The Big Island in May: Affordable with Amazing Weather

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I find the Big Island to be the most underrated of the Hawaiian Islands, and I love taking my family to the Big Island in May. Shoulder season is my favorite time to travel!

Here’s why: visiting the Big Island in May has many upsides and few downsides. The Big Island is the second cheapest island to visit any time of the year, and in May, you can save a lot on accommodations. It’s one of the less crowded times to visit, and the weather isn’t too hot yet.

But here at the Hawaii Vacation Guide, we don’t just give you our opinions based on experience, we’re suckers for some data, so let’s dig into it!

You’ve picked a great time to visit the Big Island, so here are some planning resources for you to jump right into:
– Get a lay of the land using our Big Island Travel Guide and dig into the most important trip planning details.
– Find a great area or hotel by reading up on where to stay on the Big Island.
– Book a Manta Ray snorkeling tour, snorkel in Kealakekua Bay, and check out Kulaniapia Falls!

Erica’s Take on the Big Island in May:

I love visiting the Big Island all year, but I won’t pass up an opportunity to stretch my vacation budget further or get a better spot at the best beaches. I love a luxury resort, and saving on accommodations means I have more room to book the Mauna Lani or another Big Island luxury hotel.

Visiting the Big Island in May always feels a little more laid-back and less crowded. It’s a good time to visit Hilo and see famous waterfalls at their peak, or see fewer people in Volcanoes National Park.

Is May a Good Time to Go to the Big Island?

May is one of the best times to visit the Big Island! Costs are lower than average, the sun is shining (but not too hot), and the summer crowds haven’t arrived yet.

More so than other islands, the Big Island truly is a great year-round destination, at least as far as things to do are concerned.

None of the best activities, like manta ray snorkeling, coffee farm tours, or viewing Kilauea eruptions, are seasonal. See our 29 Incredible Things to Do on the Big Island for more ideas!

Sure, you can’t plan for a Kilauea eruption, but no time of year is exempt. You can check the USGS Kilauea Eruption Status. See our Tips for Hawaii’s National Parks before visiting Volcanoes National Park!

Plus, the resort areas don’t get hit with beach-closing swells very often, even in the peak winter months.

Next to being the second-cheapest island, you might think there’s no bad time to visit. But that’s where weather and crowds come in. During the summer, daytime temperatures hang out in the high 80s. Despite being the largest island in the archipelago, it can get pretty crowded, especially for Christmas.

Reasons to Go to the Big Island in May

Lower Costs: There’s a significant dip in accommodation costs in May before they go up for the busy summer season. Unless you’re really having to count your pocket change (in which case, we suggest Oahu), it’s on par with the more affordable months to visit the island.

Smaller Crowds: May is one of the less crowded months on the Big Island; in fact, last year it was the 5th least crowded month to visit.

Not Too Hot (Yet): The Big Island gets the hottest out of the four major islands, and it’s home to 8 of the 13 major climate zones, so weather matters more here.

Reasons Not to Go to the Big Island in May

Not the Cheapest/Least Crowded Month: If we’re going to get technical, sure, you could pinch a few more pennies or encounter fewer visitors, but we’re really splitting hairs with the numbers at that point. Jump down to the crowd and cost data to see what I mean.

Pro Tip: 9 Steps to Plan a Hawaii Vacation on a Budget

Is the Big Island in May Nice? Weather Data

May is the beginning of Hawaii’s summer season and is about as close to spring as you’ll get on the islands. However, the Big Island sees much more variability in weather than the other islands do.

Kailua-Kona is very dry throughout the year, but it’s almost a guarantee that you’ll get rain when you visit Hilo. Rain in Hilo isn’t a bad thing as they are tropical rains. Don’t let the rainforest climate scare you away from Hilo. The area is home to most of the waterfalls on the Big Island. You can even do a guided tour of Hilo’s waterfalls!

Is the Big Island in May Rainy?

This question has two answers because Hilo is rainy year-round (4-15 inches of rain monthly), but the Kona and Kohala coasts are dry (less than 1.5 inches of rain in a given month). The Kohala Coast is very dry with about 10 inches of rain a year. Hence, all the luxury resorts and good snorkel spots are up there.

So, the Big Island is rainy in May in Hilo, but it’s dry in West Hawaii.

It’s pretty amusing to research the wettest places in the US because there should be a straightforward answer, ranked by inches per year. But for some reason, you’ll get three results:

1. Only the continental US is considered, and Hawaii’s not mentioned at all (the forgotten 50th state)
2. Some say Mount Waialeale on Kauai (correct!)
3. Others say Hilo (okay, so it’s the wettest city/town)

Of course, it changes from year to year, but Hilo receives an average of 125 inches of rain annually. Hilo’s record was set in 1990 with a whopping 211.22 inches, and just in 2018, it saw 176.44 inches. This is a striking difference from Kailua-Kona’s annual rainfall, coming in at just 10.5 inches total.

In May, you can expect about an inch of rain in Kailua-Kona and around 7-8 inches in Hilo.

I know you’re still wondering about good ol’ Mount Waialeale on Kauai, which averages more than 375 inches per year, with a record of 683 inches of rain in 1982. Now that you know how much a lot of rain is, it’s laughable that some blogs list places that receive only 35-45 inches of rain annually.

There is a reason we talk about the north and south or east and west shores as being so different: tradewinds. Tradewinds come from the northeast, bringing rain to that area of the island first, which we call the windward side. Much of it dissipates as it passes over land and gets blocked by mountains and volcanoes, leaving the southwest side of the island drier, which is known as the leeward side.

The most popular resort areas on the islands are on the leeward sides. For the Big Island, these are the Kona Coast and the Kohala Coast.

How Warm Is It on the Big Island in May?

May is not the hottest month on the Big Island, but you will get temperatures in the mid- to high-80s during the day. It’s possible to have a few days that are uncomfortably warm in May, but it’s still early for the peak heatwaves. If temperature is a big consideration for you, the chart below can help you find a suitable time to visit the Big Island.

The Koahala Coast is just slightly warmer than Kona, so this chart gives a good representation of what you can expect in the major resort areas on the island. Daytime temperatures (green line above) average around 84°F in May, with a maximum temperature of 88°F, and overnight temperatures get no lower than 70°F.

Can You Swim in the Big Island in May?

You most certainly can swim around the Big Island in May, and quite comfortably at that! We’ll dig into ocean conditions in the next section, but we have some great resources for our Big Island water lovers out there:

• 11 Best Big Island Beaches You Need to Visit (+ map!)
• 5 Best Big Island Snorkeling Spots (plus how to swim with manta rays)
• 5 Best Big Island Beginner Snorkeling Spots You Shouldn’t Miss

The Big Island wins the seat for the best summer snorkeling compared to the other islands (Kauai wins for May), but we have to get pretty picky to identify a bad time to snorkel around the Big Island. Check out manta ray night snorkeling as well as Kealakekua Bay (Captain Cook) snorkeling tours.

What Are the Ocean Conditions Like in May?

May is the start of Hawaii’s summer season, marking the retreat of large winter swells and making beaches even more enjoyable. The Big Island’s resort areas infrequently get hit with conditions that warrant beach closures, and May should bring calm waters and great opportunities for swimming and snorkeling.

Resorts on the Kohala Coast have coves that protect them from winter swells. We have never had an issue with beach time on the Big Island in May. We hope you have that good luck too!

No matter the time of year, always check ocean conditions and lifeguard flags (if present) before entering the water. You can check out Hawaii Beach Safety for current conditions and hazard alerts. At the risk of sounding like a broken record: if in doubt, don’t go out.

If the waters are safe to enter, the next question is about temperatures. Lucky you, you’ll never need a wetsuit in Hawaii because the ocean temperatures hang out between 76 and 81°F all year. In May, you’ll be splashing in waves that are about 78°F.

When is the Hawaii Hurricane Season?

Hurricane season is from June through November, so you’ll just miss it by visiting in May.

Just in case you decide against a May vacation, let me put your mind at ease about hurricanes in Hawaii. If you’re from Florida, I know you’re not concerned; this is for everyone else. Hurricanes rarely make landfall in Hawaii, and even when they do, they seldom cause much damage.

There have only been two hurricanes on record that have made landfall in Hawaii: Hurricane Dot (1959) and Hurricane Inikki (1992), both of which made landfall on Kauai. The last three hurricanes that have caused damage in Hawaii are Hurricane Lane (2018), Hurricane Iniki (1992), and Hurricane Iwa (1982). The majority of the damage from Hurricane Inkiki was on Kauai. 

Is May a Good Time to Snorkel with Manta Rays?

May is a wonderful time to snorkel with manta rays. Lucky for all of us, manta ray snorkeling isn’t seasonal, so you can do it any time of the year. Thanks to calmer ocean conditions, May just might be just a bit better for manta snorkeling than the winter months.

Is May a Good Time to Visit Hilo?

I know, I keep talking about how great visiting the Big Island in May is, and I’m not going to stop now. May is a good time to visit Hilo! Inches of rainfall drop down into the single digits starting in May, so the waterfalls will be flowing, and your chances of getting rained on drop.

I’m not going to lie to you, you still may get rained on if you head to Hilo, but your odds of good weather are better than if you visit from November to April. Check out our favorite things to do on the Hilo side of the Big Island.

How Busy is the Big Island in May?

May is one of the less crowded months on the Big Island. April, May, October, and November were all within 1,000 visitors of one another last year, but September saw almost 20,000 fewer visitors. Even though it doesn’t win the prize for the least crowded month, you certainly won’t be battling with the crowd sizes you’ll find in July or December. Check out the chart below for a visual.

The busiest month is July, with 171,304 visitors in 2024, and the slowest month is September, with 115,510 visitors. With just 133,352 visitors last year, you’ll enjoy very moderate crowds on the Big Island in May.

The Big Island is the third most visited island in Hawaii, and it’s the largest island by far. Coming in at a whopping 4,028 square miles, it’s bigger than Maui, Oahu, and Kauai combined… twice! Of course, not all of that area is habitable, what with the two active volcanoes and all. While crowd sizes are moderate year-round compared to the other islands, in May, you’ll enjoy quieter beaches and less competition at popular spots!

In 2024, May had the second-lowest hotel occupancy rate, but vacation rental occupancy was very middle-of-the-road.

Is the Big Island Cheaper in May? 

The Big Island is cheaper in May! It was the second-cheapest month, right behind September, for both hotels and vacation rentals.

When we travel to the Big Island, we like to split our time between a vacation rental in Hilo or Kona and stay a few nights at a luxury resort. Then, we can explore the island and go on tours during the vacation rental days. At the luxury resort, we can soak up the amenities and the beach.

It’s worth noting that the Big Island is the second-cheapest island to visit, and significant savings are still possible! Hotels are almost 40% cheaper in May than in December, the most expensive month, and vacation rentals are 16% cheaper.

We focus on accommodation rates, as that will eat up the most significant chunk of your vacation fund. Pricing for flights tends to follow a similar pattern to hotel rates, but can be a bit more volatile than hotel rates, especially when considering different departure locations.

According to Skyscanner (in April 2025), May is the cheapest month to fly to Kona from Los Angeles, but September is the cheapest month to fly from Chicago and San Francisco. We’ll never leave you hanging, though, so make sure you read up on How to Get a Cheap Ticket to Hawaii.

For more budgeting resources, we check costs annually and report to our readers in these three articles:

Things to Do Around the Big Island in May

No matter when you visit the Big Island, you can expect beach days, swimming pools, shopping, and a variety of outdoor fun like snorkeling. But what else can you do? 

Here are some specific activities to consider on your May vacation:

• Check out the display of leis at the Annual Lei Day Celebration on May 1st, including entertainment at Queens’ Marketplace at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott.
• Participate in the Big Island Aids Walk in Hilo
• Enjoy a Mother’s Day orchid festival at the Old Kona Airport
• Attend Hilo’s Chocolate Festival
• Enjoy the Western Week Parade and Block Party in Honoka’a
• Attend Hospice of Kona’s Casino Night
• Attend the Ka’u Coffee Festival
• Taste fresh local fruits at a farmer’s market
• Check out Memorial Day activities

And that’s not a comprehensive list. May is a great time to explore the islands and participate in traditional activities that make Hawaii unique. 

The Best Activities in the Big Island in May

Here’s even more to do on the Big Island:

• 29 Incredible Things to Do on the Big Island (map + video included)
• 32 of the Best Things to Do in Hilo (+nearby)
• 15 Best Things To Do In Waikoloa: Our Favorites (+video)
• The 21 Best Things to Do in Kona (+ tips to know before you go)

As you explore the site and our YouTube channel, you’ll probably notice that comparing times to visit Hawaii is like splitting hairs, and we think you should visit whenever you can. However, if flexibility is on your side, you’ll want to pick a month like May to go to the Big Island.

We lived in Hawaii, island-hopped to the Big Island, and have done enough trip planning for both of us. Our Big Island Itinerary is a culmination of years of travel to the Valley Isle wrapped up in a 47-page guide. Yes, you read that right, you can trade your 47 open tabs for 1 document to help with every trip-planning decision, as well as fully planned itinerary days.

We update this post annually, don’t miss an update. Pin it and follow us for more!