Hawaii may have the best, most even weather in the world. I live on the sunny side of Oahu, and so far I’ve never seen a rainstorm, never seen temperatures below 65 degrees or above 87 degrees, and can step outside almost any time of the day to enjoy the wonderful trade winds that keep these islands temperate year round.
Still, there are better times and worse times to visit Hawaii.
Hawaii’s Year-Round Temperature
Except for in the highest peaks, Hawaii’s temperature year round remains between 65 degrees (at night in January and February) and about 88 degrees (at noon during the height of summer). Today, temperatures where I am reached an unheard-of 90 degrees, and the weathercaster seemed staggered at the number, calling it “stifling heat.”
Even better, though Hawaii’s in the middle of the ocean, the humidity on the warmer side of the island remains relatively low throughout most of the year, keeping even the hottest days comfortable. (On the cooler northeast side of the islands, you’ll find higher humidity and much more rain, but the temperatures are somewhat lower.)
This means, temperature wise, any time of the year is a good time to visit Hawaii, though winter months may be just a trifle cool at the beach to people used to very warm temperatures.
Summer Months
Hawaii’s summer is different from its winter mostly because it is somewhat drier even on the wetter northeast sides of the islands. If you’re visiting Hawaii and prefer tropical weather, northeast shores during the summer is the time to come, with the much-decreased rainfall and heavy vegetation.
The southwest sides of all the islands tend to be very dry indeed during summer months, contributing heavily to the frequent summer brushfires on all islands. You’ll rarely see more than a misty sprinkle on these shores in summer.
The Rainy Season
Hawaii has a short rainy season lasting from about mid-February to the end of April, sometimes just a little earlier and later. This primarily affects the southwest sides of all the islands, and is the one time of year you can expect daily rain, as well as rainbows.
On the northeast sides, you should expect daily rainshowers from November through April, though only a rare few are severe. Higher elevations tend to see misty conditions year round, and Mount Wai’ale’ale on Kauai is known as the rainiest place on earth, with about 39 FEET of rain per year.
The rainy season is also the highest tourist season for all of Hawaii, with most visitors showing up between December and April to escape the winters of their own homes. Expect significantly higher prices during these periods.
Trade Winds
Hawaii is blessed by the trade winds, which keep the islands cool during summer and temperate during winter. These winds blow from the northeast all year, dropping their rain on the windward side of the island. The side of the island protected from the wind is known as the leeward side. Windward = rainy, leeward = dry. All Hawaii is normally quite breezy all year.
Winter Waves
The strong trade winds and differences in the ocean’s temperatures make for huge waves during December and January – and the underwater features surrounding the islands makes for perfect surfing waves all year. During the winter months, you can expect to see waves as high as 50 feet sweeping into Oahu’s North Shore area, providing a perfect forum for professional surfing competitions.
Needless to say, this is not the time to go swimming on the North Shore! But even at this time of year, you’ll find plenty of calmer waters to swim in. And throughout the rest of the year, the waters even in this area can be nearly flat.
Hurricanes/Typhoons
Hawaii is spared even this weather extreme, despite its seemingly vulnerable location. Most typhoons head toward Japan and East Asia, passing south of Hawaii. Hurricanes don’t even come toward Hawaii, moving into California or Mexico instead.
Hawaii is occasionally hit by typhoons, however, perhaps once every seven years or so. It rarely takes a severely damaging hit, and even the worst storms generally break up over the central mountain ranges of each island.
