Season guide · Big Island (Hawaiʻi) · United States
Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in winter
December–March: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach, Big Island (Hawaiʻi) · Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Peak season with humpback whales, occasional snow on Maunakea and wetter weather in Hilo; the highest prices of the year. Expect highs up to 28°C (82°F) and lows around 19°C (66°F), with about 31 rainy days across December–March.
Key facts
- Months
- December–March
- Temperatures
- 19°C (66°F) to 28°C (82°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 31
- Sea
- 24°C (75°F) to 25°C (77°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
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Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27°C (81°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 | 11.1 h | 4/5 |
| February | 27°C (81°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 | 11.5 h | 4/5 |
| March | 28°C (82°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 9 | 12 h | 4/5 |
| December | 28°C (82°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 8 | 11 h | 5/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 28°C (82°F) against a yearly 29°C (84°F), and 31 of the year's roughly 104 rainy days fall in these 4 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 5/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Humpback whale season (roughly December to April)
- February: Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival (usually early February)
- December: Christmas and New Year celebrations
Make the most of the weather
Nature · Volcano
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
The park protects Kīlauea and much of Mauna Loa.
- Time needed
- A full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Nature
- Kids
- After dark
- Photo spot
Nature · Volcano
Kīlauea Iki Trail
Start early before tour groups arrive, and walk anticlockwise for the most gradual descent onto the crater floor.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Active
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Volcano
Chain of Craters Road
This road descends about 1,100 metres over roughly 30 km from the summit to the coast, past pit craters, recent lava flows and the Puʻu Loa petroglyphs, ending near the Hōlei Sea Arch.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Nature
- History
- Photo spot
Nature · Maunakea
Maunakea
Stop at the visitor station for at least 30 minutes to acclimatise before going higher, and do not go to the summit with children under 13, if pregnant, or with heart or lung conditions.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- After dark
- Nature
- Free
Nature · South Kona
Kealakekua Bay
A marine life conservation district below high cliffs, with some of Hawaiʻi's clearest water and coral at Kaʻawaloa near the white Captain Cook Monument, which marks where James Cook was killed in 1779.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Active
- History
- Outdoors
Day trips in winter
- 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.
- 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.
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 winter a good time to visit Big Island (Hawaiʻi)?
It is a trade-off: Peak season with humpback whales, occasional snow on Maunakea and wetter weather in Hilo; the highest prices of the year. The best months overall are April–May and September–October.
+What is the weather like in Big Island (Hawaiʻi) in winter?
Highs of up to 28°C (82°F) and lows around 19°C (66°F), with about 31 rainy days over the season.