Is There a Best Time to Visit the Big Island of Hawaii? Yes…and here’s when
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You’re ready to book a trip to the Big Island of Hawai’i. Congratulations, that’s an excellent choice and you’re about to have some amazing experiences. But narrowing down when to go can be a bit more difficult than opening your calendar and picking a week. We’ll help you narrow down the absolute best (and the absolute worst) time to visit the Big Island.
In our opinion, the best time to visit the Big Island is during a shoulder period month: April, May, September, or October. Not only will you enjoy fewer crowds, but you’ll also get to experience lower prices, great weather, and good ocean conditions.
But there is a little more to consider when picking the right month for your vacation:
Need some quick help for your trip? Check out our in-depth Big Island Guide for all of your trip planning information. Plus, grab our free island cheat sheets and check out our favorite tours & activities on the island.
The Big Island of Hawai’i Weather by Month
Let’s be honest: one of the big reasons you’re headed to Hawaii is for the weather. The Hawaiian islands are located in the tropics, so they enjoy a pretty temperate climate year round. Yes, you’ll be beach going and jumping in the pool nearly 365 days per year.
But some months are drier and sunnier than others. Let’s get into the data that will help you understand the weather on the Big Island of Hawaii.
The Big Island of Hawai’i Temperatures by Month
In the summer, the Big Island can get hot, especially if you’re on the Kona or Kohala coast side of the island. If you’re coming for the heat, you’ll be excited to know that the average high temperatures will get above 85 degrees in the summer, and it will feel sweltering on the Kohala coast if you’re out in the middle of one of the black lava fields. In the winter, that side of the island cools down, but just a bit, with average high temperatures above 80 for the entire year.
The windward side of the island (where Hilo is located) stays cooler and wetter all year long. The average high temperatures will dip down into the high 70’s at some points during the year. Combined with the additional rainfall and you’re looking at a cooler and wetter climate on that side of the island.
Not sure if you should stay in Hilo or Kona? Check out our Where to Stay on the Big Island guide.
The Big Island of Hawaii Rainfall by Month
Weather is one of the most important factors for most people as they decide when to head to Hawaii. You likely want sunshine and little rain, which can be tricky in the winter months. The chart below shows Hilo and the Kailua-Kona area rainfall month by month.
While the winter months get a little more rain and might be a little cooler, the weather in Kona stays pretty sunny and warm year-round. You’ll find even less rain on the Kohala Coast, but be prepared for some larger winter surf, making swimming and snorkeling even more dangerous and difficult at times.
As rain may happen during your trip during the wet season, explore our What to Do in Hawaii When it Rains for a list of rainy day activities in Hilo and Kailua-Kona.
What is the rainy season on the Big Island?
In Hawaii, there are two seasons: summer and winter. The rainy season on the Big Island is during the winter months, from November through April. During these months, you’ll experience significantly more rain than you will during the summer. But you can avoid a lot of the rain by sticking to the leeward side of the island (Kohala or Kailua-Kona).
Do the terms leeward and windward have you a little lost? We cover this (and more!) in our first timer’s guide to planning a trip to Hawaii.
Hawaii Ocean Temperatures by Month
One thing that we love about Hawaii is that you can swim comfortably in the ocean year-round. We personally, don’t use wetsuits, though we have utilized a wetsuit top on a long, all-day snorkeling trip. Ocean temperatures tracked by NOAA can range from around 76 degrees fahrenheit, up to 81 degrees in late summer, early fall.
The Big Island of Hawaii Hurricane Season
Hawaii hurricane season runs June 1 – November 30th. While hurricanes don’t occur or cause damage or destruction every year, it’s something to be aware of as you book your trip. Hurricanes causing destruction in Hawaii are rare. The last three hurricanes that have caused damage on Hawaii are: Hurricane Lane (2018), Hurricane Iniki (1992), and Hurricane Iwa (1982). The majority of the damage from Hurricane was on the Hilo side of the Big Island.
Even if a hurricane doesn’t cause destruction or harsh weather (many of them veer off the path of Hawaii), it can still be disruptive to your vacation. When you get a hurricane warning while on your trip, you can expect to have things disrupted for a few days until the threat passes. For example, if you have a boat trip planned, it will likely be canceled as they wait for storm warnings to pass.
Get The Big Island Itinerary
The step-by-step itinerary takes you to all the best beaches, snorkeling spots, restaurants, and sights. You’ll get six carefully planned excursion days to help you see the can’t miss stops no matter how limited your time is.
Get all the details on our itinerary and download it for a memorable and easily planned trip to Hawai’i (Big Island).
What is the Best Time to Visit the Big Island of Hawaii?
What is the best time to visit the Big Island for whale watching?
Each year, thousands of humpback whales migrate from Alaska to Hawaii to mate, birth, and feed their young. Though you can see the occasional whale as early as October or November, whale watching season in Hawaii runs from mid-December into April. But the peak months for the Big Island are January and February.
Each year, Sanctuary Ocean Count holds a whale count where volunteers count how many whale sightings occur during 15 minute intervals. The average number of whale sightings in January and February is higher on the Big Island of Hawaii than it is for March. So if you’re hoping to visit for some great whale watching, it’s best to plan your trip for January or February.
Learn more about whale watching in Hawaii:
Hawaii Whale Watching Guide: The Best Hawaiian Island For Whale Watching
This is the Best Time for Whale Watching in Hawaii (+ key tips)
What is the best time to visit the Big Island for Manta Ray night snorkeling?
Unlike whale watching, you can go manta ray night snorkeling any time of year. There is no “season” as far as seeing these beautiful creatures — they live in Hawaii year round.
That said, during the winter months the ocean conditions can be rougher so you’ll see a higher number of tours cancelled thanks to dangerous conditions. If you’re planning to visit during the winter months and you want to go manta ray night snorkeling, be sure to book your trip at the beginning of your visit so you can reschedule if it gets cancelled due to bad weather or bad ocean conditions.
We have some great resources to help you with your Manta Ray night snorkeling:
- Our full guide to Manta Ray night snorkeling (video included!)
- The best Manta Ray night snorkeling tours…we give you some very unique and special options
What is the best time to visit the Big Island for snorkeling?
If you’re excited to get to the Big Island for snorkeling, book your trip for the summer months. Visiting from May through September will give you a better chance of experiencing calm ocean conditions. You’ll find excellent snorkeling on the Kohala Coast, but winter swells can make snorkeling here very difficult and dangerous at times.
Check out our favorite snorkeling spots on the Big Island. And you won’t want to miss one of our all-time favorite snorkeling tours.
What is the best time to visit the Big Island for the cheapest costs?
For most people, the largest expense on vacation is lodging. Hotels and vacation rentals in Hawaii can be incredibly expensive, even when you can find good deals on rental cars and flights.
According to data from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, you’ll find the cheapest hotel rates in May, September, and October. These rates can be down as much as 33% less than the peak rates in December. So planning a trip in May, September, and October will save you a lot of money on your hotel accommodations, which you can put towards some amazing Big Island adventures!
Check our list for the best luxury hotels on the Big Island and see if you can snap up any good deals during the lower rate months.
What is the best time to visit the Big Island for the fewest crowds?
If you’re hoping to avoid the crowds, you’ll want to head to the Big Island during February, April, September, October, and November. The table below shows visitor arrivals by month for 2019. Why did we use 2019? It’s the most recent normal year for travel. We’ve also looked at the 2022 and 2021 data and 2021 was weird and 2022 looks in-line with what we saw in 2019 but we don’t have a full year of data for it (yet).
The data below is based on the comprehensive visitor statistics that are collected and published from the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
The Big Island experiences a peak number of visitors in March, June, July, and December, so skip those months if you want to avoid the crowds.
Why do we love traveling when there are fewer crowds? It’s easier to get into restaurants, book activities, and you’ll often find slightly better prices on rental cars and hotels/vacation rentals.
What is the best time to visit the Big Island for the best weather?
If you’re heading to the Big Island for the best weather — meaning sunshine and warm weather — stick to the summer months, or May through October. Especially on the Kona coast, or the leeward side of the island, you’ll have the best chance for sunny skies and warm temperatures that make you eager to get in the water as soon as you wake up.
What is the worst time to visit the Big Island of Hawaii?
The worst time to visit the Big Island is subjective. Are you trying to avoid crowds and high costs? December, specifically the time over Christmas and New Years is the worst time to visit because this is when the Big Island sees a surge in visitors as well as a surge in high prices. While there are good things about visiting Hawaii during Christmas, be prepared that there are downsides to visiting during this busy period as well.
Curious about the other islands? Is there a best time to visit…
Maui? Yes (and here’s why)
Oahu? The 4 Best Months
Kauai? (Yes…here’s when)
The Best Big Island Itinerary
If you’re looking to make your trip planning easy and enjoy yourself when you get to the Big Island, check out our done for you itinerary. This instant download gives you 6 excursion days that take you around the island to give you a tour of what makes this place so special.
We are going to Oahu, Maui, and Big Island over the course of 21 days, so I have loved your itineraries–seriously they are a must-have lifeline for planning a trip to Hawaii! I’m thankful for the opportunity to give a little back to your family through the itineraries and tour suggestions.
Kim S.
Get The Big Island Itinerary
The step-by-step itinerary takes you to all the best beaches, snorkeling spots, restaurants, and sights. You’ll get six carefully planned excursion days to help you see the can’t miss stops no matter how limited your time is.
Get all the details on our itinerary and download it for a memorable and easily planned trip to Hawai’i (Big Island).