In short, the best time to visit Hawaii is in October.
This is when the weather in the Hawaiian Islands is great. There are not too many tourists and it’s not too expensive.
If you are planning a holiday or a trip to Hawaii, keep on reading to get more details on when is the best time to go to Hawaii.
About Hawaii
Hawaii is a state in the United States that is made up of islands and has a Tropical Climate. It is the only U.S. state that is not geographically located in North America. It lies in the North Pacific Ocean and is part of Polynesia, a subregion of Oceania.
Hawaii comprises of 137 volcanic islands, hence, geographically it is also called the Hawaiian archipelago or simply the Hawaiian Islands.
There are eight main islands in Hawaii: Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Maui, and Hawaiʻi.
The capital city of Hawaii is Honolulu, on the island of O’ahu.
Hawaii is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It’s home to beautiful beaches, volcanos, and national parks that offer a variety of natural attractions.
Climate in Hawaii
Hawaii has a Tropical Climate which means that it is hot and humid all year round. It also experiences high levels of rainfall because it is located in the tropics.
There are only two seasons in Hawaii: the Dry Season which lasts from April to October and the Wet Season which runs from November to March.
It’s important to state here that the climate of the Hawaiian islands varies. When you decide which particular island you want to go to, make sure to check when is the best time to visit this particular island.
The wet season in Hawaii
Hawaii’s wet season starts in November and continues through March. It is characterized by heavy rains, high humidity, and infrequent storms.
The average rainfall during the wet season varies depending on the island.
In the capital city of Hawaii, Honolulu the average rainfall during the wet season is 53 millimeters (2 inches), while on Kauai, deemed one of the rainiest places on Earth, the average rainfall is 105 millimeters (4.1 inches).
In general, it rains much more in areas exposed to northeast winds. The southwestern coasts experience less rain and more sunlight.
The temperatures in the wet season in Hawaii range between 27°C-29°C (80.6°F-84.2°F).
The dry season in Hawaii
The dry season in Hawaii runs from April to October.
It is a time when the trade winds are blowing from the northeast, which brings cool and dry air and more sunshine to the Hawaiian Islands.
The average rainfall during the dry season in the Hawaiian Islands is around 19 millimeters (0.75 inches) in Honolulu or 52 millimeters (2 inches) on Kauai island.
The temperatures during this time of year are slightly higher than in the wet season and range between 29°C-32°C (84.2°F-89.6°F).
The average temperature in Hawaii by month
Hawaii offers high temperatures throughout the year with little seasonal variation.
The temperatures during the dry season are slightly higher than in the wet season, which you can see in the chart below:
The seawater temperature in the Hawaiian Islands is also high all year round, with slightly higher temperatures during the dry season.
The chart below shows the average sea temperature by month in the capital city of Hawaii, Honolulu:
Average rainfall in Hawaii by month
The highest amount of rainfall in Hawaii is during the wet season, which falls between November and March.
As we mentioned before, the amount of rainfall can vary significantly depending on the island.
The chart below shows the average amount of rainfall per month in the capital city of Hawaii, Honolulu:
The chart below illustrates the average rainfall by month on the island of Kauai, deemed one of the rainiest places on Earth:
See more guides about Hawaii