The Worst Time to Visit Hawaii (the month I wouldn’t send my mother)
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The worst time to visit Hawaii is mid-December through New Year’s. It’s the most expensive stretch of the year, and the Christmas crowds stay into early January. In 2025, Hawaii hotels averaged $449 a night in December, 22% above the yearly average ($367) and 43% above September ($315), according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority. If you can only travel in summer, skip July.
As a former Maui and Oahu resident, friends ask me this all the time. Erica and I ran the numbers on cost, crowds, and weather, and they all point to the same few weeks. Here is the short version, then the detail by island.
| If you want to avoid… | Worst time | Why (latest data) |
|---|---|---|
| High prices | Mid-December to New Year’s | Highest hotel rates of 2025 on every island ($449 a night statewide) |
| Crowds | January | Most visitors on the islands on an average day in 2026 (261,290) |
| Rain | December to February | Middle of the October to April wet season |
| Hurricanes | August and September | Peak of the June 1 to November 30 season |
| Summer crowds and prices | July | Priciest month of January to A |
Now that we travel to Hawaii, we no longer live on Maui; we wish we could avoid the busy seasons of Christmas, spring break, and summer. And that is okay, because Christmas in Hawaii is magical with the traditions, and the weather is great in the summer.
So, identifying your pain point is key to figuring out the worst time to visit Hawaii.
Aloha! I’m Jordan,
Co-founder of The Hawai’i Vacation Guide with my wife Erica. After living on both Maui and Oʻahu, we’ve turned our passion for the islands into a resource that cuts through the tourist noise. We share genuine experiences—from snorkeling spots to hikes—and connect travelers with authentic Hawaiian culture and ‘āina (land). Our mission is simple: make your Hawaiian adventure both seamless and meaningful.
Thanks for joining us on the journey—aloha and happy travels!
When is the Worst Time to Visit Hawaii?
December is the worst month to visit Hawaii, and the two weeks around Christmas are the worst part. Hotels hit their yearly high, rental cars sell out, and flights fill up as families head for a warm Christmas.
Early December is the exception. The week after Thanksgiving through about December 15 is one of the year’s quietest, best-value windows. Arriving in late December is crazy; arriving in early December is brilliant.
If December is the only time you can go, go. Pick the right island (Oahu was the cheapest island in December 2025), book early, and read our Hawaii Christmas vacation guide.
The Worst Time to Visit Each Hawaiian Island
December is the worst month on Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. The Big Island is the exception, where January edges it out.
| Island | Worst month | Why | Better month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oahu | December | Hotels 17% above the island’s 2025 average ($331 vs $284) | May (quietest and cheapest of 2026 so far) |
| Maui | December | Highest hotel rates in the state ($689 a night in December 2025) | April or September |
| Kauai | December | Hotels $490 a night in December 2025; July brings its biggest crowds | September or October |
| Big Island | January | Busiest month of 2026 (41,286 visitors a day) and cooler, wetter weather | April or May |
My picks lean toward cost and weather. If crowds bother you most, read the crowds section below: January and July are your months to avoid.
The Worst Time to Visit Hawaii for Cost
December is the most expensive month to visit Hawaii. Every island had its highest hotel rates in December 2025.
| Island | December 2025 | 2025 average | December premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oahu | $331 | $284 | +17% |
| Kauai | $490 | $418 | +17% |
| Big Island | $596 | $440 | +35% |
| Maui | $689 | $535 | +29% |
| All islands | $449 | $367 | +22% |
Taxes add about 19% to every lodging bill, after the state transient accommodations tax rose to 11% on January 1, 2026. A $449 night is about $534 once taxes are in.
Vacation rentals follow the same pattern, though post-Thanksgiving deals pull December’s average down. Look for a cheap condo in early December.
Airfare. Flights over Christmas are the most expensive of the year. A round-trip flight from LAX to HNL from December 20 to January 2 is $867 on Alaska Airlines. Compare that to $337 on United, Delta, American, or Alaska on December 1 to 10. For comparison, nonstop LAX to Honolulu fares for late May 2027 averaged $532 round trip when we checked on October 15, 2026.
Rental cars. Rental companies run out of cars during holiday weeks. Book as soon as your flights are set, then rebook if the price drops. We use Discount Hawaii Car Rental because it doesn’t charge a cancellation fee.
Related read: How to Get a Cheap Ticket to Hawaii
Cheapest Time to Visit Hawaii
September is the cheapest month to visit Hawaii. In 2025, it had the lowest hotel rates on every island: $315 a night statewide and $259 on Oahu, 30% less than December.
So far in 2026, May has been the cheapest month: $345 a night statewide and $251 in Waikiki (January to August 2026, Hawaii Tourism Authority). It was also one of the year’s least crowded months.
Your island choice saves more than your month choice. In 2025, Oahu hotels averaged $284 a night, and Maui averaged $535. On a seven-night trip, that’s about $1,750 before tax, while moving from December to September saves about $940.
Related read: The Cheapest Hawaiian Island to Visit
The Worst Time to Visit Hawaii for Crowds
January is Hawaii’s most crowded month. In January 2026, an average day had 261,290 visitors on the islands, 34% more than in May and 39% more than in August (DBEDT).
The holiday crowd that lands in late December stays into January, and winter visitors take long trips. Maui (65,090 visitors a day) and the Big Island (41,286) both peaked in January 2026.
July is the busiest summer month. It had 881,256 arrivals in 2026, near the year’s high, and it is Kauai’s busiest month. Summer visitors take shorter trips, so beaches feel busy, but the islands hold fewer people on a given day than in January.
Oahu is the steadiest island. Its busiest month in 2026 was March, during spring break (126,779 visitors a day), and its quietest was May. If crowds worry you, avoid Waikiki in July and over Christmas.
Hawaii welcomed 9.64 million visitors in 2025, about the same as 2024 and still below 2019’s 10.4 million (DBEDT).
The Worst Time to Visit Hawaii for Weather
December through February has the worst weather in Hawaii, though “worst” here means more showers and highs in the upper 70s. The wet season runs from October to April, and December sits in the middle of it.
In my experience, it rarely rains all day. A storm may blow through for a day or two, then the sun is back. For the best odds, stay on the dry leeward side: Ka’anapali or Wailea on Maui, Ko Olina on Oahu, Po’ipu on Kauai, and the Kohala Coast on the Big Island.
The coolest months are January through March. Winter also brings big surf to the north shores, so swimming spots like Waimea Bay on Oahu are off-limits on big days.
If you do get stuck in the rain in Hawaii, explore our What to Do in Hawaii When it Rains for a full list of activities. Read our guide to Hawaii in the winter to learn what the season is really like.
The coolest temperatures are in January, February, and March across Hawaii. December is the start of a cool period.
But let’s be serious: we are still talking about the high 70s as the average. Born and raised in the Midwest, I’ll take any of those temperatures in December.
Hurricane Season in Hawaii
Hawaii’s hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, and the highest risk is in August and September. Direct hits are rare, but near misses can still close roads, parks, and resorts.
2026 was a bad year for tropical storms and hurricanes for Hawaii. It has made us rewrite our guidance on visiting Hawaii during hurricane season. Hurricanes Lala, Lowell, and Nolo all damaged the islands.
We left Oahu a couple of days early because Hurricane Lala was bringing high surf and winds. It ended up having a direct hit on the Big Island.
In September 2026, Hurricane Lowell passed just west of Niihau without making landfall, but it still knocked out power to about 90% of Kauai, flooded oceanfront homes and resorts in Po’ipu, and prompted Hawaii’s first tornado watch. Later that month, Hurricane Nolo flooded Highway 11 on the Big Island.
We still visit in the fall, and we still recommend it: September and October are some of the year’s cheapest, quietest weeks. If you book in hurricane season:
- Buy travel insurance that covers named storms before a storm is named.
- Book refundable hotels and rental cars where you can.
- Watch the Central Pacific Hurricane Center the week before you fly.
- If a storm is forecast, airlines and hotels usually issue change waivers. Check before you cancel.
Hawaii is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for many. Because this sun-and-sea destination can be expensive, you want to make sure your money is well spent.
Not the Worst Months to Visit Hawaii
The best months to visit Hawaii are the shoulder seasons: mid-April through May, and September through mid-November. You get lower prices, fewer people, and warm, mostly dry weather.
September is the cheapest month, and October is my favorite month to be in Hawaii. The summer heat has eased, the winter rain hasn’t arrived, and you can find a deal on a resort you’d never book at Christmas. If you’re going in September, plan around hurricane season with the steps above.
Winter has one big reason to go anyway: humpback whales. Whale season is December through March, and Maui is the best island to see them. See our Maui whale watching tours.
No matter which month you pick, you won’t regret Hawaii. Ready to plan? Our Wayfinder itineraries lay out every day for Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island.
The summer months are busy, but December follows closely. Since most visitors arrive from mid-December to New Year’s, expect higher visitor density in December during peak season.
Worst Time to Visit Hawaii FAQ
What is the worst month to visit Hawaii?
December, especially December 20 to January 2. In 2025, hotels averaged $449 a night statewide in December, the highest of any month, and the holiday crowds carry into January.
What is the most crowded month in Hawaii?
January. In January 2026, an average day had 261,290 visitors on the islands, about a third more than in May. July is the busiest summer month.
What is the cheapest month to visit Hawaii?
September. It had the lowest hotel rates on every island in 2025, $315 a night statewide. So far in 2026, May has been the cheapest ($345 statewide).
Is hurricane season a reason to avoid Hawaii?
Not on its own. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and direct hits are rare, even in hurricane season 2026. But Hurricane Lowell’s near miss in September 2026 closed Kauai state parks and some resorts for weeks, so book refundable stays from August to October
Is early December a good time to visit Hawaii?
Yes. The weeks after Thanksgiving and before mid-December are among the quietest and best-value of the year. Prices jump once Christmas week starts.
Have a great trip, whatever month you decide to visit!
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