Best time to visit · North America
When to go to Hawaii
Hawaii is a year-round destination. The dry season (April–October) has the best weather; winter brings bigger waves and whale watching but also higher prices.
Best: April–OctoberPeak: December–March, June–August
Month-by-month
Jan
Good
19°–27°C · 90mm rain
Crowds high · Prices high
Crowds high · Prices high
Whale watching season
Feb
Good
19°–27°C · 75mm rain
Crowds high · Prices high
Crowds high · Prices high
Mar
Good
19°–27°C · 60mm rain
Crowds high · Prices high
Crowds high · Prices high
Last of whale season
Apr
Great
20°–28°C · 35mm rain
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Dry season begins
May
Great
21°–29°C · 25mm rain
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Jun
Great
22°–31°C · 10mm rain
Crowds high · Prices high
Crowds high · Prices high
Jul
Great
23°–31°C · 15mm rain
Crowds high · Prices high
Crowds high · Prices high
Aug
Great
23°–32°C · 15mm rain
Crowds high · Prices high
Crowds high · Prices high
Sep
Great
23°–31°C · 20mm rain
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Best value shoulder month
Oct
Great
22°–30°C · 45mm rain
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Nov
Good
21°–29°C · 75mm rain
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Crowds medium · Prices medium
Big wave surf season starts
Dec
Good
20°–27°C · 95mm rain
Crowds high · Prices high
Crowds high · Prices high
Holiday peak prices
Festivals worth timing your trip around
Apr
Merrie Monarch Festival
Hawaii’s premier hula competition in Hilo, celebrating Hawaiian culture.
Sep
Aloha Festivals
Statewide celebration of Hawaiian culture with parades and music.
Nov–Dec
Vans Triple Crown of Surfing
World-class surfing competition on Oahu’s North Shore.
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Common questions about Hawaii
- When is the best time to visit Hawaii?
- April–October. Hawaii is a year-round destination. The dry season (April–October) has the best weather; winter brings bigger waves and whale watching but also higher prices.
- When is the cheapest time to visit Hawaii?
- Shoulder-season months offer the best value; see the month-by-month grid above.
- What months should I avoid in Hawaii?
- There's no single "avoid" month — every season in Hawaii has something to offer.
- When is peak tourist season in Hawaii?
- December–March, June–August
See also the full Hawaii climate deep-dive with temperature heatmap and daily-rainfall breakdown.