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Summer in Hawaii

by on May 27, 2015
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Summer_Hawaii_At_Hanauma_Bay

When Is the Best Time to Visit Hawaii? Winter vs. Summer in Hawaii

Is summer in Hawaii the best time to visit, or should you come during the winter?

Since Hawaii is so tropical, there are only two main seasons: the summer and the winter. Both seasons are warm and great for vacations. The biggest impacts on Hawaii vacations are the rain, the surf conditions, the crowds, and the prices.

So when should you visit?

Summer in Hawaii: The Dry Season

Hawaiian summers last from April to October.

When you visit during these months, expect average temperatures to fall in the mid-80s Fahrenheit (almost 30 degrees Celsius). During the summer months, there will be less average rainfall, so you won’t have to worry so much about disruptions to your vacation plans.

During the summer, don’t expect a lot of enormous waves. If you want to enjoy some beginner surf, though, this time of the year would be ideal. The summer months bring smaller, gentler waves, so you won’t have to worry about competing with quite as many surfers.

Most summer tourists visit between mid-June and August. So if you want to avoid crowds, save money, and find discount Hawaii tours and activities, then consider traveling before or after that time.

Winter in Hawaii: The Wet Season

Winter in Hawaii lasts from November to March.

This season is also called the rainy season, since it receives the most rainfall throughout the year. Fortunately, though, rain doesn’t usually last too long. Typically, showers are brief, and you can often take a quick drive to find a sunnier part of the island.

Also, the winter months bring bigger waves and more surfers, so expect the hot surfing spots to be packed with wave hunters. Winter is generally considered the high season for tourism, especially during students’ winter break, from mid-December to mid-January.

When Should You Visit? A Few Final Tips

The summer and winter months are both great times to visit, but the seasons can have an impact on a Hawaii vacation.

Anyone who wants to book Hawaii tours or Hawaii activities should remember a few things about the weather:

  • Despite the fact that the islands are small, they consist of many microclimates. Hilo, on the Big Island, receives more rainfall than any other city in the country, but only 60 miles away it rains an average of 6 inches per year. So if you find yourself in a sudden rain shower or in the middle of a huge swell, just hop in the car and go to another part of the island.
  • If you are booking a Hawaii vacation during the wettest months, finding things to do in Oahu or booking Oahu tours. Since Honolulu is such a busy city, there are always activities on Oahu to keep you occupied, even if lousy weather covers the entire island for a day or two. On Kauai, though, you might not be able to find much else to do.
  • The trade winds, or the sea breezes that blow from the northeast, are stronger during the summer and lighter during the winter. These winds bring most of Hawaii’s weather with them, whether it’s rain or shine. Whether you visit in the summer or the winter, note which sides of the island are windward (north and east) and which are leeward (south and west). The windward sides are typically cooler and drier, while the leeward sides are often moister and a bit warmer.

Summer and winter are both great seasons to visit Hawaii. Since you can often avoid rain, it’s best to plan your Hawaii vacation around the things that matter most to you, such as crowds, availability of Hawaii tours, prices of vacation packages, hotel vacancies, surf conditions, and so on. 

Popular Hawaii tours and activities frequently sell out so we urge you to make reservation well in advance.

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