Season guide · Big Island (Hawaiʻi) · United States
Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in spring
April–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Papakōlea Green Sand Beach, Big Island (Hawaiʻi) · Photo: jonny - m t, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
Settled weather, calm seas and the Merrie Monarch Festival; a good-value shoulder season after Easter. Expect highs up to 29°C (84°F) and lows around 20°C (68°F), with about 18 rainy days across April–May. April–May are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- April–May
- Temperatures
- 20°C (68°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 18
- Sea
- 25°C (77°F) to 25°C (77°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- High
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Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 28°C (82°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 9 | 12.6 h | 4/5 |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 21°C (70°F) | 9 | 13.1 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 29°C (84°F) against a yearly 29°C (84°F), and 18 of the year's roughly 104 rainy days fall in these 2 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- April: Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo (week after Easter)
- May: Lei Day celebrations (1 May)
Good choices for spring
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
Museum · Hilo
ʻImiloa Astronomy Center
On the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo campus, ʻImiloa links Maunakea astronomy with Hawaiian navigation and creation traditions, with interactive exhibits, a planetarium and native plant gardens.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
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Museum · Hilo
Pacific Tsunami Museum
Pair it with a walk along the bayfront, where open parkland now stands on land cleared after the tsunamis.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Day trips in spring
- Hilo and the Hāmākua Coast from Kona (About 1.5–2 hours each way by car) — Drive to Hilo via Waimea along the Hāmākua Coast, stopping at gulch viewpoints, ʻAkaka Falls and the Hawaiʻi Tropical Bioreserve and Garden, then explore Hilo's gardens and farmers market before returning over the Saddle Road.
- North Kohala and Pololū Valley (About 1.25 hours each way by car) — Drive up the Kohala Coast, then through Hāwī and Kapaʻau to the end of the road at the Pololū Valley lookout.
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 spring a good time to visit Big Island (Hawaiʻi)?
Yes: April–May are among the best months. Settled weather, calm seas and the Merrie Monarch Festival; a good-value shoulder season after Easter.
+What is the weather like in Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in spring?
Highs of up to 29°C (84°F) and lows around 20°C (68°F), with about 18 rainy days over the season.