Best time to visit · Honolulu · United States
The best time to visit Honolulu
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mark Miller, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Honolulu is warm all year, so the best time depends on crowds and prices. April–May and September–October have dry weather, warm seas and the lowest hotel rates. December to March is peak season, with whale-watching and big North Shore surf, but more showers and the highest prices; summer is hot, sunny and busy with families.
Key facts
- Best months
- April–May and September–October
- Shoulder season
- March, June and November
- Warmest month
- August (avg high 32°C (90°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 27°C (81°F))
- Rainiest month
- November (~9 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- May and September–October
Seasons
Honolulu has a warm tropical climate all year, cooled by northeast trade winds. Summer (May–October) is drier and slightly hotter; winter (November–April) brings more showers, mostly brief, and big surf to north-facing shores. The Central Pacific hurricane season runs from June to November, though direct hits are rare.
March–May
Spring
Warm, increasingly dry weather; spring-break crowds in March give way to quiet, good-value weeks in late April and May.
June–August
Summer
The hottest, driest months, with calm North Shore water and surf on the south shore; busy with families, with high hotel prices in July.
September–November
Autumn
Warm seas, few crowds and good hotel rates in September and October; showers and winter surf begin in November.
December–February
Winter
Peak season for whales and giant North Shore waves, with brief showers, holiday crowds and the year's highest prices.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27°C | 19°C | 8 | 24°C | 11 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| February | 27°C | 19°C | 7 | 24°C | 11.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| March | 28°C | 20°C | 8 | 24°C | 12 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| April | 28°C | 21°C | 7 | 25°C | 12.6 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 29°C | 22°C | 5 | 25°C | 13.1 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| June | 30°C | 23°C | 5 | 26°C | 13.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 31°C | 24°C | 6 | 26°C | 13.3 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 32°C | 24°C | 5 | 27°C | 12.9 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| September | 31°C | 24°C | 6 | 27°C | 12.2 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| October | 30°C | 23°C | 7 | 27°C | 11.6 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| November | 29°C | 22°C | 9 | 26°C | 11.1 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| December | 27°C | 20°C | 9 | 25°C | 10.8 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Lunar New Year celebrations in Chinatown (January or February); Sony Open golf tournament at Waiʻalae (usually January) |
| February | POW! WOW! Hawaii mural festival in Kakaʻako (usually February) |
| March | Honolulu Festival — Pacific cultural performances and a parade on Kalākaua Avenue (usually March); Prince Kūhiō Day (26 March) |
| April | Waikīkī Spam Jam street festival (usually late April) |
| May | Lei Day celebrations (1 May); Lantern Floating Hawaiʻi at Ala Moana Beach (Memorial Day) |
| June | King Kamehameha Day floral parade and statue lei-draping (11 June); Pan-Pacific Festival in Waikīkī (usually June) |
| July | Prince Lot Hula Festival (usually July); Fourth of July fireworks at Ala Moana |
| August | Duke's OceanFest ocean-sports festival in Waikīkī (usually late August); Statehood Day (third Friday of August) |
| September | Aloha Festivals — floral parade and Waikīkī block party (usually September) |
| October | Hawaiʻi International Film Festival (usually October into November) |
| November | Vans Triple Crown of Surfing on the North Shore (usually November to December) |
| December | Honolulu City Lights at Honolulu Hale (usually December); Honolulu Marathon (usually the second Sunday of December); New Year's Eve fireworks over Waikīkī |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in May and September–October, and the sights are quietest in May and September–October.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Honolulu?
Honolulu is warm all year, so the best time depends on crowds and prices. April–May and September–October have dry weather, warm seas and the lowest hotel rates. December to March is peak season, with whale-watching and big North Shore surf, but more showers and the highest prices; summer is hot, sunny and busy with families.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Honolulu?
Usually in May and September–October. Dry, sunny and quieter than summer, with calm south-shore waters for swimming.
+What is the rainiest month in Honolulu?
November, with about 9 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Honolulu get?
The warmest month, August, averages highs of 32°C (90°F) and lows of 24°C (75°F).