Season guide · Kauaʻi · United States
Kauaʻi in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Limahuli Garden and Preserve, Kauaʻi · Photo: Daderot., CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Rainy spells, huge North Shore surf and humpback whales; the South Shore stays sunnier, and prices peak around the holidays. Expect highs up to 27°C (81°F) and lows around 19°C (66°F), with about 42 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 19°C (66°F) to 27°C (81°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 42
- 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 | 26°C (79°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 14 | 10.9 h | 4/5 |
| February | 26°C (79°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 12 | 11.4 h | 4/5 |
| December | 27°C (81°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 16 | 10.8 h | 5/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 26°C (79°F) against a yearly 28°C (82°F), and 42 of the year's roughly 169 rainy days fall in these 3 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)
- December: Christmas and New Year holidays
Good choices for winter
Museum · Līhuʻe
Kauaʻi Museum
In a lava-stone building in Līhuʻe, this museum covers Kauaʻi's geology, Hawaiian culture, the ruling chiefs, the plantation era and the island of Niʻihau, with featherwork, koa calabashes and Niʻihau shell lei.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Day trips in winter
- Waimea Canyon and Kōkeʻe drive (About 1 hour 15 minutes each way from Poʻipū) — Drive west through Waimea town and up Waimea Canyon Drive past a series of canyon lookouts to Kōkeʻe and the Kalalau Lookout at the end of the road.
- North Shore to Hāʻena (About 1 hour each way from Līhuʻe) — A day along the North Shore takes in Kīlauea Point, the Hanalei Valley Lookout, Hanalei town and the one-lane bridges to Limahuli Garden and Kēʻē Beach at the end of the road.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Kauaʻi?
It is a trade-off: Rainy spells, huge North Shore surf and humpback whales; the South Shore stays sunnier, and prices peak around the holidays. The best months overall are April–June and September–October.
+What is the weather like in Kauaʻi in winter?
Highs of up to 27°C (81°F) and lows around 19°C (66°F), with about 42 rainy days over the season.