Best time to visit Hawai'i Island

The best time to visit the Big Island of Hawaii (also known as Hawai'i Island) for a beach holiday is from mid-May to early-October.

However, Hawai'i Island is a year-round destination, with comfortable temperatures even in winter, although you can expect more rainfall.

The hottest months are July, August and September, when temperatures may reach a high of 33°C (91°F).

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Hawai'i Island weather

The Big Island of Hawaii experiences a tropical climate, with a hot season from July to October and a relatively cool season from December to April.

The trade winds, which blow from the north-east year-round, create microclimates, wet or dry, depending on exposure.

The leeward side – west and south coast – of the Big Island of Hawaii is usually hot and mainly dry, while the windward side – east and north coast – is generally cooler with year-round rainfall.

In Hilo, located on the windward side, May is the driest month with 180mm (7.3in) of rain, while the rainiest month is November, with 365mm (14.3 in). Higher elevations are cooler with occasional misty conditions.

Here are the average temperatures for Kailua-Kona, located on the warmer and drier leeward side of Hawai'i Island.

What is the best month to visit Hawai'i Island?
The months of June, July, August and September are best for a beach holiday, since these months are the sunniest and hottest.

However, anytime between May and November is good, when the temperature is high but still comfortable due to the cooling effects of the trade winds.

Hawai'i Island is a year-round destination, and even in winter, from December to March, when the temperatures are a bit cooler and rainfall is more frequent the weather is generally fine and sunny.

Which is the hottest month in Kailua-Kona?
The hottest month of year in Kailua-Kona is usually August. You can expect an average high daytime temperature of 30°C (86°F), with high heat and humidity, and a low of 24°C (75°F).

July through September are the hottest months of the year in Kailua-Kona. On the warmest days, the temperature may reach a high of 33°C (91°F).

The hot season in Kailua-Kona lasts from mid-July to mid-October, with an average daily high temperature above 30°C (86°F).

What is the humidity in Hawai'i Island?
Hawai'i Island experiences little seasonal variation in perceived humidity, with approximate average relative humidity calculated at 66% on average over the course of the year.

What do the humidity conditions feel like in Kailua-Kona?
We derive the humidity comfort level – what conditions feel like – from the dew point temperature, which measures moisture content in the atmosphere: a higher dew point feels more humid, while a lower dew point feels drier.

Meteorologists agree that dew point temperature is a more consistant indication of 'absolute humidity' than relative humidity, which fluctuates with temperature. 

The average annual dew point in Kailua-Kona is 18°C (64°F), and varies over the course of the year from comfortable at 16°C (61°F) to slightly humid at 20°C (68°F).   

The more humid time of year in Kailua-Kona is from mid-April through November, when you can expect the comfort level to be humid at least 42% of the time.

The month with the most humid days in Kailua-Kona is August, with an average of 26 days that are muggy or worse.

January through March are more comfortable, with around nine days in each month that may be humid.

Which is the coolest month in Kailua-Kona?
The coolest month in Kailua-Kona is January, with an average high of 27°C (80°F) and a low of 20°C (68°F).

The cooler season lasts from mid-December through March, with an average daily high temperature below 28°C (82°F).

When is it sunniest in Kailua-Kona?
The sunniest time of year in Kailua-Kona is August with nine hours of sunshine on average per day – that's around 70% of daylight hours.

For year-round sun, head to Kailua-Kona and the Kahalu'u Coast.

When is the sea warmest in Kailua-Kona?
The sea is usually at its warmest in Kailua-Kona in September when the water temperature reaches 27°C (80°F), which is pleasantly warm for swimming.

The sea around Kailua-Kona and the Kahalu'u Coast is warm enough for swimming year-round.

Which month has the most rain in Kailua-Kona?
March is usually the wettest month in Kailua-Kona, with an average 100mm (4in) of rainfall. There are usually nine days with some rainfall in March. 

The wet season in Kailua-Kona lasts from mid-November to late-April, with a greater than 23% chance of a given day being a wet day.

Rain falls throughout the year in Kailua-Kona. The drier season lasts from late-April to mid-November. The month with the least rainfall in Kailua-Kona is June, with an average rainfall of 27mm (1in).

What are the windiest months in Kailua-Kona?
The windiest month of the year in Kailua-Kona is December, with an average hourly wind speed of 11 kilometres per hour (6 knots; 7 mph).

The windiest time of the year in Kailua-Kona lasts from early-November to late-April, with average wind speeds of more than 9 kilometres per hour (5 knots; 7mph).

It's less windy from late-April through early-November. The calmest month of the year in Kailua-Kona is September, with an average hourly wind speed of 7 kilometres per hour (3 knots; 4 mph).

The predominant wind direction in Hawaii is from the east throughout the year.

Holiday seasons

High season: From mid-December through March or mid-April – expect to pay top dollar for accommodation, car rentals and airfares.

Low season: For the best rates, visit in spring from mid-April to mid-June and during autumn from September to mid-December.

Note: The last week in April and early May coincide with three major Japanese holidays.

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Source: Meteorological data for Hawai'i Island is based on weather statistics gathered for the 30-year period 1992 to 2021, and is sourced from the National Weather Service (NWS) at the closest weather station, Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA), located 12km (8mi) north of Kailua-Kona. Additional climate data is sourced from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.

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Latest update: Best time to visit Big Island, Hawaii: 28 April, 2024

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Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.

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