When to Vacation in Hawaii - Weather & Other Travel Tips

January in Honolulu is pleasantly warm despite being one of the coldest months of the year. The average high temperature is 80°F (27°C), while the average low temperature is 66°F (19°C).

In February, both average high and average low temperatures remain exactly the same, tying with January for the coldest month of the year. The relatively colder weather brings pods of whales to town making it a prime time for whale watching.

Honolulu Weather in March: The temperatures in March make a small increase with the average high and average low temperatures range between 81°F (27°C) and 68°F (20°C).

In April, the average high temperature rises a few more degrees to 83°F (28°C). Low temperatures sit at 69°F (21°C).

May continues the upward trend with the average high and average low temperatures both increasing by two degrees to 85°F (29°C) and 71°F (22°C) respectively.

Honolulu Weather in June: The driest month of the year for Honolulu is in June with precipitation rate averages close to 0 inches (7 mm). Temperatures increase again ever so slightly with the average high temperatures at 87°F (31°C). Average low temperatures go up to 73°F (23°C).

July sees the second highest temperature averages of the year with an average high temperature of 88°F (31°C) and an average low temperature of 74°F (24°C). This month also get 293 hours of sunshine, the most in the entire year.

In August, the average high temperatures peak at 89°F (32°C) while the average low temperatures go up to 75°F (24°C).

September average high temperature ties with August as the warmest month in the year. However, the average low temperature goes down one degree to 74°F (24°C).

Honolulu Weather in October: The weather in October decreases to an average high temperature of 87°F (30°C). The low temperature average decreases by another degree to 73°F (23°C).

In November, the average high temperature goes down to 84°F (29°C) as the weather starts to cool off again and surf season picks up. 71°F (22°C) is the average low temperature.

December gets the least sunshine in the year, 211 hours, and also the highest precipitation averages at 3 inches (82 mm). The average high temperature decreases to 81°F (27°C) while the average low temperature goes down to 68°F (20°C).

The best time to visit Hawaii in general is during the spring season. Referred to as the “dry” season, it is during this season that the best travel bargains can be found and there is not a lot of rainfall. Plan your trip between mid-April to June to enjoy the best of Hawaii’s fresh fruit, vegetation and gorgeous flowers. For surfing, the best time to come to Hawaii is during the winter months of December through February as the higher surf begins. This is also the time with the most surf competitions and events. Whale watching is also the best during the winter season. Verified Resource: National Weather Service

Travel Tips:

Almost everyone arrives in Honolulu by airplane at the Honolulu International Airport. Honolulu lies about five hours from Los Angeles and San Francisco, eight hours from Chicago, and ten hours from New York City. All of the major domestic and many international airlines fly in and out of Honolulu. The airport is located about nine miles or 20 minutes depending on traffic to Waikiki, the holiday destination for the majority of visitors. The Honolulu Airport is known for its casual open-air atmosphere, but it can be very busy especially during the peak travel period. Hawaii is very strict about bringing animals into the state.

There are several ways to get from the Honolulu International Airport into downtown Honolulu or the popular holiday destination of Waikiki. There are car rental agencies with counters in the baggage claim area. Car rental shuttles stop along the center median on the ground level of the airport outside of baggage claim. SpeedShuttle provides door to door service from the airport to your hotel. The City and County of Honolulu provides an island wide bus system with several routes that stop at the airport. The system is called TheBus: large pieces of luggage are not allowed and everything must be stored under your seat or on your lap. There are also many taxis to take you into the city.

There are several websites that offer a wealth of information for visitors to peruse before they arrive in Honolulu. These websites can give you tips on where to stay, how to get around, where to eat, and what to see and do. You can request a free map and vacation planner from the Oahu Visitors Bureau (OVB) before you arrive. There are two main visitor information centers. The first is the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau in the center of popular Waikiki. The second is the Oahu Visitors Bureau. Both of these offices have staff that will be happy to help visitors with all of their needs. There is also an information kiosk in front of the Waikiki Zoo.

Depending on each visitor and what they want to see and do, there are several choices for transportation. There are car rental agencies at the Honolulu International Airport. Driving a car is the best way to get to places around the island of Oahu, but traffic and lack of parking can be a real problem both in downtown Honolulu and especially in Waikiki. Waikiki and downtown can be explored on foot, but you will need to use a car or a bus to get from one to the other. TheBus is a good transportation system: it is affordable and you are allowed one free transfer. The Waikiki Trolley is a popular way to get around Waikiki.

Honolulu is famous for its Pacific Rim cuisine and rightly so. There are many world-class restaurants where the food is created by celebrity chefs who are featured on television food channels. These high end restaurants as well as less pricey restaurants are known for using local ingredients including fish like mahimahi, ono, opa, and opakaka. Honolulu is known for its multi-ethnic population and this is reflected in the number of restaurants that serve ethnic cuisine. There are restaurants that feature food from many Asian countries such as China, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines. Honolulu is also known for its small eateries serving up local lunches at affordable prices.

Walking down the main street in Waikiki, a visitor might think that shopping is the number one past time in Honolulu rather than swimming, surfing, or sunbathing. Waikiki’s Luxury Row is packed with upscale designer shops such as Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany’s, Yves Saint Laurent, and more. Not far from Waikiki is Ala Moana Shopping Center, the largest outdoor shopping center in the world, with nearly 300 stores and 80 restaurants. If you are looking to do some outlet mall shopping head to Waikele Premium Outlet. Here there are outlet stores for Banana Republic, Coach, Guess, Tommy Bahama, Tommy Hilfiger, and many more.

Honolulu is the capital of the state and many visitors are interested in seeing some of the sights that are located in the downtown area. These include the state legislature building, the historic Kawaiahao Church, and Iolani Palace, the only royal residence in the United States. Chinatown is a small neighborhood and is more or less a part of downtown. But here you’ll find antique shops, restaurants serving food from all around the world, and a Chinese market that you have to see to believe! Before tourists discovered Waikiki, the 19th century Hawaiian royalty came to what was then a quiet beach where they could relax and surf. Several historic hotels are located in Waikiki.

Honolulu is one of the most popular places in the world to get married because of its year-round pleasant weather, its unforgettable landscapes, the Pacific Ocean, and its friendly people. Some of the hotels that are venues for weddings include the Moana Surfrider which is a Westin Resort and Spa, the Royal Hawaiian, the Kahala Hotel and Resort, and many others. There are several clubs that are popular venues for weddings: these include the Outrigger Canoe Club, the Plaza Club, and the Oahu Country Club. The Queen Emma Summer Palace was used by Queen Emma when the temperature rose: sitting at a high elevation, it is slightly cooler than at sea level and makes a perfect wedding venue.

Most visitors choose accommodations in Waikiki because they plan to spend at least part of their holiday in Waikiki swimming, soaking up the sun, and surfing. Waikiki is home to some of the most luxurious hotel properties in the United States if not in the world. The Halekulani, the Royal Hawaiian, and the Moana Surfrider are all historic hotels that have been restored and are at the top of the list of luxury hotels. The Kahala Hotel and Resort is another top luxury property just on the other side of Diamond Head from Waikiki. The Outrigger is a chain of hotels that are not as expensive as the luxury properties.