Best Time To Visit Hawaii | Cheap, Good & Worst Times Info
Best time to visit Hawaii: Thinking about taking a trip to tropical Hawaii soon? The time you plan your trip can make or break your plans for a warm, sunny getaway.
Find the best time to visit Hawaii for great weather, affordable airfare, and lower-priced accommodations – plus the worst months to plan your visit – in our quick, informative guide!
Why You Should Visit Hawaii?
A relaxing trip to tropical Hawaii is on almost everyone’s bucket list for a reason. From the temperate weather, gorgeous scenery, and black sand beaches to the vibrant local cuisine and friendly Aloha spirit, if you’re thinking about planning a getaway, the Hawaiian islands are the place to visit.
But your Hawaii experience will be dramatically different depending on the time of year you go.
If you visit during the busiest season, when airfare and accommodations skyrocket in price, you’ll spend a lot more and struggle to find an empty spot to settle in on the beach.
If you unwittingly plan your vacation during Hawaii’s hurricane or rainy seasons, you could spend much of your visit holed up in your hotel.
It’s hard to enjoy the natural wonders the islands have to offer when it’s pouring rain for days at a time!
We share the best time to visit Hawaii below. You’ll see the best time to visit overall, the most affordable time of year, the months when it’s least crowded, and the worst time to plan your visit.
Let us be your travel planning guide so you can enjoy the fullness of the Hawaii experience!
Overall Best Time To Visit Hawaii
The overall best time to visit Hawaii is anytime between April through October. You’ll get to take advantage of warm temperatures, little rain, and the opportunity to spot budding springtime flowers and emerging foliage all around the islands.
Since March and November are tied for Hawaii’s rainiest months, planning your visit in between these wet periods will give you the best chance of sunny, clear skies. In April, you can expect temperatures from 71°F to 84°F in Hawaii.
Planning your visit during May through October (Hawaii’s “summer” months) will be a bit warmer, with average temps hitting anywhere from 84°F to 88°F. It’s rare for temperatures to surpass 90°F in Hawaii, year-round.
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Cheapest Time To Visit Hawaii
If budget is your main planning concern, you can schedule your Hawaii vacation during the cheapest times to visit Hawaii. The cheapest time to fly to Hawaii is during the months of February and March.
Flights are more affordable during February and March, which are near the end of Hawaii’s mild “winter” season.
Your chances for excellent weather are a little diminished during February and March, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be a torrential downpour for your entire stay.
Hawaii in February is temperate and mild, with temperatures around 63°F to 79°F.
Since December and January are popular months to visit for “snowbirds” seeking warmth or a tropical place to spend the holidays, the less-busy February is one of the cheapest times to fly to the Hawaiian islands.
In March, daily temperatures pick up a bit, ranging from 64°F to 83°F. Flights are still relatively cheap during March, which marks the tail end of Hawaii’s winter season.
With the ease of checking flight and accommodation prices online today, it’s possible to find great deals on Hawaiian vacations and packages beyond February and March.
We’ll talk more about finding great Hawaii vacation deals in just a bit. In any case, if affordability is a big deal to you, don’t plan your visit during December. It has the highest airfare and accommodation prices of the year.
Least Busy Time To Visit Hawaii
If sparsely populated beaches, tropical serenity, and quick service at local restaurants are what you’re after, you should plan your visit during the least busy months.
Hawaii’s low seasons are during April, May, and early June with another dip in visitors between September and early December.
With most kids in school during these periods, you’ll run into fewer vacationing families and less crowded conditions throughout Hawaii.
Exceptions are common school break periods when the number of visitors takes a sharp increase.
This includes Spring Break (late March to early April) and Thanksgiving Break (last week of November) especially.
Here’s a look at the average temperatures and weather for these less-busy times:
- April: 71°F to 84°F
- May: 73°F to 84°F
- June: 74°F to 87°F
- September: 76°F to 89°F
- October: 75°F to 84°F
- November: 69°F to 82°F
- December: 64°F to 81°F
*Hawaii’s hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th each year. Keep this in mind when planning your visit – it’s one of the reasons these months are less busy for tourism to the Hawaiian islands.
Worst Time To Visit Hawaii
If you’re trying to avoid crowds, jacked-up prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars, or dreary weather that would keep you indoors on your tropical getaway, you need to know the worst times to visit Hawaii.
If you’re trying to avoid crowds and higher prices, August, December, and January are the worst times to visit Hawaii.
August is the most popular summer month for Hawaiian vacations, leading to fewer deals on flights and accommodations during this time.
There’s another sharp increase in visitors during mid-December through January due to the holidays and many people taking time off from work or school.
More demand for flights, rental cars, and hotels drives the prices up during this period, meaning you’ll end up paying a lot more for your Hawaii stay.
If you’re trying to avoid rainy, unseasonably cool weather, March and November are the worst times to visit Hawaii. These months are tied for the wettest months in Hawaii.
The weather on the Hawaiian islands is always relatively moderate and rarely dips below 64°F, but you’re in for lots of rain and cloudy skies if you visit during March or November.
Additional Considerations
You would think that organizing the ideal Hawaiian trip is really challenging when you take into account the typical temperatures, the busy season, and rain.
However, Hawaii really has year-round mild weather with acceptable temps.
When visiting Hawaii, it’s hard to make a mistake! You may have a pleasant stay even during the busiest months, which is why so many people visit the islands during these seasons.
Keep in mind this advice from seasoned travelers if you want to organize the perfect Hawaiian vacation.
- Plan A Flight Early
The cheapest Hawaii airline tickets are only available to early birds. Flight costs continue to rise as the departure date approaches.
There are exceptions, such as airlines lowering ticket costs at the last minute to fill seats on flights, but these deals are unreliable and sell out rapidly during peak travel seasons.
- Travel During The Week To Get The Best Deals
You may get cheaper flights and hotel rooms by leaving and returning on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday instead of a Friday through Monday (when most people travel).
- Select The Most Affordable Island
Hawaii is made up of hundreds of smaller islands in addition to 8 major islands, so picking the correct island to visit is crucial if you want to remain within your budget.
Oahu often has the lowest rates since there are more direct flights there and a lot of hotel options. Even in the busiest months, rates are lowered due to increased supply.
- Think About Camping Out
Consider camping for a low-cost vacation that will bring you closer to nature and expose you to more of Hawaii’s natural beauty and charm.
Booking a campsite is less expensive than a hotel or condominium. Camping is one of the greatest ways to enjoy Hawaii, provided that you schedule your trip outside of the rainy season (November through March).
- Don’t Go Island-Hopping
It might be tempting to travel the length of Hawaii, stopping at every island you can on your first trip. However, island hopping requires costly inter-island flights and boats, which will increase the cost of your vacation.
In order to see all the Hawaiian islands, it is more cost-effective to book longer stays at your hotel, condo, or camping as well as longer periods of time for your vehicle rental.
When Should You Travel To Hawaii, Then?
That concludes our recommendation for the best time to visit Hawaii. When you keep these travel suggestions in mind, you may cross Hawaii off your bucket list without going over budget.
There are several methods to have as much fun as possible on a budget even if a vacation to Hawaii is never really “affordable.”
You’re sure to have a nice time in Hawaii whether you visit there in search of the greatest weather and tropical beauty (April to October), the cheapest accommodations (February to March), or the fewest tourists (April to early June and September to early December).
Visit a bizarre black sand beach, spend the day swimming with dolphins or watching whales, and go on a stroll to take in Hawaii’s tropical setting and distinctive vegetation.
To really make your Hawaiian vacation ideal, don’t forget your mandatory lei, a fruity beverage, and typical Hawaiian fares like poi, poke, and maybe a helping of Spam and eggs.
