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Best time to visit Honolulu

Month-by-month weather, crowds, prices, and festival calendar — so you know exactly when to book.

Best time to visit Honolulu, United States

Month-by-month breakdown of weather, crowds, prices, and seasonal highlights.

MonthScoreWeatherCrowdsPricesHighlights
January
20-26°C, pleasant with occasional rainhighhigh
  • Whale watching season begins
  • Mild temperatures
Post-holiday crowds can linger.
February
20-26°C, dry and sunnyhighhigh
  • Excellent whale watching
  • Ideal beach weather
February is often the driest month.
March
21-27°C, sunny with brief showersmoderatemoderate
  • End of whale watching season
  • Surfing competitions
Spring Break crowds may start late in the month.
April
21-27°C, sunny and warmlowlow
  • Post-Spring Break lull
  • Great for hiking and beach activities
Shoulder season offers good value.
May
22-28°C, warm and sunnylowlow
  • Ideal beach weather
  • Less crowded than summer
Transitioning into the warmer, wetter season.
June
23-29°C, sunny with passing showersmoderatemoderate
  • Start of summer surf season
  • Good for water sports
Humidity begins to increase.
July
24-30°C, warm and humid with showershighhigh
  • Peak summer vacation
  • Surfing conditions
Can be quite hot and humid.
August
24-30°C, warm and humidhighhigh
  • Summer vacation continues
  • Good for snorkeling
Hurricane season is active, though direct hits are rare.
September
23-29°C, sunny and warmmoderatemoderate
  • Post-summer lull
  • Still warm enough for beaches
Hurricane season is still active.
October
23-29°C, pleasant with occasional rainlowlow
  • Shoulder season value
  • Fewer crowds, good weather
Rainfall starts to increase slightly.
November
22-28°C, mild with increasing rainmoderatemoderate
  • Start of whale watching season (late Nov)
  • Less crowded than winter peak
Rainfall is more frequent.
December
20-26°C, mild with frequent showerspeakpeak
  • Holiday festivities
  • Start of prime whale watching
Peak holiday season means highest crowds and prices.

Annual events worth timing your trip around

March
Princess Kaiulani Festival

Celebrates the last princess of the Hawaiian Kingdom with cultural events.

March
Honolulu Festival

A large cultural festival showcasing Pacific Rim arts, hula, and music.

April
Merrie Monarch Festival

While technically in Hilo, many Oahu residents travel, and it's a major cultural event for all of Hawaii.

June
King Kamehameha Day Celebration

Parades and celebrations honoring Hawaii's last reigning monarch.

May
Lei Day

A statewide celebration of the lei, with competitions and cultural displays.

September
Aloha Festivals

Hawaii's largest cultural festival, featuring parades, music, and dance.

December
Honolulu Marathon

A major international marathon attracting thousands of runners.

Insider timing tips

  • The shoulder seasons of April-May and September-October offer the best balance of good weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices.
  • While hurricane season runs from June to November, the risk of a direct hit is statistically low; however, storms can cause increased rainfall and surf.
  • December and January are peak tourist months due to holidays and the start of whale watching, leading to significantly higher prices and crowds.
  • The dry season (December to March) is ideal for outdoor activities, but also coincides with the highest visitor numbers.
  • Hawaii's 'wet season' is more about increased frequency of brief showers, especially in the afternoons, rather than prolonged rain, particularly outside of mountain areas.

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