Season guide · Big Island (Hawaiʻi) · United States
Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Liliʻuokalani Gardens, Big Island (Hawaiʻi) · Photo: AlaskaDave, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Warm seas, fewer visitors, coffee harvest and the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival; winter rains start in Hilo late in the season. Expect highs up to 30°C (86°F) and lows around 21°C (70°F), with about 26 rainy days across September–November. September–October are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 21°C (70°F) to 30°C (86°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 26
- Sea
- 26°C (79°F) to 27°C (81°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Plan a trip to Big Island (Hawaiʻi)
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 30°C (86°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 9 | 12.2 h | 2/5 |
| October | 30°C (86°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 9 | 11.7 h | 3/5 |
| November | 29°C (84°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 8 | 11.2 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 30°C (86°F) against a yearly 29°C (84°F), and 26 of the year's roughly 104 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: Aloha Festivals events (usually September)
- October: IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona (usually October)
- November: Kona Coffee Cultural Festival (usually November)
Good choices for autumn
Museum · Hilo
ʻImiloa Astronomy Center
Check the planetarium schedule when you arrive and plan your visit around a show.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
.jpg){kind=link}
Museum · Hilo
Pacific Tsunami Museum
Housed in a former bank building on Kamehameha Avenue, this small museum tells the story of the 1946 and 1960 tsunamis that devastated Hilo's waterfront, with survivor accounts and exhibits on tsunami science.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Palace · Kailua-Kona
Huliheʻe Palace
Look across the road at Mokuʻaikaua Church, Hawaiʻi's oldest Christian church, built of lava stone and coral mortar.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Day trips in autumn
- South Point and Green Sand Beach (About 2 hours each way by car) — Ka Lae (South Point) is the southernmost point of the United States, with cliffs, a wind farm and ancient fishing canoe moorings.
- Volcano day from Kona (About 2.5 hours each way by car) — A long loop from Kona via the south takes in Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach and Nāʻālehu's bakeries on the way to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, returning over the Saddle Road.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Big Island (Hawaiʻi)?
Yes: September–October are among the best months. Warm seas, fewer visitors, coffee harvest and the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival; winter rains start in Hilo late in the season.
+What is the weather like in Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in autumn?
Highs of up to 30°C (86°F) and lows around 21°C (70°F), with about 26 rainy days over the season.