Month guide · Honolulu · United States
Honolulu in December
What December is really like in Honolulu: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Joel Bradshaw, Public domain
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 27°C (81°F), lows of 20°C (68°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 10.8 hours of daylight. Warm with some rain and the busiest, priciest weeks of the year over the holidays; whales start to arrive.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 27°C (81°F) / 20°C (68°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 10.8 hours
- Sea temperature
- 25°C (77°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in December
December is the coolest month in Honolulu: days average 27°C (81°F) against a yearly average high of 29°C (84°F), and nights fall to about 20°C (68°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with November (29°C (84°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 27°C (81°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:02
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:52
- Daylight
- About 10.8 hours
- Sea
- 25°C (77°F)
Winter (December–February). Peak season for whales and giant North Shore waves, with brief showers, holiday crowds and the year's highest prices.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 5 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in July). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Honolulu City Lights at Honolulu Hale (usually December)
- Honolulu Marathon (usually the second Sunday of December)
- New Year's Eve fireworks over Waikīkī
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.
Museum · Kalihi
Bishop Museum
Founded in 1889 in memory of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the state museum of natural and cultural history holds the world's largest collection of Hawaiian and Pacific artefacts.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Art
Neighbourhood · Chinatown
Chinatown
Buy a fresh lei on Maunakea Street for a fraction of the hotel price, then walk to Foster Botanical Garden nearby.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- History
- Shopping
- After dark
Museum · Makiki
Honolulu Museum of Art
Founded in 1922, the museum's galleries open onto calm courtyards and cover Asian art, including thousands of Japanese woodblock prints, Hawaiian art and European works such as Monet's Water Lilies and van Gogh's Wheat Field.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Neighbourhood · Kakaʻako
Kakaʻako street murals
Walk the side streets around Auahi and Pohukaina streets in the morning light, then stop at the SALT at Our Kakaʻako block for coffee.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
The sea averages 25°C (77°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Honolulu.
What to pack
For highs near 27°C, lows near 20°C and 9 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Honolulu?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 3 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–May and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Honolulu in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Honolulu?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Warm with some rain and the busiest, priciest weeks of the year over the holidays; whales start to arrive.
+How warm is Honolulu in December?
Average highs are around 27°C (81°F) and lows around 20°C (68°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Honolulu in December?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.