When is the Best Time to Visit Hawaii?

While the Hawaiian Islands are a beautiful tropical escape any time of the year, there really are best and worst times to visit Hawaii.

There are three major things to consider when visiting Hawaii: costs, clouds, and crowds. A Hawaii vacation is expensive, weather can affect your plans, and the crowds are returning to pre-pandemic numbers.

The best time for your wallet: September Historically September is the month you will find the most affordable lodging, which will make up a large chunk of your travel costs.

Costs

Oahu is overall the most affordable island to stay on, and Maui is the most expensive. Swipe up for a breakdown of price per island year-round.

Costs: Pro Tip

Hawaii has 2 seasons: summer from May to October, and winter from October to April.  The wettest months are November to March, and the coldest are January to March. Although, cold for Hawaii means high 60s to low 70s.

Clouds

While ocean temperatures remain warm, 71 degrees in the winter and 80 degrees in the summer, ocean conditions change significantly. For the calmest waters, the summer months will be your best bet.

Clouds: Pro Tip

You'll find the smallest crowds on any of the islands in January, February, September, and October.

Crowds

Crowds are different for each island year-round, if you want to beat the crowds, consider staying on Kauai or the Big Island. Swipe up for a breakdown of visitors for each island.

Crowds: Pro Tip

The best month of the year to visit Hawaii is September. You'll still have the beautiful summer weather with the smallest crowds and the lowest rates for lodging.

Overall Bests

You also can't go wrong with going during the shoulder seasons of fall and spring: April and May, as well as after Labor Day through before Thanksgiving.

Overall Bests

Unsurprisingly, the summer months of June through August come with the biggest crowds and price tag. Hawaii's visitor numbers are almost back to pre-pandemic heights with July 2022 coming just shy of July 2019's 1 million visitors.

The Worst Times to Visit

The overall worst month to visit Hawaii is December. While we absolutely love a Hawaiian Christmas, December's costs and crowds are sky high and weather and ocean conditions can be undesirable.

The Worst Times to Visit

Swipe up to learn about hurricane season in Hawaii, surfing conditions year-round, and more about what to expect from each island throughout the year.

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