The best time of year to visit Hawaii really depends upon your reason to visit the islands. While Hawaii does have two distinct seasons, both have wonderful weather for a visit. So let’s explore reasons why certain times of the year might be the best.
Summer is the best time of year to visit if you have school aged children. This eliminates the need to take them out of school for your visit. Lots of families will also be in Hawaii with their children, so the kids will see other kids on the beach. Hawaii is family friendly, so don’t be afraid to take the kids with you. Most restaurants have a keiki (child) menu, and most attractions have reduced ticket rates. The majority of resorts offer keiki programs for the kids so mom and dad can get a magical moment or two by themselves. Kids will also love the Waikiki Aquarium and the Honolulu Zoo that are close to each other.
Summer is also a great time to visit to be fairly certain that you won’t have much rain. In the summer. Passing showers are the norm. Nobody even takes out an umbrella. Most of the islands have a dry side and a wet side. The resorts are generally on the dry sides of the islands, so a rainy day in the summer time is rare.
The south shores of the islands get some nice waves in the summertime, so if you want to learn to surf, this is your time to shine. Having said that, there are days that the surf is too high for beginners on the south shore, due to storms in the southern hemisphere. So, you might need to check out the surf (or lack there of) on the north shore.
Summer in Hawaii is also the best time of year to see all the flowers in bloom. Flowers do bloom year around there, but they are at their peak in the summer months. Late summer time in Hawaii does tend to be hot, and the trade winds tend to lay in September, making for a very warm stay.
In the winter months, when the weather is cold and nasty in the northern hemisphere, is the perfect time to visit the Hawaiian Islands. The weather is warm and mild, the flowers are blooming, the fruit is ripe and sweet, and in short it is everything that you need to chase away the winter time blues!
If you are a professional surfer, you already know the North Shore of Oahu is the place to be from November to about March. The waves can reach 30 feet on an exceptional day. Waves of that magnitude are no place for beginning surfers, but they sure are fun to watch. While the waves on the north shore are huge, the waves on the southern shores are gentle and just perfect for learning the sport.
Winter is the most expensive time to visit Hawaii, as folks flock to the warmth. Christmas break, when kids are out of school, is very busy and you will need to book well in advance. Generally, the best time to visit Hawaii on a budget is around May and October, when the weather is mild elsewhere. There are some incredible last minute deals on airfare during this time if your travel schedule is flexible. Hotels also have specials during these off peak times.
If you love festivals, Hawaii has lots of opportunities. The biggest events are the Aloha festivals that are held every September on all the islands. The parades alone are well worth the trip, with wonderful floats, marching bands, flowers, pageantry. The festivities last all month long and sometimes spill over into October. Another festival is King Kamehameha Day on June 11, which is a state holiday in Hawaii. There are parades, flowers and hula contests. If you are going to Hawaii in June, try to include some of these festivities.
The best time to visit Hawaii for humpback whale watching is late December through February. You might see them earlier or later, but this is the prime time. There are whales in Hawaii year round, but these are the main show. The humpbacks (na kohola) migrate in from their northern feeding grounds to calve and raise their babies. Whale tours abound, and you can see the whales from the shores, especially on Maui. What an incredible, breathtaking sight to see these giants of the ocean at play.
I think one of the best times to visit Hawaii is in November. The weather is a little cooler than in the hottest part of summer. The trade winds are blowing nicely, the beaches aren’t too crowded, the waves are pretty, but not too big for some ocean fun, and it is a great time to buy holiday gifts from Hawaii. Everybody loves a little fresh can of Macadamia nuts for the holidays, or some fresh pineapple.
As you can see, there is no bad time to visit Hawaii; there are only times that will make your stay more magical.
Aloha,
Mike
