Best time to visit Hawaii

+313
Hawaii

Best time of year to visit Hawaii

The periods from April to May and September to October are considered to be the best time to visit Hawaii—the islands are not that crowded, the weather is mild and the hotel rates are quite affordable. Spring brings stunning sunsets at Haleakala summit, Lahaina noon phenomenon, and perfect days for a beach vacation. Even though summertime in Hawaii is subjected to storms and lots of families with school kids, it is the best season for water activities like snorkelling, diving with sharks, sailing, and kayaking. Balmy early fall will treat you with exotic fruits and Kona coffee harvest. Yet non-crowded early November is a good time to go surfing, especially north of Oahu island. When the high but rainy season kicks in with first weeks of December, be ready to deal with tourist crowds and to pay a fortune for your stay. However, if you choose December to March for your trip, you should visit the overwhelming Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or go watch magnificent Humpback Whales. Some of the must-attend Hawaii events are Merrie Monarch Festival in April, Lantern Floating Ceremony in May, and Aloha Festivals in September.

29 THINGS TO DO IN HAWAII (MAY 16 - MAY 25)

Lahaina Noon

Lahaina Noon

late May | mid-July • nature

An interesting solar position can be observed in various locations

Beach Season

Beach Season

March–May (all year round) • activity

A time to enjoy the most exotic beaches of Hawaii!

Laniakea or Turtle Beach

Laniakea or Turtle Beach

March–November • nature

A day on the beach with turtles—this is a perfect retreat Hawaiian style

Turtle Town in Maui

Turtle Town in Maui

May–September • activity

A beautiful snorkel location with friendly Hawaiian sea turtles and a variety of colorful tropical fish

Hiking Mauna Kea

Hiking Mauna Kea

April–November • activity

Do you want to climb the world's highest mountain?

Ziplining

Ziplining

all year round • activity

America's first zipline appeared in Hawaii and the activity still remains one of the major attractions on the islands

Haleakala Sunrise and Sunset

Haleakala Sunrise and Sunset

March–May • nature

A magnificent sunrise and sunset at Haleakala summit among volcanic scenery will leave you breathless

Torch Lighting and Cliff Diving

Torch Lighting and Cliff Diving

all year round • activity

A romantic and touching experience on Maui Island, unique to Hawaii

Kayaking and Canoeing

Kayaking and Canoeing

April–October • activity

Explore the amazing islands and bays from the water

Diving with Sharks

Diving with Sharks

April–September • activity

An extreme Hawaii experience and a great photo opportunity

Luau Party

Luau Party

all year round • activity

A trip to Hawaii isn't complete without a traditional Hawaiian party

Hawaii Cruises

Hawaii Cruises

April–August • activity

Be prepared for adventures when cruising the Pacific

Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

May–September • activity

Explore picturesque lagoons, tunnels, reefs, and underwater canyons of the Hawaiian Islands​

Spring and Autumn Surf Season

Spring and Autumn Surf Season

March–May | September–November • activity

Spring season in Hawaii is a good time to enjoy waves and master your surfing skills

Green Sand Beach (Papakōlea)

Green Sand Beach (Papakōlea)

all year round • nature

Relax on the amazing sand of Mahana Bay, on one of the four green beaches in the world

Weeping Wall or Blue Hole

Weeping Wall or Blue Hole

all year round • nature

The waterfalls are so much like tears pouring down green cheeks of Mount Waialeale, one of the wettest spots on Earth

Plumeria Blossom

Plumeria Blossom

April–August • nature

Plumeria flowers have become a symbol of Hawaii. Don't miss their beautiful bloom season

Snorkeling

Snorkeling

April–October • activity

Hawaii is one of the best destinations on Earth for snorkeling. The underwater life here is simply fantastic​

Manta Ray Night Dive

Manta Ray Night Dive

year round (best time: May–September)  • activity

Did you miss the feeling of winning in a lottery? Swimming with these fantastic animals will give you one!

Stargazing

Stargazing

all year round (best from March to September) • nature

Hawaii features plenty of breathtaking spots, with the sky filled with trillions of stars

Jacaranda Tree Blooming

Jacaranda Tree Blooming

late April–mid-May • nature

A beautiful spectacle of Jacaranda trees blooming along the Haleakala slopes on Maui

Lychee

Lychee

May–June • food

Try this sweet and juicy fruit with a short harvesting season

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

March–November • nature

If you've ever longed for a tropical paradise, Hanauma Bay is the place of your dreams

Pineapple

Pineapple

March–July • food

A delicious fruit that grows in many backyards in Hawaii

Crater Rim Drive

Crater Rim Drive

all year round • activity

A stunning drive through Hawaii's Volcanoes National Park

Kukaniloko Birthing Stones

Kukaniloko Birthing Stones

April–October • nature

A Hawaiian Stonehenge on Oahu island

Kitesurfing and Windsurfing

Kitesurfing and Windsurfing

May–September • activity

A real Mecca for kitesurfers and windsurfers where surfing is a way of life

Yellowfin Tuna Fishing

Yellowfin Tuna Fishing

May–September • activity

Hawaii is one of the few places in the world where you can still catch a 50 kg yellowfin tuna

Surinam Cherry

Surinam Cherry

September–November | March–June • food

It doesn't look like a cherry at all, but the sour taste is somewhat close to one

42 THINGS TO DO OUT OF SELECTED DATE RANGE

Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii

Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii

out of rangeMay 27, 2024 • event

A touching Buddhist custom attracts thousands of participants in Honolulu

Merrie Monarch Festival

Merrie Monarch Festival

out of rangeMarch 31–April 6, 2024 • event

One of the most colorful cultural events in Hawaii held to honor King David Kalakaua

Billabong Pro Pipeline

Billabong Pro Pipeline

unconfirmedJanuary 29–February 10, 2024 • event

One of the most stunning and dangerous surfing competitions

Aloha Festivals

Aloha Festivals

out of rangeSeptember 9, 2023 • event

A dynamic celebration of Hawaiian culture and Aloha spirit

50th State Fair

50th State Fair

unconfirmedlate May–early July, 2024 • event

A beloved annual event offers plenty of local character

Okinawan Festival

Okinawan Festival

out of rangeAugust 31-September 1, 2024 • event

The largest ethnical event on the archipelago

4th of July

4th of July

out of rangeJuly 4 • event

Fireworks and celebrations all over Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island

Hawaii Food & Wine Festival

Hawaii Food & Wine Festival

out of range November 2–5, 2023 • event

Wash the scrumptious Hawaiian dishes down with some fine vibrant wine

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

out of rangeall year round (best in November–March) • activity

A unique opportunity to see a volcano at work!

Maui Film Festival

Maui Film Festival

out of rangeJune 28–July 2, 2023 • event

Watching a movie right on the beach under a starry tropical sky. Sounds like a great festival experience, rig​ht?

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year

out of rangeFebruary 3–25, 2024 • event

Street parties throughout the islands with lots of great food, fun activities, and amazing fireworks

Cherry Blossom

Cherry Blossom

out of rangemid-January–early March • nature

Japanese brought the cherry trees to Hawaii along with hanami tradition

May Day (Lei Day)

May Day (Lei Day)

out of rangeMay 1 • event

Lei is not just an accessory. This element of Hawaiian culture even has its own holiday

Kamehame​ha Day

Kamehame​ha Day

out of rangeJune 11 • event

Time to commemorate the birth of the legendary king who united the Hawaiian islands

Vans Triple Crown of Surfing

Vans Triple Crown of Surfing

out of rangeJanuary 3–23, 2023 • event

Hawaii's top surfing competition for the best surfers in the world. A spectacular show for visitors!

Great Pumpkin Festival

Great Pumpkin Festival

out of rangeOctober 21, 2023 • event

Don't miss this event if you want to feel the real American Halloween atmosphere

Ironman World Championship

Ironman World Championship

out of rangeOctober 26, 2024 • event

Try yourself in one of the world's toughest races and prove that you really are made of ​steel. Notice, it's by qualification only!

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day Weekend

out of rangeMay 25–27, 2024 • event

Flower shower, floating lanterns, and other events to commemorate fallen heroes

Honolulu Christmas Lights

Honolulu Christmas Lights

unconfirmedDecember–January • event

Christmas Lights is a beloved annual tradition in Honolulu

Skiing and Snowboarding Mauna Kea

Skiing and Snowboarding Mauna Kea

out of rangeFebruary–March • activity

It's not a joke. You really can ski and snowboard in Hawaii

Moloka'i Hoe

Moloka'i Hoe

out of rangeOctober 13, 2024 • event

A popular and authentic Polynesian sport of canoe racing with hundreds of ​teams participating

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve

out of rangeDecember 31 • event

Usher in the New Year in Hawaii with a festive vibe and some authentic bliss

Whale Watching

Whale Watching

out of rangemid-November–early May| best: January–March  • nature

A spectacular and moving show of whales with their calves cresting and breaching around your boat​​

Kona Coffee Harvest

Kona Coffee Harvest

out of rangeAugust–February • activity

Try one of the world's most famous coffees and participate in its harvesting by hand

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year

out of rangeFebruary 10-February 24, 2024 • event

Immerse yourself in vibrant street celebrations on Maui

Birdwatching

Birdwatching

out of rangeDecember–February • nature

Hawaii is home to a number of rare birds and a great number of seabirds

Kona Coffee Blossom or "Kona Snow"

Kona Coffee Blossom or "Kona Snow"

out of rangeFebruary–March • nature

Witness the unique "Kona snow" of Hawaii during the blooming period of coffee trees

Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku Stairs

Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku Stairs

out of rangeJune–October • activity

This staircase has nothing in common with a Japanese poetry genre

Apple Bananas

Apple Bananas

out of rangeJune–October • food

Forget your supermarket bananas. Taste Hawaiian apple bananas for the first time

Winter Surf Season

Winter Surf Season

out of rangeNovember–March • activity

Hawaii is a surfer's paradise, especially in winter when it becomes a dynamic global surfing hot spot

Pearl Harbor Day

Pearl Harbor Day

out of rangeDecember 7 • event

The historical site of Pearl Harbor on Oahu Island​, where the US was attacked by Japanese forces in 1941, has a lot to offer visitors

Halloween

Halloween

out of rangeOctober  • event

Don't miss out on fun fall activities when you are in Hawaii

Christmas Lights in Hawaii

Christmas Lights in Hawaii

out of rangelate November–early January • event

Every island deserves its own winter wonderland

Kona Surf Film Festival

Kona Surf Film Festival

overJune 1, 2019 • event

If you think that movies and surfing belong to different worlds, think twice and head to the Kona Surf Film Festival

Ka Moloka'i Makahiki Festival

Ka Moloka'i Makahiki Festival

on holdJanuary 24–26, 2020 • event

A great occasion to learn more about Hawaiian traditions and culture

Ohi'a'ai or Mo​untain Apples

Ohi'a'ai or Mo​untain Apples

out of rangeJune–October • food

Try these exotic Hawaiian fruits which are absolutely delicious

Ginger Bread Village

Ginger Bread Village

out of rangeDecember • event

A lovely Christmas tradition in a tropical paradise

Mango

Mango

out of rangeJune–October • food

There are over 60 varieties of mango in Hawaii

Soursop

Soursop

out of rangeJanuary–April | June–August | October–November • food

This strange looking fruit is great for smoothies

Honolulu Marathon

Honolulu Marathon

out of rangeDecember 10, 2023 • event

26.2 Miles in Paradise—this marathon has to be remembered

Avocado

Avocado

out of rangeSeptember–April • food

Even though avocado is not native to Hawaii, it's widely used in modern Hawaiian cuisine

Rambutan

Rambutan

out of rangeOctober–March • food

A colourful and hairy fruit very popular in Hawaii

Last updated: