amazing how the islands can feel romantic and secluded, lively and vibrant, or rugged and adventurous, all depending on how you spend your time and when you plan to go.
If you’re heading to the islands, the first thing to sort out is the best time to visit Hawaii. While the islands enjoy mild, warm weather year-round, the rainy season, crowds, and price fluctuations throughout the year make certain months better for a visit than others.
We’ll show you the overall best time to visit Hawaii along with the cheapest, least busy, and worst months to go. You’ll get to see average prices on flights and hotels, what to expect in terms of weather and crowds, and fun festivals and events that happen during each season.
This info will make it easy to pick out the perfect travel dates for your Hawaiian getaway so you can enjoy the best weather, cheapest prices, smallest crowds, or most lively periods when cultural and celebratory events happen back-to-back.
Take a look at the best time to visit Hawaii below!
Overall Best Time to Visit Hawaii
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The best time to visit Hawaii is June-August. These months see moderate crowds, warm, dry weather that’s perfect for hitting the beaches and hiking trails, and tons of fun festivals and events to check out while you’re in paradise.
By coming between June and August, you’ll avoid the peak season crowds from January to March, which are also some of the rainiest months of the year. Warm, dry conditions are the name of the game from June to August.
The weather across the Hawaiian islands doesn’t vary too much year-round, but the summer months are firmly in the dry season (April to October) and the best overall for a visit:
- June: 83-86°F; 2-5 rainy days
- July: 84-87°F; 2-6 rainy days
- August: 84-88°F; 3-5 rainy days
Visit one of Oahu’s postcard-worthy beaches to relax on the sand, swim, snorkel, and enjoy scenic views this time of year. Crescent-shaped Waikiki Beach in Honolulu has awesome views of Diamond Head State Monument (a volcanic crater nearby).
Lanikai Beach (Kailua, Oahu) is perfect for snorkeling with calm waters and tons of marine life, including sea turtles! You’ll enjoy views of the mountainous Mokulua Islands just offshore.
And if you’re traveling to Maui, the Big Island, or Kauai, you’ll find tons of tropical beaches where you can kick back and enjoy the sand, sun, and warm ocean water. Take a snorkeling tour, surfing lesson, or rent paddleboards to enjoy your beach day even more.
Between May and August, you can see a nightly fireworks show by the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Resort from Waikiki and Ala Moana Beach — spend the afternoon at the beach, watch a gorgeous sunset, then stick around to watch the dazzling display!
On the Big Island, check out the Legends of Hawaii Luau at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on a Friday night. After learning about the Hawaiian language and hula, you’ll see a traditional torch lighting, receive a lei, and enjoy a Hawaiian feast before the music, dancing, and fire knife dancing begins after sunset.
Be sure to do some exploring while the weather is phenomenal. On Oahu, places like the royal Iolani Palace and Valley of the Temples Memorial Park offer some non-beach activities. Hiking to Diamond Head State Monument in Honolulu is ideal with great views of the beach.
Analyzing data from Google Hotels and Skyscanner, we found that these months also offer moderate pricing on hotels and flights. That’s another reason they’re the best months to visit — you can save a ton without sacrificing hotel quality or shortening your trip:
- June: $307/night; flights from $108
- July: $344/night; flights from $117
- August: $342/night; flights from $128
While July and August aren’t the cheapest times to visit (we’ll cover that next), June is actually one of the lowest-priced months of the year. In all 3 summer months, you’ll find the prices much more affordable than the period from December to April, when prices reach their peak.
You’ll also have the benefit of attending some of the events and festivals that take place across the islands from June to August, like:
- Hawaii State Fair (late May-Jul) at Aloha Stadium in Halawa (Oahu) brings thrill rides, games, concerts, competitions, pageants, and cultural demonstrations to the biggest stadium in Hawaii on weekends from late May to early July
- Pan-Pacific Festival (early Jun) brings Japanese and Pacific Island culture to Honolulu with crafts, traditional foods, dancing, live music, cultural demonstrations, and vendor booths
- King Kamehameha Celebration (mid-Jun) happens on all Hawaiian islands with floral parades, lei draping ceremonies, and gatherings at royal palaces, parks, and community centers
- Hawaii State Farm Fair (Jul) showcases the agricultural history and future of Hawaii with fresh produce, livestock fairs, family contests, plant sales, live music, and food booths over 2 days at Kualoa Ranch in Honolulu County, Oahu
- Prince Lot Hula Festival (Jul) is an annual festival featuring talented Hālau Hula groups from all the islands together for performances and presentations with food and craft booths
- Haleiwa Arts Festival (Jul) features local artist and craft booths, live music, demonstrations of sculpting, painting, dance, photography, and more in Haleiwa on the North Shore of Oahu
With so much to do, perfect weather for beaches and exploring, and fair prices on flights and hotels, you can see why June, July, and August are truly the best months to visit Hawaii overall.
Cheapest Time to Visit Hawaii
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The cheapest time to visit Hawaii is between September and November. This is when hotel and airfare prices reach their lowest point of the year so you can score the trip of a lifetime on the cheap.
The weather is pretty nice between September and October. November is a bit cooler with highs in the low 80s, but it does see a little more rain than September and October:
- September: 84-88°F; 3-6 rainy days
- October: 83-86°F; 4-7 rainy days
- November: 81-84°F; 5-8 rainy days
While you won’t run into big crowds during September, October and November see tourism slowly ramping up leading up to the winter peak season. Both October and November are busy months and will require booking your hotel and flight further in advance.
Check out the black sand beaches at Maui’s Wainapanapa State Park if you want to feel like you’ve landed on another planet. It’s a cool contrast to the tropical white sand beaches you’ll see elsewhere on the island!
Visit the Big Island’s Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, where the hulking Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcanoes are located. Steam vents, the Thurston Lava Tube, and rugged trails that lead past craters are here. The Jaggar Museum is the perfect place to start your visit to learn about what you’ll see throughout the park.
If you’re up for a short but awe-inspiring hike that leads down through a canyon to a stunning waterfall, take the Canyon Trail in Waimea Canyon State Park on Kauai. You’ll move through the lush Waimea Canyon up to the cascading Waipo’o Falls for some great photos.
And just like the other months of the year, you can always rely on Hawaii’s stunning beaches to be a wonderfully peaceful retreat or lively action spot in fall (depending on where you go). Come in November if you want to do some whale watching from the shore or on a tour boat!
September to November is the cheapest time to visit Hawaii, but how cheap is it?
Since reaching Hawaii means flying in, you’ll need to factor airfare into the cost to determine how much you’ll spend during the cheapest months of the year. Here’s what we found in Google Hotels averages and Skyscanner data for these months:
- September: $294/night; flights from $107
- October: $306/night; flights from $107
- November: $306/night; flights from $180
September is the cheapest month to visit Hawaii overall with the lowest average hotel prices and chances to nab flights as low as $107 round trip. You might spend just $2,165 for a 7-day trip if you can score rock-bottom airfare this month.
June does rank as one of the cheapest months to visit, and it’s also one of the best in terms of weather, activities, and small crowds. So if fall travel dates don’t work for you, consider June. It’s actually a bit cheaper than November!
You’ll find tons of events going on during these affordable months, too. Look for festivals like these to add more fun stuff to your itinerary:
- Hawaii Okinawan Festival (Sept) honors the blending of Hawaiian and Japanese cultures with the motto “Sharing Uchinanchu Aloha” through food, music and dance performances, cultural exhibits, and vendor booths
- Aloha Festivals and Floral Parade (Sept) take place on all islands, but the biggest celebration is in Waikiki, Honolulu with a huge flower parade filled with floats adorned with blooms, traditional pa’u riding, hula dancing, and marching bands
- Hawaii International Film Festival (mid-Oct) celebrates and amplifies the efforts of Asian Pacific filmmakers with screenings, keynote speakers, conferences, and awards for different film categories in Honolulu
- Hawaii Book and Music Festival (early Oct) is a 2-day event bringing concerts, author signings, hula performances, storytellers, and keynote speakers along with food trucks and vendors at the University of Hawaii Manoa campus
- Ironman Triathlon World Championships (Oct) in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island is the biggest triathlon event of the year with the champion emerging from this final race
- Waikiki Fall Festival (Oct) brings fall fun to Kalakaua Avenue with 140+ vendors, street food, fresh fruit, live music, kid’s activities, and dance performances in Waikiki
- Hallowbaloo Music & Arts Festival (Oct) takes over Honolulu’s Chinatown with Halloween-themed events, like a costume contest, beer festival, street food, concerts, drag show, and vendor booths
- Hawaii Food and Wine Festival (Oct/Nov) happens in October on the Big Island and Maui with Oahu events scheduled for early November as chefs, food trucks, wineries, and local vintners offer their products to sample and purchase with live music
- Vans Triple Crown of Surfing (Nov) at beaches around Hawaii, like Waimea and Haleiwa brings the world’s most skilled surfers to compete on Hawaii’s epic waves for the Triple Crown Championship
You won’t find a better time to plan a trip to Hawaii on the cheap than September-November (and June, if you’re looking for summer travel dates). There will be a little rain, but not much, and warm weather with plenty of things to do!
Least Busy Time to Visit Hawaii
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April-May is the least busy time to visit Hawaii. After the peak winter season winds down in March, April and May see very few tourists flocking to the islands so you can enjoy a more relaxing, quiet getaway.
Since the rainy season wraps up around the end of March, you’ll arrive to drier, warmer conditions in April and May with balmy highs in the upper 70s and low 80s. These months are less crowded and really nice on all the islands:
- April: 79-82°F; 4-7 rainy days
- May: 81-84°F; 3-6 rainy days
In May, nightly fireworks on Waikiki Beach start up, courtesy of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Resort. You can set up on the shore after the sunset to watch the 10-minute fireworks show — the perfect way to end your night!
This is a great time to hike the Maha’Ulepu Heritage Trail on Kauai — it’s packed during peak season, but perfect when crowds die down. It’s 3.7 miles with amazing cliff and beach views. Start at Shipwreck Beach and you’ll end up at Punahoa Point.
Visit the Maui Ocean Center on Maalaea Bay to snorkel with stingrays and sharks, see the world’s biggest coral reef aquarium, and take guided tours of the lush and beautiful habitats where turtles, fish, and marine life thrive.
In Kona on the Big Island, visit the Kona Coffee Living History Farm in April or May. Kona is famous for growing some of the world’s best coffee beans, and this tour will show you how the mountainous island’s rich soil and climate play a role in growing potent Kona coffee.
During this mild season, drive Maui’s famous Road to Hana. It’s a 50-mile scenic drive that winds along the coast, through lush forests, and past waterfalls, secret beaches, and cool rock formations. Stop at Hana Town for a bite to eat!
Pricing is the only real con for visiting during the quieter months of April and May. While May’s prices are pretty affordable, April is the most expensive month of the year to visit Hawaii with very high flight prices and hotel prices that rival the peak season:
- April: $358/night; flights from $729
- May: $317/night; flights from $115
This pricing data is taken from Google Hotels, where we look at nightly rates at 2-5 star accommodations and average them by month to find a general pricing guide for hotels. Skyscanner data shows the cheapest available flight prices, so it’s possible your airfare could cost more.
In addition to the Hawaii State Fair (starts in May), here are some events you can check out while you’re in Hawaii during the least busy months of the year:
- I Love Kailua Town Party (late Apr) in downtown Kailua is an all-day affair with food and vendor booths, tropical plant sales, and live music and entertainment where all proceeds benefit the community
- Waikiki Spam Jam (late Apr) is a block party in Waikiki that celebrates all things Spam with unique and classic food offerings starring the canned meat with live music, vendor booths, and pop-up shops
- Lei Day Celebration (May) at the Kapi’olani Park Bandstand in early May features beautiful leis made with fresh flowers, a lei contest, and live music with a lei-laying ceremony at the Royal Mausoleum afterward
- Flores de Mayo & Filipino Fiesta (May) is a month-long festival highlighting Filipino culture and traditions by honoring the “Flowers of May” Catholic tradition and a Filipino festival with food, music, dancing, and clothing exhibits
- Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii (late May) honors Shinnyo Buddhist traditions from Japan with a massive lantern floating festival to honor the lives of lost loved ones
For quiet beaches and wide-open hotel availability, you can’t beat the warm, sunny months of April and May. If crowds aren’t a problem for you, wait until June for cheaper prices and drier weather.
Worst Time to Visit Hawaii
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December to March is the worst time to visit Hawaii. Crowds reach their peak, it’s the height of the rainy season across Hawaii, and finding hotels and flights can be a challenge as people scramble to escape the winter at home on these tropical islands.
It’s hard to sell the peak season to savvy travelers because there are several disadvantages. It’s cloudy, rainier, cooler, and more expensive to visit the islands between December and March.
- December: 79-81°F; 6-9 rainy days
- January: 78-81°F; 6-9 rainy days
- February: 78-81°F; 5-8 rainy days
- March: 78-81°F; 6-9 rainy days
Kauai is a few degrees cooler year-round, but it’s also the wettest island and sees the most rain (up to 5.2″ in January) between October and April. The Big Island sees a little more rain than Oahu and Maui (up to 3.7″ in March), so these are definite islands to avoid between December and March.
While January-March are the official peak season months, December doesn’t see quite as many travelers, but it’s still a very busy time for the islands. People enjoy coming to Hawaii around the holidays to avoid snow or cold conditions at home.
If you have to travel during these months, it won’t be bad — just busy and a bit wetter. December is a fitting time for history buffs to visit the Pearl Harbor National Memorial on Oahu (Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is on the 7th).
Two World War II museums, battleship wrecks on Battleship Row, and artifacts are here to explore along with the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. There’s a memorial parade you can attend that moves through Waikiki.
Humpback whale watching season runs from November to April, but conditions are best between January and March. Watch from the shore or take a whale watching boat tour (you’re sure to see dolphins, too).
The rainy season also makes plants and flowers ultra-lush this time of year. There are two incredible gardens on Kauai worth touring: McBryde Garden in Lawa’i Valley and Allerton Garden on the south shore.
Both are filled with aromatic flowers, plants, and trees along enchanted, shady paths. You’ll get to see the botanical gardens in top form with the help of the additional rainfall!
But prices are another consideration during the peak season months. Looking at data from Google Hotels and Skyscanner, we found that December to March are some of the most expensive months to visit Hawaii:
- December: $341/night; flights from $159
- January: $342/night; flights from $199
- February: $368/night; flights from $179
- March: $349/night; flights from $232
Only April is more expensive than these months, but you’re looking at higher airfare and hotel nightly rates from December to March due to increased demand from tourists during the peak season.
The Hawaiian islands host several festivals and events during the peak winter season, so if you do travel at this time of year, you’ll find plenty of things to do:
- Honolulu City Lights (Dec) kicks off in early December as Honolulu’s Christmas tree is lit up officially and lights and decorations around the city go up with special events like the Electric Light Parade and Christmas markets
- Honolulu Marathon (Dec) is the 4th-biggest marathon in the U.S. with no time limit and medals awarded with post-race treats from Ala Moana Boulevard in Honolulu
- Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade (Dec) is held annually on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, December 7, in Honolulu with marching bands, choirs, and special ceremonies honoring the lives lost beginning at Fort Derussey in Waikiki
- Ohana Festival (mid-Jan) celebrates the Japanese New Year in Honolulu with traditional Japanese food, demonstrations, New Year traditions, music, and vendor booths
- Sony Open (Jan) brings professional golfers on the PGA Tour to Honolulu for a leg of the FedEx Cup Series at the Waialae Country Club
- Honolulu Festival (Mar) features a big parade, food, Friendship Gala, craft fairs, and cultural demonstrations in Honolulu, Hawaii’s capital city, in early March
Overall, December to March isn’t a terrible time to visit Hawaii, but conditions are better in terms of weather, crowds, and prices during other months of the year.
Hawaii by Month: What to Expect
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Hawaii enjoys warm, tropical weather year-round, but the rainy season, fluctuations in prices and crowds, and seasonal events might make certain months more appealing for your visit. Here’s what you can expect in Hawaii month-to-month.
January
Peak season January sees highs in the upper 70s and low 80s with 6-9 rainy days. It’s one of the wettest months of the year and prices on hotels and flights rise to $342/night (average) and $199+ round trip. The Ohana Festival and Sony Open golf tournament take place this month, and it’s a good time for hiking with cooler temperatures.
February
February is also a peak travel month in Hawaii with highs between 78-81°F and 5-8 rainy days. With mild but sometimes wet conditions, it’s a good time for exploring historic sites and the bustling streets of Honolulu. Hotels average $368/night with flights starting at $179 round trip.
March
March marks the end of the peak season and is the last month of the rainy season in Hawaii. With highs between 78-81°F, it’s mild and cooler this month with 6-9 rainy days. Check out the Honolulu Festival with a big parade, street food, and vendor booths downtown this month.
April
April is one of the least busy months in Hawaii with fewer visitors post-peak season. Highs rise slightly to the 79-82°F range with 4-7 rainy days this month. Hotels cost about $358/night with flights starting at a hefty $729 (it’s the most expensive month to visit). The I Love Kailua Town Party and Waikiki Spam Jam happen at the end of the month.
May
Quiet May sees fewer visitors ahead of the summer season with warmer highs between 81°F and 84°F. Just 3-6 rainy days plague the islands this month as the dry season picks up steam. Events like the Lei Day Celebration, Filipino Fiesta, and Shinnyo Lantern Floating happen throughout the month with hotels around $317/night and flights starting at $115.
June
June is one of the best months to visit with moderate crowds, warm highs between 83°F and 86°F, and 2-5 rainy days. This is prime beach season, so spend some time on the shore or go snorkeling. The Pan-Pacific Festival and King Kamehameha Celebration take place early and mid-month. Hotels cost about $307/night with flights as low as $108.
July
Another of the best months to visit, summery July sees highs ranging from 84-87°F with 2-6 rainy days. It’s an action-packed month with the Hawaii State Farm Fair, Prince Lot Hula Festival, and Haleiwa Arts Festival happening. You’ll pay around $344/night for your hotel and upwards of $117 for a round trip flight.
August
August is one of the best months in Hawaii with warm highs up to 88°F and 3-5 rainy days. It’s hot for hiking, but beach days, sailing trips, and exploring eateries and shops in towns can be fun this month. You’ll find hotels averaging $342/night with round trip flights as low as $128 this month. Crowds are moderate in August.
September
Affordable September sees some of the lowest prices on hotels and flights in Hawaii with rooms averaging just $294/night and flights as low as $107 round trip. Highs are still warm between 84-88°F and rain is limited to 3-6 days. Check out the Hawaiian Okinawan Festival and Aloha Festivals and floral parades on each island.
October
October is another cheap month to visit Hawaii with hotels averaging just $306/night and flights starting at $107 round trip. The low prices tend to draw bigger crowds along with events this month, like the Hawaii International Film Festival, Hawaii Book and Music Festival, Hawaii Food and Wine Festival, and Ironman Triathlon World Championship on the Big Island.
November
The final month for cheap prices before the winter peak season hits, November hotels cost around $306/night on average with flights starting at $180. It’s a busy month, but very affordable with warm, mild weather between 81-84°F. Rain picks up a bit to 5-8 days this month and the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing competitions take place at Waimea and Haleiwa beaches.
December
Busy December kicks off the rainy winter peak season with big crowds, cool temperatures from 79-81°F, and 6-9 rainy days. Hotels bump rates to an average $341/night and flights start at $159 round trip. The Honolulu City Lights, Honolulu Marathon, and Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade are events to consider this month (all on Oahu).
Frequently Asked Questions
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Still have some lingering questions about pinpointing the best time to visit Hawaii? Take a look at other travelers’ most frequently asked questions below to learn more.
What month is the best month to go to Hawaii?
June is the best month to go to Hawaii because it boasts awesome beach weather with highs in the low-to-mid 80s, 2-5 days of rain, and some of the cheapest prices on hotels and airfare of the year. Crowds are moderate and events like the King Kamehameha Celebration and Pan-Pacific Festival take place in June.
What is the cheapest time to go to Hawaii?
Fall, from September to November, is the cheapest time to go to Hawaii. While June has similarly low prices on hotels and flights, this period sees the best overall prices of the year with hotels as low as $294/night on average and flights starting at $107 round trip.
What are the best and worst months to visit Hawaii?
June to August are the best months to visit Hawaii with warm, dry weather, lots of festivals and events, moderate crowds, and affordable prices. December to March are the worst months to visit Hawaii as the rainy peak season with big crowds, higher prices, and cooler, wetter weather.
What is the rainy season in Hawaii?
November/December to March is the rainy season in Hawaii. The islands of Kauai and Hawai’i (the Big Island) see the most rainfall during this period, especially in January and March. Humpback whale watching and surfing are at their best during the rainy season.
What is the hurricane season for Hawaii?
June to November is the hurricane season for Hawaii, but June, October, and November don’t typically see as much storm activity as July, August, and September. During this period, conditions are dry outside of storms but you should always check the forecast leading up to your trip.
So, What’s the Best Time to Visit Hawaii Overall?
The best time to visit Hawaii overall is from June to August. The summer months are part of the warm, dry season with ideal beach weather and tons of events happening. Prices and crowds are moderate during these months.
Wait for September, October, or November if you want the cheapest time to visit Hawaii. October and November are busy, but September is quiet and all months offer lower prices on hotels and flights to Hawaii.
From April to May, you’ll find the least busy conditions on all the Hawaiian islands with mild, warm weather that’s drying up after the rainy season. For months to avoid, December through March are the most crowded, wettest, and can be expensive.
Hawaii’s islands promise endless sandy shores for relaxation and launch points for adventures on the water, in the mountains, or deep in the forests where hidden waterfalls wait.
If you can perfectly time your visit for the best weather, prices, or smallest crowds, you’ll enjoy the most memorable trip to America’s own taste of paradise.