Month guide · Big Island (Hawaiʻi) · United States
Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in December
What December is really like in Big Island (Hawaiʻi): weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Kealakekua Bay, Big Island (Hawaiʻi) · Photo: Nnachappa64, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 28°C (82°F), lows of 20°C (68°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 11 hours of daylight. Peak holiday season with the highest prices; the first humpbacks arrive and winter swells hit north-facing shores.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 28°C (82°F) / 20°C (68°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 11 hours
- Sea temperature
- 25°C (77°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Plan a trip to Big Island (Hawaiʻi)
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Weather in December
December is the 10th-warmest month in Big Island (Hawaiʻi): days average 28°C (82°F) against a yearly average high of 29°C (84°F), and nights fall to about 20°C (68°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with November (29°C (84°F)), December is about as warm; by January highs stay near 27°C (81°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 06:49
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:46
- Daylight
- About 11 hours
- Sea
- 25°C (77°F)
Autumn (September–November). Warm seas, fewer visitors, coffee harvest and the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival; winter rains start in Hilo late in the season.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 5 for crowds (the peak is December at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in January). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Christmas and New Year celebrations
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Palace · Kailua-Kona
Huliheʻe Palace
Built in 1838 as a summer home for Hawaiian royalty, this two-storey palace on Aliʻi Drive is now a museum run by the Daughters of Hawaiʻi, displaying koa wood furniture, royal portraits and artefacts on Kailua Bay.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Historic site · Kohala Coast
Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
Walk the short path to the overlook in the early morning, when the lava stone is cooler and the light is soft.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Photo spot
Nature · Volcano
Kīlauea Iki Trail
A loop of about 6.4 km descends through rainforest onto the floor of the Kīlauea Iki crater, which was a lava lake in 1959.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Active
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Volcano
Chain of Craters Road
Fill up with fuel and carry water before you start; the descent and return take at least two hours with stops.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Nature
- History
- Photo spot
The sea averages 25°C (77°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Big Island (Hawaiʻi).
What to pack
For highs near 28°C (82°F), lows near 20°C (68°F) and 8 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Big Island (Hawaiʻi)?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–May and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in other months
Questions travellers ask
+What time does the sun set in Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in December?
At about 17:46 local time in mid-December, with sunrise at about 06:49: roughly 11 hours of daylight.
+How warm is Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in December?
Average highs are around 28°C (82°F) and lows around 20°C (68°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in December?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.