Best time to go to Hawaii

In our opinion, the best time to travel depends not on weather only. It is also important to differentiate between peak travel time or high season and the best travel time for Hawaii. Do you want to be pushed through Pearl Harbor with thousands of American travelers in bright sunshine and thirty degrees during US Christmas vacation? Or do you want your sailing trip to be canceled due to excessive waves.


In our opinion, temperature, sunshine or rainy days is not the decisive criteria for determining the best time to visit Hawaii. Hawaiian weather is nice year-round, so it is perfect holiday weather for the average traveler. Between May and October, you have a little less rainy days and more hours of sunshine than in winter, but that is not decisive.

Since about 60 percent of tourists on Hawaii come from mainland America and about 20 percent come from Japan, the vacation of the Americans and, to a lesser extent, that of the Japanese are crucial for the costs of accommodation and the number of tourists on the Hawaiian Islands.

If you plan to do some adventures on the sea, you should think about wind and storm, water temperatures and migration routes of the whales.

In the following, we would like to tell you a little something about each month, so you can choose the best travel time for you. Please note, every single one of the Hawaiian Islands has their own special features. For example, the northeast of Maui is tropical and rainy, while the southwest is extremely dry. Kauai’s south is a beach paradise. The area 15 kilometers further to the center of the island is one of the rainiest areas on earth. Read more about it in our Hawaii Highlights.

Our explanations are intended to serve as a reference point and as a decision-making aid. A rock-solid and absolute classification of months as the best travel time is not possible in times of progressing climate change.

January in Hawaii

Beste Reisezeit Hawaii

Time

In the first half of January, the Americans and Japanese are still on Christmas / winter holidays, so hotel prices are still very high. Because of this, January is also one of the months with the most visitors to Hawaii.

Weather

The weather is usually good and you have the best chance of seeing humpback whales in the waters around Hawaii. Due to the winter, the sea and the surf can be a little rough at times - ideal for experienced surfers.

Our conclusion for January

Not the best time to visit Hawaii.

February in Hawaii

Beste Reisezeit Hawaii

Time

Hotel prices in Hawaii remain high in February. However, the number of visitors is limited.

Weather

You have the very best chance of watching humpback whales in the Hawaiian waters. The sea and surf can be a little rough. Optimal conditions for good surfers.

Our conclusion for February

Good travel time to go to Hawaii.

March in Hawaii

Beste Reisezeit Hawaii

Time

Depending on the spring break of the Americans and Japanese, the hotel prices are either still high or already acceptable. These vacations are usually between mid-March and mid-April and last between one and two weeks - depending on the exact date of the public holidays and weekends. Be sure to check this out. The date of the spring break also determines whether Hawaii is blessed with many visitors in March or not.

Weather

In March, you still have excellent chances to see humpback whales in Hawaii. The sea calms down and is ideal for swimming on the beach.

Our conclusion for March

Very good time to travel to Hawaii, if you avoid the holidays.

April in Hawaii

Beste Reisezeit Hawaii

Time

In terms of visitor numbers and hotel prices, April behaves exactly like March. Depending on the date of the spring vacation of Americans and Japanese, April can be very good, or it can be expensive and busy. When the holidays fall in March, April is one of the months with the fewest visitors and best hotel prices. Attention: The Japanese usually have their Golden Week in late April or early May and love to go to Hawaii that time.

Weather

The whales are usually still in the Hawaiian waters and the sea is relatively calm again.

Our conclusion for April

Best time to go to Hawaii

May in Hawaii

Beste Reisezeit Hawaii

Time

As previously mentioned, Golden Week in Japan may be in the first week of May. If not, May is one of the months with the least number of visitors and the lowest hotel prices in Hawaii.

Weather

The sea is calm, but the whales move on.

Our conclusion for May

May is one of the best times to visit Hawaii.

June in Hawaii

Beste Reisezeit Hawaii

Time

Summer vacation in the US begins in June and thus it is one of the months with most visitors to Hawaii. Hotel prices are picking up again, but are still within limits. There are many visitors to Hawaii in June.

Weather

Though June is the official start of the hurricane season, the sea is quite calm usually. Weather is perfect and it rains very little. The whale season is over.

Our conclusion for June

June is not the best time to travel to Hawaii due to the large number of visitors and the high prices.

July in Hawaii

Beste Reisezeit Hawaii

Time

July means summer vacation in the United States and Japan. July, along with December, is the month with most visitors to Hawaii. Hotel prices are at a record high.

Weather

It's hurricane season, but the sea is mostly calm. The weather is perfect for enjoying the beaches. Whales are usually not to be seen.

Our conclusion for July

July is not the best time to travel to Hawaii due to the large number of visitors and the high prices.

August in Hawaii

Beste Reisezeit Hawaii

Time

August is summer vacation in the United States and Japan. Hotel prices remain high. The number of visitors is decreasing a bit.

Weather

It's hurricane season, but the sea is mostly calm. The weather is perfect for enjoying the beaches. Whales are usually not to be seen.

Our conclusion for August

Due to the large number of visitors and the high prices, August is not the best time to go to Hawaii.

September in Hawaii

Beste Reisezeit Hawaii

Time

In September, the summer vacation is over in almost all US states and Japan. September is the least visited month of Hawaii. The hotel prices are among the lowest.

Weather

You don't usually see whales in September. The hurricane season is still there, but the sea is mostly calm and the weather is good for swimming.

Our conclusion for September

September is one of the best month to go to Hawaii.

October in Hawaii

Beste Reisezeit Hawaii

Time

Hawaii's least touristic visits are in October. Hotel prices are among the lowest throughout the year.

Weather

It's still hurricane season, but the sea is mostly calm. Whales are usually not seen in October.

Our conclusion for October

October is the best time to travel to Hawaii.

November in Hawaii

Beste Reisezeit Hawaii

Time

Hawaii's least touristic visits are in November. Hotel prices are among the lowest throughout the year.

Weather

It's still hurricane season. From the middle of the month, the sea is slowly becoming wilder. The first humpback whales arrive slowly. However, the probabilities of sightings are still low.

Our conclusion for November

November is the best time to travel to Hawaii.

December in Hawaii

Hawaii inselhopping

Time

The prices and visitor numbers in the first half of December are still limited. From the second half of the month, the American Christmas vacation and the winter vacation in Japan start. The number of visitors is then at a record high. The prices for accommodations in Hawaii behave accordingly.

Weather

Humpback whale sightings increase again in December. The sea is getting a little rougher again and the surfers are having fun.

Our conclusion for December

December is not the best time to travel to Hawaii.

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