Kauai in July: Busy but Beautiful

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If you want to visit both Kauai’s north and south shores, summer is your best bet. However, I don’t go out of my way to book a trip to Kauai in July.

Here’s why: visiting Kauai in July is expensive and crowded, but you’ll be treated to fewer rainy days. July is the peak of Kauai’s busy summer season so you’ll be up against high hotel rates, and you’ll have to compete for space at the beach.

Before you go changing all your plans, let’s dig into the data for some perspective. July might not be such a bad time for you to visit.

Here are some planning resources for you to jump right into:
– Get a lay of the land using our free Kauai Travel Guide
– July is a great time to visit Kauai’s North Shore . We love staying at the Hanalei Bay Resort or 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay for hotels (very different price points!) Or, stay in a vacation rental like Puamana in Princeville.
– Book a Napali Coast tour in July, you won’t regret it!
– Kauai has excellent food trucks, this isn’t really a July thing, but you’ll thank us later.

Erica’s Take on Kauai in July

When we go to Hawaii, we’re not precisely budget travelers. We stay at big resorts and do several tours to report back to you on what was and wasn’t worth our time and money.

We don’t plan trips to Kauai in July because the beaches are crowded, tours can be booked up (making it difficult to adjust our plans if needed), and our budget doesn’t stretch as far. Even if your vacation is more about relaxing and less about taking notes, I’ll go out on a limb and assume that doesn’t sound ideal to you, either.

Don’t let me scare you out of a July trip if that’s the only time that’s feasible for you. If you have the flexibility, consider the shoulder season.

Quick Tips for Kauai in July: Get to the beaches early, book tours and reservations a month or so in advance to be safe, and don’t forget to pack a little extra patience with your bathing suit.

Is July a Good Time to Go to Kauai?

July is an okay time to go to Kauai as it’s the island’s peak month. The weather is wonderful, but it’s as busy as it gets and just about as expensive as it gets. 

You could call July the worst time to visit Kauai due to the cost and crowds, and you’d be pretty spot on. But don’t cancel your vacation just yet. The pros just might outweigh the cons for you.

Reasons to Go to Kauai in July

Nice weather: Sunny skies can be enjoyed on both the leeward and windward sides of the island, which is good news for the wettest Hawaiian island.

It’s a great time to visit the North Shore: You won’t have to worry about getting trapped in Hanalei by floods in July. You can expect sunny skies and calm waters on the North Shore.

It’s a wonderful month to snorkel: Kauai won the spot for the best island for snorkeling in July, and the awards go to North Shore beaches. Basically, if you’re going to Kauai in July, head to Hanalei!

Here are our 5 Best Snorkeling Spots on Kauai. Always check conditions before you head out, even in July!

Reasons Not to Go to Kauai in July

It’s as busy as it gets: Get ready to play musical parking spots and use your jetlag to beat everyone to the beach. You may also struggle to get reservations for tours and restaurants if you don’t book them well in advance.

It’s one of the most expensive months: There might be some cobwebs in your wallet after a trip to Kauai in July because lodging (your biggest expense) is about as expensive as it gets.

Is Kauai Nice in July? Weather Data

Is Kauai Rainy in July?

Kauai receives the most rain during the winter. As the chart below shows, it experiences the heaviest downpours from October through April.

In July, you can expect between 2 and 5 inches of rain on the south and north sides of the island, respectively. Kauai gets the most rain among the four major islands, so you may still get a drizzle any time of the year, but you can expect it to be short, warm, and typically overnight. You won’t have to worry about heavy storms, but if you want more peace of mind, we’ve compiled a list of What to Do in Hawaii When it Rains so you can be prepared.

Speaking of sides of the island, there is a reason we talk about the north and south shores as being so different: tradewinds. Tradewinds come from the northeast, bringing rain to that area of the island first – the windward side. The rain falls as it passes over the mountains’ high altitude and cool air. The moisture is gone when the air reaches the drier southwest side of the island – the leeward side.

The most popular resort areas on the island are on the leeward side; for Kauai, this is Poipu and Koloa.

Fun Fact: Mount Waialeale on Kauai is one of the wettest places on earth, receiving over 400 inches of rain per year on average. The record rainfall in a single month was set in 1982 at 149 inches in March.

How Warm Is Kauai in July?

July is one of the hottest months on Kauai, but you’ll not often get temperatures over 85 degrees. So, you can expect pleasant weather for pool and beach days. If temperature is a significant consideration for you, the chart below can help you find a suitable time to visit Kauai.

Can You Swim in Kauai in July?

You most certainly can swim around Kauai in July, and quite comfortably at that! We’ll dig into ocean conditions in the next section, but we have some great resources for our Kauai beach bums out there:

• 9 Best Beaches on Kauai for Swimming
• The 7 Best Kid-Friendly Beaches on Kauai

Kauai has the best snorkeling in July compared to the other islands, so you’ll have an incredible time! Check out Kauai’s best snorkeling spots, as well as the best snorkeling tours around the island.

What Are the Ocean Conditions Like in July?

Kauai is known for strong currents and rough surf on the North Shore during the winter. During the summer, waters can get rough on the South Shore.

In July, you’ll want to look out for swells on the South Shore. It is a good time to check out any of the best beaches on Kauai, not just the ones with the above caveats.

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

Lucky you, you’ll never need a wetsuit in Hawaii because the ocean temperatures hang out between 76 and 81 degrees (F) all year. In July, you’ll be splashing in just over 80 degrees (F) waves.

When is Kauai’s Hurricane Season?

Hurricane season in Hawaii is from June through November, so you’ll visit during the season.

Before you cancel your flight, 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. 

Historically, Kauai is the most prone to hurricanes. As locals say, Kauai is out there. It happens to be more in the path of hurricanes.

Fun fact: We have Hurricane Iwa to thank for Kauai’s wild chickens being all over the island. The winds from the hurricane destroyed many of the chicken coops on the island – as the Koloa Landing Resort puts it, “taking ‘free range’ to the next level.”

In case you’re wondering, yes, we love the Koloa Landing Resort and have a full review for you! Now, back to Kauai in July…

Is July a Good Time to Visit the Napali Coast?

July is a great time to visit the Napali Coast! In fact, you can even take a catamaran or hop on a raft from Hanalei to see this famous coastline from the North Shore. Boat tours from Hanalei only run from March to October due to harsh winter ocean conditions on the north side.

Even if you don’t plan to head up north, there are a bunch of great boat tours of the Napali Coast leaving from the South Shore.

Other ways to experience the Napali coast are via a helicopter tour, an airplane tour, or hiking the Kalalau Trail. The trail is an 11-mile one-way hike (22 miles total) that require camping and a few permits.

The Kalalau Trail and the shorter trail to the waterfall are for experts only. Please understand the conditions, weather, packing requirements, and permit rules before you head out.

Here is one of our videos on taking a Napali Coast snorkeling tour. If this video of us having a blast out on the Napali Coast doesn’t make you book a tour, I don’t know what will.

How Busy is Kauai in July?

Kauai in July is the busiest month to visit. If you love meeting other travelers, this is your time to shine. If that’s not your idea of a relaxing vacation, you may want to consider visiting during the shoulder season.

Kauai is the smallest of the 4 main islands, but Oahu is only slightly bigger and usually sees 4x as many visitors. In 2024, Kauai saw 135,836 visitors in July, while Oahu welcomed 565,629 visitors. To be fair, Oahu’s infrastructure is equipped to handle those big numbers, but on Kauai, no building is taller than a coconut tree…

Focusing on Kauai’s norms, we know the busiest month is July, and the slowest month is September, with 100,262 visitors in 2024. Since this is as busy as it gets on Kauai, you’ll notice it at the beaches and when making reservations for restaurants and tours.

Is Kauai Cheaper in July? 

Kauai is not cheaper in July. In fact, it’s just two dollars shy of being the most expensive time to stay on the island. July and December are tied for vacation rental rates, and July was just $2 away from having the most expensive hotel rates.

Despite being tied for the most expensive time to rent a condo, it is still a cheaper option than a hotel (by $45 per night). So, if you were planning to stay in a hotel, you can save money on accommodations by browsing vacation rentals in our Where to Stay Directory instead.

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

According to Skyscanner (in March 2025), July is the most expensive month to fly to Kauai from Chicago, but March is the most expensive month to fly from San Francisco, and June is the most expensive month to fly from Los Angeles. 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 Kauai in July

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

• Enjoy some family fun at the Koloa Plantation Days and then try the Koloa Zipline
• Snorkel on the North Shore or go on a snorkeling tour.
• Enjoy a luau and see traditional hula dancing.
• Downtown Lihue 1st Friday Art Night
• Downtown Lihue 2nd Saturday Night Market

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

Here’s even more to do on Kauai:
35 Best Things to Do on Kauai (Must Do + See)
24 Things To Do on Kauai with Kids: from toddlers to teenagers
The 20 Best Things to Do in Poipu: Kauai’s South Shore
The 12 Best Things to Do in Hanalei: Kauai’s Rugged North Shore

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